Jeffrey Scott Springs was originally signed by Rangers scout Jay Heafner...Is married to Bailey...Has a son, Stetson...Graduated from South Point (N.C.) High School...Went 11-0 with a 1.20 ERA and 150 strikeouts as a senior...Named the 2011 North Carolina 3-A Player of the Year and won Most Valuable Player honors of the 3-A state championship series...Attended Appalachian State University where he was 11-12 with a 5.10 ERA in 58 games, including 43 starts, in four seasons.
2024
Began the season on the 60-day injured list as he continued his recovery from “Tommy John” surgery and went 2-2 with a 3.27 ERA in seven starts with Tampa Bay before returning to the IL with a left forearm strain...Struck out 37 batters in 33.0 innings pitched (10.09 strikeouts per nine innings) and had more strikeouts than innings pitched for the fifth consecutive season...Allowed a .264 opponents batting average, which broke down to .250 (6-for-24) with a .625 OPS against left-handed hitters compared to .267 (28-for-105) with a .768 OPS against right-handers...Issued all 11 of his walks to righties...Held opponents to a .222 batting average with runners in scoring position...Was 2-0 with a 2.29 ERA in four starts at home, 0-2 with a 4.72 ERA in three starts on the road...Is now 14-3 with a 2.99 ERA in 74 career appearances in his home ballparks, 9-9 with a 3.82 ERA in 71 games on the road...Averaged 80.7 pitches per game, which was the highest mark of his career...Tossed five innings or fewer in each of his first six starts before logging six innings in his final start...Yielded seven of his 12 runs in the second inning for a 9.00 ERA...Had a 1.73 ERA in all other innings...Did not commit an error and has not made an error in 145 career appearances (29 total chances)...Combined for an 0-3 record and a 4.50 ERA in 12 rehab starts with the Rays affiliate in the Florida Complex League and Triple-A Durham...Struck out 36 batters in 32 innings (10.13 per nine innings) and walked just five (1.41 per nine innings...Opponents hit .292, including .278 (22-for-79) with a .723 OPS against right-handed hitters and .314 (16-for-51) with a .737 OPS against left-handers.
2023
Limited to only three starts after suffering a left elbow flexor strain on April 13 vs. BOS…It was originally thought to be a nerve issue but further imaging revealed a “significant tear” in his ulnar collateral ligament…Underwent Tommy John surgery on April 24 performed by Dr. Keith Meister...Signed a four-year, $31 million contract with the Rays on Jan. 25 following a breakout 2022 season...The Rays went 3-0 in his starts, outscoring opponents, 25-4 (+21)...His 0.56 ERA (16.0IP, 1ER) was third lowest through a Rays pitcher’s first three starts of a season (min. 10.0IP), trailing Tyler Glasnow in 2021 (0.46) and 2019 (0.53)…Allowed only eight baserunners, tied for third-fewest through any MLB pitcher’s first three starts of a season since at least 1901 (min. 40BF) behind NYM Jacob DeGrom (seven, 2022) and MIL Corbin Burnes (seven, 2021)...Made his fifth consecutive Opening Day roster and third with the Rays...On April 2 vs. DET, spun 6.0 hitless frames with a career-high 12 SO in his season debut…Joined José Berríos as the only pitchers in the modern era (since 1900) to strike out 12+ batters over 6.0 or fewer hitless innings…Joined Nathan Eovaldi (6.0IP - May 30, 2018 at OAK) and Matt Garza (9.0IP - July 26, 2010 vs. DET) as the only Rays pitchers to finish a game with 6.0+ hitless innings...On April 8 vs. OAK, logged a career-high 7.0 innings on only 89 pitches…Entering the outing, he had never pitched into the seventh inning in any of his previous 28 career starts...Opened the season with a 13.0 scoreless inning streak before Rob Refsnyder’s first-inning HR on April 13 vs. BOS…Tied rotation-mate Drew Rasmussen for the third-longest streak by a Rays starting pitcher to open a season, trailing Mark Hendrickson (14.0IP, 2006) and Matt Moore (13.1IP, 2013)…It was also tied for ninth longest by any Rays pitcher to begin a season.
2022
Transitioned to the starting rotation in his second season with the Rays and enjoyed a breakout campaign…his last 24 apps came as a starter...Min. 100 IP, ranked sixth in the AL with a 2.46 ERA behind HOU Justin Verlander (1.75), CHW Dylan Cease (2.20), TOR Alek Manoah (2.24), LAA Shohei Ohtani (2.33) and NYY Nestor Cortes (2.44)…was second in club history behind Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell (1.89) in 2018...Ranked 10th in the AL with a 29.6 pct. swing-andmiss rate, 13th with a 1.07 WHIP and 13th with a 4.65 SO/BB ratio…allowed 3 runs (or fewer) in 22 of 25 starts and 2 runs (or fewer) 17 times...Went 6-3 with a 2.40 ERA (71.1-IP, 19-ER) in 14 starts after the All-Star break…yielded two runs (or fewer) in 10 of 14 starts and one run (or fewer) seven times…went 6-2 with a 2.18 ERA (62-IP, 15-ER) in 12 starts from Aug. 4 through season’s end and ranked among AL leaders (min. 60 IP) in ERA (fourth) and WHIP (1.02, eighth) over that span...Went 4-2 with a 2.23 ERA (60.2-IP, 15-ER) in 16 apps (11 starts) at Tropicana Field…min. 10 starts, ranked 5th in the AL in home ERA...Opponents hit .192 (20-for-104) against him with RISP, 9th-lowest in the AL (min. 100 AB)...According to FanGraphs, induced a swing on 38.9 pct. of pitches outside of the strike zone, third in the majors (min. 100 IP) behind TOR Kevin Gausman (42.7 pct.) and LAD Tyler Anderson (39.1 pct.) and the highest in franchise history...Used his changeup for 34.7 pct. of his pitches, second in the majors (min. 1,500 pitches) behind MIA Pablo López (35.3 pct.)…opponents hit .229 (53-for-231) with a .320 SLG in at-bats ending with the changeup…all four HR allowed on it came over a six-start stretch from June 1–July 5...Induced a swing-and-miss on 38.1 pct. of swings against the changeup and 92.9 pct. (65 of 70) of his strikeouts with it came on whiffs…the 70 SO with the changeup ranked fourth in the majors...His 1.44 ERA (31.1-IP, 5-ER) in September was the third-lowest in club history (min. 25 IP) behind Jake Odorizzi (1.03) in 2017 and Blake Snell (1.26) in 2018…went 3-0 in six starts and limited opponents to a .192 avg. (23-for-120) with 8 XBH...Missed time while on the COVID-19 Related IL (close contact) on April 24, Family Medical Emergency List from June 30–July 4 and 15-day IL (right lower leg tightness) from July 10-23...Eight of his first nine apps through May 3 came out of the bullpen, starting a bullpen day on April 28 vs. SEA (2.2 IP) over that stretch…went 3.1 IP in relief on May 3 at OAK before officially joining the starting rotation on May 9 at LAA…from April 28–May 27, increased his workload in six consecutive apps (five starts), including 5.2 IP and six IP in starts from May 21-27 at BAL, vs. NYY...Became a regular member of a starting rotation for the first time since 2017, when he spent the entire season with Class-A Down East and his first 17 apps came as a starter, going 1-8 with a 4.60 ERA (90-IP, 46-ER) in that role…transitioned to the Down East bullpen on July 26 that season...Made his fourth straight Opening Day roster...On Opening Day vs. BAL, struck out the side in a perfect 7th inning…marked his first app in the majors since July 31, 2021 vs. BOS...On April 28 vs. SEA, made his first start with the Rays and third of his major league career, first since Sep 9, 2018, at OAK (with TEX)…yielded a leadoff single in the first inning, which came around to score on a Eugenio Suárez two-out triple...On May 9 at LAA, retired his first 10 BF before back-to-back singles by Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani in the fourth inning, with the Ohtani single lost in the lights in center field…got a flyout for the second out before yielding a 3-run homer...On July 5 at BOS, returned from the Family Medical Emergency List and faced the Red Sox, for whom he pitched for in 2020, as a starter for the first time…went four IP and all 3 runs allowed were on homers, yielding a two-run shot to Xander Bogaerts and solo homer to Trevor Story...On July 24 at KC, returned from the injured list (right lower leg tightness) and allowed a career-high eight hits in his first start since July 5 at BOS… the Rays lost in one of his starts for the first time since May 27, ending a six-game winning streak...On Sep 13 at TOR (G1), pitched six scoreless innings and extended his scoreless streak to 16.2 IP…became the fifth traditional starter in club history to make three straight scoreless starts in a single season (without a relief app in between), joining Rich Hill in 2021, Tyler Glasnow in 2019, Jake Odorizzi in 2016 and Alex Cobb in 2014...On Sep 18 vs. TEX, allowed a solo homer in the second inning and snapped a career-long scoreless streak at 17.2 IP…defeated the Rangers, who selected him in the 30th round of the 2015 Amateur Draft, for the first time in his career...On Sep 29 at CLE, did not allow a run in six IP, matching Sept. 13 at TOR and June 7 vs. STL for the longest scoreless start of his career…all three hits allowed were singles, including two that did not leave the infield…received no decision after the Rays bullpen allowed the game-tying and go-ahead runs in the eighth inning...Was on the roster for the AL Wild Card Series at CLE but did not pitch…would have started had the Rays forced Game 3...On Jan 25, 2023, signed a four-year, $31 million contract through the 2026 season, including a club option for 2027…the pact is worth up to $65.75 million if the club option is exercised, innings pitched incentives are reached and Cy Young Award bonuses are triggered.
2021
In his first season with the Rays, was leading the team with 43 apps when he suffered a season-ending knee injury July 31 vs. BOS... Attempts to rehab the injury resulted in continued discomfort…underwent surgery Aug 16 to reconstruct a torn ACL in his right knee… the procedure was performed by Dr. Koco Eaton in St. Petersburg... Struck out 35.2 pct. (63 of 179) of his batters faced, the highest rate of his career…had a 48.2 pct. whiff rate on his changeup and a 39.3 pct. whiff rate on his sinker, according to Statcast... Yielded nine HR, which tied for thid among AL relievers at the time of his injury…57.1 pct. (12 of 21) of his runs allowed came on homers... Had a 1.04 ERA (8.2-IP, 1-ER) in his last eight apps... Made his third straight Opening Day roster with three different teams... On April 6 at BOS, took a blown save after allowinging the automatic runner to score in the 11th… yielded a game-tying single on his first pitch... On April 18 at NYY, recorded his first career save with a perfect ninth inning…became the fourth Ray to record his first career save at Yankee Stadium, joining Adam Kolarek in 2018, Jake Odorizzi in 2013 and Jeff Sparks in 1999... On May 7 at OAK, allowed a walk-off homer to Seth Brown, the third time in his career he was on the mound for a walk-off loss…the previous two were both walk-off homers: Sep 25, 2020, at ATL (Freddie Freeman) and Sep 16, 2019, at SD (Francisco Mejía)…marked the fourth time in club history the Rays lost on a “left-on-left” walk-off homer, following June 23, 2012, at PHI, Aug 7, 2009, at SEA and May 2, 2002, at MIN.
2020
Acquired by the Red Sox prior to spring training and made 16 apps over two stints in the majors… was on the active roster from Opening Day–Aug 10 and Aug 22–Sep 25…marked his second consecutive Opening Day roster...Pitched to a 3.86 ERA (11.2-IP, 5-ER) with 18 SO in his final 10 apps of the season...Recorded 4 outs (or more) in seven of 16 apps… went a season-high-tying 2 IP four times...Min. 20 IP, led the team with a 12.39 SO/9 IP ratio...On July 27 vs. NYM, made his Red Sox debut and allowed 5 runs in 1.1 IP, including 2-run homers by Pete Alonso and Dominic Smith.
2019
Missed more than 2 months of the season on the injured list, making 25 relief appearances over 3 stints with TEX and pitching in 6 games for Triple-A Nashville...Opened the season with the Rangers, pitching in 9 games before being optioned to Nashville on 4/26...Recalled by TEX on 5/15 and placed on the 10-day injured list on 6/17 (left biceps tendinitis)...Transferred to the 60-day IL on 6/28...Made 2 rehab appearances with the AZL Rangers and 1 with Nashville before being activated on 9/1...Pitched in 5 more games for the Rangers...Closed his season with 2.0 perfect innings of relief vs. BOS on 9/24.
2018
Entered the year having never pitched above High-A, but spent just 4 months with Frisco (AA) and Round Rock (AAA) before his promotion to Texas on 7/31…only staff members with a lower ERA than Springs' 3.38 figure after his contract was purchased on 7/31 (min. 15.0 IP) were José Leclerc (0.00) and Mike Minor (2.89)…posted 9 scoreless outings of 2.0+ IP, T4thmost in the A.L...went 0-for-1 in save tries, had 4 games finished, 2 holds, and permitted 5 of 7 inherited runners to score…posted 5.0 SHO IP in 2 starts and had 4.00 ERA (12 ER/27.0 IP) in 16 relief outings…1st batters faced hit .286 (4-14) with 2 BB.
2017
Led all Texas farmhands and finished 2nd in the Carolina League with 146 strikeouts…whiffed 30.9% of all batters faced (146 of 472) and averaged 11.7 SO/9, 6th-highest among all full season pitchers (min. 100.0 IP)…held opponents to a .245/.311/.396/.708 slash line overall…was 1-8, 4.60 (46 ER/90.0 IP) over 17 starts and had 22.1 scoreless innings over 14 relief appearances…began the season in the Wood Ducks rotation and allowed 2-or-fewer runs in 9 of 17 starts…had 3 outings of 10+ strikeouts…shifted to the bullpen on 7/26 and held opponents to a .173/.230/.210/.440 slash line over 14 appearances…ended the season with 25.1-inning scoreless streak over his last 15 G/14 GS…had 2 scoreless innings over 2 relief appearances in the CL playoffs.
2016
Was a South Atlantic League All-Star at Hickory and earned a mid-season promotion to High Desert…opponents batted .216 (63-292), including .203 (41-202) by right-handed hitters…began the season in the Hickory bullpen and had a 0.61 WHIP and .106 opp. avg. in 18 relief appearances…compiled a 0.47 ERA (1 ER/19.1 IP) in 1st 12 relief outings…permitted season relief-high 4 runs (3 ER) on 5/27 vs. GBO, but had 9.1 inning scoreless streak over next 5 appearances before promotion on 6/23…opponents were 1-for-29 during scoreless streak…tossed 6.2 scoreless innings in 1st 3 outings with High Desert…made spot start on 7/6 at BAK (3.0 IP, 3 ER) and final relief appearance of season on 7/10 vs. RC (2.2 IP, 2 R)… joined rotation for remainder of the season on 7/16 and went 0-2, 5.95 (24 ER/36.1 IP) in 8 starts...had a 4.26 ERA (3 ER/6.1 IP) with 12 strikeouts and one walk over 2 games/one start in the postseason.
2015
Averaged 11.3 SO/9 and reached Low-A in first professional season…combined to go 2-2, 2.61 (9 ER/31.0 IP) with 39 strikeouts in 17 relief outings with Spokane and Hickory.
