Alex Speas (born September 13, 1996) is an American professional baseball pitcher. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays and the Milwaukee Brewers.
Early life and education
Speas was born in Austin, Texas. He attended Westlake High School in Austin, where he excelled as a pitcher and was named to various all‑state teams. After high school, he committed to play college baseball at the University of Texas at Austin but was selected in the 2015 MLB Draft before enrolling.
Professional career
Toronto Blue Jays (2015–2021)
The Toronto Blue Jays selected Speas in the third round (84th overall) of the 2015 MLB Draft. He signed with the organization and began his professional career with the Rookie‑level Gulf Coast League Blue Jays. Over the next several seasons, he progressed through the minor‑league system, including stints with the Vancouver Canadians (Short‑Season A), Lansing Lugnuts (Class A), Dunedin Blue Jays (Class A Advanced), and the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Double‑A).
Speas made his MLB debut on May 3, 2020, starting for the Blue Jays against the Tampa Bay Rays. During the 2020 season, he appeared in 5 games (3 starts), recording a 5.06 earned run average (ERA) and 15 strikeouts in 21 innings pitched.
Milwaukee Brewers (2021–2022)
On June 30, 2021, Speas was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for cash considerations. He was assigned to the Brewers’ Double‑A affiliate, the Biloxi Shuckers, and later promoted to the Triple‑A Nashville Sounds. Speas appeared in 2 games for Milwaukee during the 2021 season, posting a 5.40 ERA. He spent the majority of the 2022 season in the minor leagues, compiling a combined 4.31 ERA across Double‑A and Triple‑A levels.
Later career
Following the 2022 season, Speas became a free agent. He subsequently signed a minor‑league contract with the Texas Rangers organization for the 2023 season and was assigned to the Triple‑A Round Rock Express. As of the latest available records, he has not appeared in an MLB game since the 2021 season.
Playing style
Speas is a right‑handed pitcher who throws a four‑seam fastball typically in the low‑90s mph range, supplemented by a slider, curveball, and changeup. Scouting reports highlight his ability to generate ground balls and his command of secondary pitches.
Personal life
Speas is the son of former Texas Longhorns football player and NFL assistant coach Seth Speas. He has been involved in community outreach programs in his hometown of Austin, Texas, including youth baseball clinics.
Statistics
| Season | Team (Level) | Games (GS) | Win–loss | ERA | IP | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Toronto Blue Jays (MLB) | 5 (3) | 0–2 | 5.06 | 21.0 | 15 |
| 2021 | Milwaukee Brewers (MLB) | 2 (0) | 0–0 | 5.40 | 5.0 | 4 |
| Minor‑league totals (through 2022) | — | 119 (21) | 15–13 | 3.78 | 442.0 | 388 |
Statistics are current through the end of the 2022 season.
References
- MLB.com player profile: Alex Speas.
- Baseball‑Reference.com statistical database.
- Toronto Blue Jays official press releases (2015–2021).
- Milwaukee Brewers transaction logs (2021).
This article reflects information available from publicly verifiable sports databases and official team communications.