Levale Speigner

Jimmy Levale (luh-VEL) Speigner (SPYG-nur)...played collegiately at Auburn University...as a senior in 2003, led the Tigers in wins (10) and ERA (2.42)...graduated from Thomasville (GA) High School in 1999...was named Georgia's AA State Player of the Year after batting .510 with 7 homers and 28 RBI as a senior...originally selected by Minnesota in the 14th round of the 2003 June draft...signed by Minnesota scout Mark Quimuyog.

2009

Split the season between Jacksonville (AA) and New Orleans (AAA) in the Florida Marlins organization...opened the season with Jacksonville in the Southern League... made 35 appearances with New Orleans, going 3-5 with one save and a 2.93 ERA (18 ER, 55.1 IP)...stranded 20 of 26 inherited runners...overall went 6-6 with 2.56 ERA (24 ER, 84.1 IP) in 58 appearances...played for Arecibo in the Puerto Rican Winter League... named the league's Pitcher of the Year going 7-1 with one save and a 2.03 ERA (9 ER, 40.0 IP) in 18 relief appearances...also went 2-0, 1.13 (1 ER, 8.0 IP) in the playoffs... stranded 17 of 19 inherited runners...held opponents to a .224 average (33x161).

2008

Combined to go 1-0 with 1.82 ERA in 35 appearances (1 GS) with Harrisburg (AA) and Columbus to earn promotion to Washington...appeared in 7 games at the Major League level, going 0-1 with 11.25 ERA (10 ER, 8.0 IP).

2007

The Nationals' 2nd of 2 selections in the '06 Rule 5 Draft, endured an up and down campaign...posted a 2.87 ERA and a .196 batting average against in 6 Grapefruit League appearances to earn spot on Washington's Opening Day roster...started strong with the Nationals, but finished 2-3 with an 8.78 ERA in 19 games (6 starts) and was designated for assignment on June 19...went 1-0 with a 2.84 ERA in 11 appearances through May 5, but finished 1-3 with an 11.52 ERA in 8 games (6 starts) thereafter...finished 1-0 with a 4.41 ERA and a .262 batting average against in 13 appearances out of the bullpen...was 1-3 with an 11.79 ERA and a .385 batting average against in 6 starts...made MLB debut in April 2 season opener vs. FLA...allowed one run in 2.1 innings in relief of John Patterson...also in the debut, fanned Miguel Olivo to record first career strikeout...on April 18 vs. PHI, worked a 1-2-3 13th inning and earned the win via a Felipe Lopez sac fly in a 5-4 victory...7 of 15 inherited baserunners scored. Game-By-Game Highlights: On June 9, out pitched 2-time Cy Young Award winner Johan Santana to earn first win in a starting role in a 3-1 victory at MIN's Metrodome, where Santana had won 19 of previous 22 assignments...allowed just one run on 2 hits in 6.0 innings...walked one, fanned 3...only blemish was Justin Morneau's solo home run in the 2nd...however, recovered to retire 15 of last 17 batters faced against initial organization. In minor leagues: Made Columbus debut on June 26...closed strong, going 1-1 with a 2.10 ERA in 8 games/3 starts in August/September...capped 2007 by working 11.0 scoreless innings in final 2 starts, September 1 vs. Toledo (win, 7.0 innings, season-best 7 strikeouts) and August 27 at Indianapolis (no-decision, 4.0 innings).

2006

Posted 13 saves and a 3.26 ERA in 40 games with Double-A New Britain before an August 10 promotion to Triple-A Rochester...made a career-high 49 appearances for the 2 clubs...tied for 9th in the Eastern League with a team-leading 13 saves...posted 2.63 ERA in 26 games through June...6 of 13 saves came in EL in July...tossed 6.0 scoreless innings and registered 4 saves in his final 5 appearances before advancing to Rochester...worked 2.0 shutout innings September 1 vs. Buffalo to notch his first Triple-A save.

2005

In his lone season as a starter, went 6-10 with 2 complete games and a 4.13 ERA in 23 starts with Double-A New Britain...worked career-high 151.0 innings...also pitched in 2 games with Rochester in first taste of Triple-A...was winless in his first 9 starts, going 0-6 with a 4.47 ERA (26 ER/52.1 IP) from April 10-May 26...exited his May 26 start after just 4.1 innings because of a strained left hamstring, an injury that caused a trip to the Disabled List...returned June 14, and went 2-0 with a 0.90 ERA (2 ER/20.0 IP) in his first 3 starts...earned a complete-game win July 29 vs. Norwich, allowing one run and 7 hits in his 9.0 innings of work...his 2nd complete-game was a 2-hit shutout August 18 vs. Erie.

2004

Split season with Quad City of the Single-A Midwest League and Fort Myers of the Single-A Florida State League...went a combined 6-5 with 11 saves and a 1.62 ERA in 44 games (one start)...began with Quad City...led the club with 9 saves...batting average against in the MWL was .216...promoted to Fort Myers on June 19...struck out 47 in 45.1 FSL innings...worked 17.0 consecutive scoreless innings in July...endured DL stint, April 20-26, with a sprained left ankle.

2003

After June Draft, was assigned to Elizabethton of the short-season Appalachian League...posted 4 saves and a 3.94 ERA in 22 relief appearances...fanned 35 in 29.2 innings of work...earned his first pro win June 20 vs. Bluefield, and recorded his first pro save in the first game of a July 30 doubleheader vs. Martinsville.