How Did Tigers Acquire Spencer Turnbull?

How Did Tigers Acquire Spencer Turnbull?

Turnbull was taken 63rd overall in the second round of the 2014 MLB draft by the Detroit Tigers. He received a $900,600 signing bonus when he joined the Tigers.



He started his professional career with the GCL Tigers and was promoted to the Connecticut Tigers after one start, where he concluded the season with a 0–2 record and 4.45 ERA in 11 starts.

Spencer Turnbull
Spencer Turnbull

In 22 starts with the West Michigan Whitecaps in 2015, he was 11–3 with a 3.01 ERA and 1.35 WHIP. Due to shoulder impingement, he missed most of the 2016 season.



Turnbull started the year with the Lakeland Flying Tigers, where he had a 7–3 record.

After the 2017 season, the Tigers added him to their 40-man roster. In 2018, he returned to Erie.

Before the Tigers promoted him to the major leagues on September 11, he started 13 games for the SeaWolves and two games for the Toledo Mud Hens of the Class AAA International League.

On September 14, he made his major league debut against the Cleveland Indians, tossing a 1-2-3 inning of relief with one strikeout. In four appearances for Detroit, he went 0–2.

Turnbull earned his first MLB win on April 23 after making the starting rotation out of spring training. Turnbull went 3–17 with a 4.61 ERA in 30 starts, striking out 146 batters in 148+13 innings.

Turnbull earned the win in a 7–2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on July 31, 2020. It was his first win in 19 outings, as well as his first win at home after 18 previous appearances at Comerica Park.

During the 2020 season, Turnbull started 11 of the Tigers’ 58 games, going 4–4 with a 3.97 ERA and 51 strikeouts in 58+23 innings.

Due to being placed on the non-baseball related (COVID-19) disabled list, Turnbull did not make the Tigers opening day roster for the 2021 season.

On April 21, he returned to the rotation and won his first game of the season against the Pittsburgh Pirates.