Nate Spears #71

Full name NATHANIEL JOSEPH SPEARS...Married, Amy...Graduated from Charlotte (FL) High School in 2003... Enjoys fishing and golfing in his spare time...Grew up a big fan of the Big Red Machine in Cincinnati.

2012

Spent the season in Pawtucket, his third straight season in the Red Sox organization and also appeared in 4 games with the Red Sox in April...Was with the Sox from April 15-21 after an injury to Jacoby Ellsbury and appeared in 2 games in left field and 1 game at both second and third base...Was 0-for-3 as a pinch-hitter...At Pawtucket he appeared in 5 games at first base, 62 games at third, 35 games at second, 1 game at short and 3 games in the outfield...Did not hit above .265 in any month of the season...Hit .281 (34-121) in the second half with 4 2B, 3 3B, 4HR & 14 RBI in 38 games (.832).

2011

Made his Major League debut with 3 games for the Red Sox in September...Was selected to Boston on 9/5...Went 0-for-4 in 3 games with the Red Sox before being designated for assignment on 9/13...Made his Major League debut in Boston's 14-0 win on 9/6 at TOR...Entered as a defensive replacement in left field and went 0-for-2 at the plate...His other 2 appearances came as a pinch-hitter...Also played 2nd base on 9/11 at TB...Spent most of the season with Triple-A Pawtucket, hitting .248 (78-for-315) with 19 doubles, 2 triples, 8 homers and 45 RBI in 96 games...Went 12-for-35 (.343) in the 9th inning or later...With the PawSox, appeared in 37 games at 2nd base, 23 in right field, 16 at 3rd base, 13 in left field, 4 at shortstop and 1 at 1st base, posting a combined .976 fielding percentage (7 E/288 TC). Had stints on the disabled list from 5/13-26 (injured left index finger) and 6/29-7/8 (sprained left shoulder)...Knocked a grand slam on 4/21 vs. Syracuse...Blasted 2-run walk-off homer with 2 outs in the 9th inning on 8/2 to give the PawSox a 4-3 win over Louisville.

2010

Spent his 1st season in the Red Sox organization with Double-A Portland...Topped all Double-A players and led the Red Sox farm system with 104 runs scored and 84 walks...Ranked 7th among all minor leaguers in runs scored, Also ranked among Boston minor leaguers in hits (2nd, 140), total bases (2nd, 238), homers (3rd, 20), extrabase hits (3rd, 54) and RBI (4th, 82)...Ranked among Eastern League leaders in sacrifice flies (T-1st, 10) and total bases (4th)...Became the 3rd player in Sea Dogs history to score 100 runs in a season, and the 1st as a Red Sox affiliate...Also set a franchise record for homers by a second baseman...His 20 homers nearly tripled his previous career high of 7 in 2008...Also set career bests while leading the Sea Dogs in games (136), at-bats (514), runs, hits, walks and total bases...Represented the Sea Dogs in the Eastern League All-Star Game, going 1-for-4 with an RBI double in the 7/14 exhibition in Harrisburg...Reached safely in 119 of his 136 games, including a team-high, 27-game on-base streak from 7/18-8/17...Failed to reach in back-to-back contests only once all year, 8/20-8/21 vs. Trenton...Hit safely in 18 straight games at Hadlock Field from 7/6-8/17, the longest home hitting streak in the Eastern League in 2010...Went deep 9 times over his last 26 games, including each of his last 2 tilts on 9/5 and 9/6 vs. New Hampshire...Connected for his 1st career grand slam on 7/9 vs. New Britain...Homered in 3 consecutive at-bats from 8/22- 23, including a pair of homers and a career-high 6 RBI on 8/23 at Harrisburg...Paced EL second basemen in fielding percentage (.982), games (130), chances (601), putouts (201), assists (389) and double plays (96)...Was named Red Sox Minor League Base Runner of the Month for August/September...Made his 2nd career pitching appearance on 4/20 vs. Binghamton, allowing 3 runs over 1.0 inning of work...Rated as having the best strike zone judgment in the Eastern League in Baseball America's 2011 Best Tools Survey.

2009

Led Cubs Iowa club with 128 games played in his 1st full season at the Triple-A level...Also ranked among team leaders in at-bats (1st, 368), triples (2nd, 4), hits (T-3rd, 93), doubles (T-3rd, 20) and walks (4th, 35)...Appeared at third base (team-high 62 games), second base (42) and shortstop (15)...Made his 1st pro pitching appearance, 7/24 at Albuquerque (2 R/1.0 IP)...Went 0-for-1 in 1 playoff game.

2008

Spent most of the year with the Cubs Double-A Tennessee affiliate...Played his last 5 games with Triple-A Iowa after a 8/28 promotion...Set a career high with a combined .299 clip (120-for-402)...Led Double-A leagues with 19 sacrifice hits, 3rd among all minor leaguers...Named to the mid-season Southern League All-Star Team and earned the SL's Best Hustler award...After the season, hit .349 (29-for-83) in 23 games for Mesa of the Arizona Fall League.

2007

Combined to hit .273 (99-for-363) with 5 homers and 37 RBI between High-A Daytona and Double-A Tennessee...Tied for the Florida State League lead with 15 sacrifice hits with Daytona and ranked 2nd in the minors with 19 sac hits overall...Promoted to Tennessee on 7/17...Went 0-for-7 in 4 playoff games for the Smokies.

2006

Spent the entire season with High-A Daytona in his 1st campaign in the Cubs organization following a January trade from Baltimore...Missed time on the DL beginning 7/12 and was reinstated 8/1.

2005

Played the entire season with High-A Frederick, earning a spot on the Carolina League All-Star Team...Led the circuit with 14 sacrifice hits and ranked among CL leaders in batting (9th, .294) and triples (T-3rd, 6)...Led CL second basemen with 105 games and a .981 fielding percentage (10 E/513 TC)...Appeared in 4 playoff games, going 1-for-15 (.067) with a double.

2004

Named a South Atlantic League All-Star with Single-A Delmarva in his 1st full season...Hit .275 (102-for-371) with 5 homers and 37 RBI while leading the SAL with 11 triples...Missed time on the DL from 7/27-8/3.

2003

Made his pro debut with the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Orioles...Topped the GCL with 40 walks...Also ranked among GCL leaders in on-base percentage (2nd, .427), stolen bases (4th, 18), runs (5th, 28) and triples (5th, 5)...Paced league shortstops in fielding percentage (.934) and games (tied, 49) in his season playing exclusively at the position.