As power numbers increase, Granite City native’s professional baseball stock on rise
Entering his third full season in professional baseball, Chad Spanberger has yet to experience the thrill of playing in major league stadiums such as the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Coors Field in Denver or Miller Park in Milwaukee.
But the 24-year-old Spanberger has played in places like Suplizio Field in Grand Junction, Colorado, and Cooley Law School Stadium, home of the Lansing, Michigan, Lugnuts of the Class A Midwest League.
A 2014 graduate of Granite City High School, Spanberger is a power-hitting first baseman in the Milwaukee Brewers organization, who like thousands of professional baseball players around the nation, is waiting, working out on his own and hoping he will get a chance to play ball in a 2020 season which thus far has been delayed two months at the outset by COVID-19.
But even if major league baseball players return to the field, Spanberger and the rest of the minor league players may not. Speculation continues the minor league season could soon be canceled. The New York Yankees recently released 45 minor league players and Arizona and Seattle have combined to release 114 minor league players in recent weeks.
“I honestly don’t know if there will be a minor league season. They (the Brewers) really have told us nothing. It’s really anybody’s guess,” Spanberger said this week. “I hope to know within the next week or two what we’re doing. Right now, I’m just working out on my own. I have a gym in the basement where I can work out with weights and I go to the high school for my baseball workouts where I’m able to use their facilities.
“Sometimes it’s hard to stay focused. Sometimes I’m like ‘am I training for the players to go back here in a few weeks or am I training for something which may or may not happen two months from now. What exactly is it that I’m training for?’ It’s tough to stay motivated at times.”
Days as a Granite City Warrior
A powerfully built 6-3, 235-pound pure hitter, Spanberger came into his own as a junior at the University of Arkansas in 2017 when he hit .305 with 20 home runs and 67 RBI for a Razorbacks team which reached the NCAA Division I Super-Regionals.
Taken in the sixth round of MLB Amateur June Draft by the Colorado Rockies, the then 21-year-old Spanberger continued his torrid hitting with Grand Junction that summer, slugging 19 home runs in just 60 games. His combined college/professional numbers were staggering, as he finished with 39 home runs and 118 RBI in 120 games.
But for Spanberger it all began in the Southwestern Conference as a member of the Granite City Warriors. Current Granite City Athletic Director John Moad was the Warriors baseball coach at the time, and said Spanberger was special the minute he put on the uniform as a freshman.
“Chad started as a freshman and his bat was advanced at that time. The way the ball came off of his bat was just different especially for his age. Anyone that watched could sense that he had power and an ability to square the ball up that not many high school players could do consistently,” Moad said. “His size and baseball tools were always far advanced from others.”
Spanberger continued to progress as time went on. As a senior, he hit .437 with four home runs and 27 RBI.
“I was able to see him get stronger throughout high school and become a physical presence on the field. He was just one of those players that was good wherever I put him,” Moad said. “The numbers that he has put up in the minors is just an extension of what he was doing in college. He has worked extremely hard to get to this point so nothing he does surprises me. He’s earned the attention and I can’t wait until he’s back on the field again.”
On the trade market, twice
Spanberger continued his climb up the Rockies farm system in the first part of the 2018 season. Playing for the Class A Asheville Travelers, Spanberger hit a career best .315 with 20 home runs and 75 RBI.
But during the last part of July, Spanberger was dealt as part of a three player deal to Toronto. The Rockies received former Cardinals closer Seung-hwan Oh in the trade.
“I was happy and having success with the Rockies organization,” Spanberger said. “When you play the game of professional baseball you learn it’s a business and whatever happens, happens. We, as players, have no control of what the front office does.
“As a ball player, I just go out every day, work hard, do the best I can and help my team be successful.”
Spanberger was with three different teams in the Blue Jays organization during the past 1 1/2 years. He spent the entire 2019 season with Class AA New Hampshire of the Eastern League where he hit. .237 with 13 home runs and 59 RBI.
Currently with 59 home runs and 200 RBI in 305 minor league games, Spanberger was traded to Milwaukee in November for starting pitcher Chase Anderson.
Spanberger was in the Brewers minor league camp in March when season was put on hold by COVID-19.
“It was around March 19-20 when I got home. I don’t usually get home much and never during the season,” Spanberger said. “Everything was going well. The players, coaches all seemed like good guys. I just try to get along with everybody.
“I don’t know where I’ll start the season. I just want to be back playing ball soon.”
The power and the future
Spanberger has been a consistent hitter in his minor league career as his .274 average indicates. But his ticket to the big leagues one day will be led by his ability to hit home runs and drive in base runners.
“How am I a better player now than I was a couple of years ago? Just knowing what I do well and then getting the most out of my talent. But also knowing my weaknesses then eliminating my weaknesses as we go along. My power numbers have been good but that’s always been my bread and butter. I’m just trying to do it more and also become a better overall hitter,” Spanberger said.
“I like where I am at this stage of my career. I feel like I’m getting better and stronger as I advance.”
This story was originally published June 5, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
