The inspiring story behind Speas' road to Astros

This story was excerpted from Brian McTaggart’s Astros Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox

SEATTLE – The Astros are Alex Speas’ third organization since the beginning of April, which means he’s done a lot of traveling lately. His latest trip Monday brought him from Houston to Seattle, where the 26-year-old reliever joined another set of teammates. He doesn’t mind. A new opportunity gives Speas another chance to share his inspiring story.

After stepping away from baseball in 2022 to spend more time with his young daughter while trying to get himself in a better position mentally, Speas decided to return to the game last year. He made his Major League debut with the Rangers on July 19 and made only three regular-season appearances, but it was enough to win a World Series ring. And it was enough to reaffirm his decision to return to the game he loves.

“I think that year away just helped me find the love for baseball again, the joy for it, the aspect of coming out and having fun, and playing and being in the locker room around the guys every day,” said Speas, who had been pitching at Triple-A Sugar Land after the Astros claimed him off waivers from the A's on May 10. He opened the season in the White Sox organization before being traded to Oakland on April 6.

Speas was selected by the Rangers in the second round of the 2016 MLB Draft and dealt with Tommy John surgery, a broken right femur and the COVID-19 pandemic, which basically cost him the 2019-20 seasons. In ’21, he had an 11.15 ERA in 15 Minor League games and simply wasn’t having fun.

Meanwhile, he was missing his then 2-year-old daughter, Haven, back home in Charlotte, N.C. Speas decided professional baseball could wait, so he returned home to spend time with his daughter, while coaching kids on a travel ball team and at a local high school.

“After the COVID year, I went to next year and had a rough year. And the following year coming up, I was really contemplating if I wanted to come back and play or not or if I wanted to be home and watch my daughter grow up and be with her more,” he said. “I ended up deciding to take that year away, and being home during that year and continuing to be around baseball a little bit more and gradually get back into it by coaching and being around those guys each and every day, that gave the opportunity to look at baseball in a different aspect and come back and play the following year.”

Speas’ joy of being around the high school kids and their desire to chase the dream of reaching the big leagues made him realize his dream was still within reach. He called the Rangers, since he had one year remaining on his contract with them, and asked to come back. They obliged after he threw for them in February 2023, flashing his upper-90s fastball.

“I’ve always been able to throw hard, and I’ve always had velocity,” Speas said. “After taking the year off and not really doing much or throwing a lot, I felt great, and it brought me into the next season. It was a season for me that I just wanted to have a healthy year and put myself in a good position, and I ended up getting my big league debut.”

Speas struck out 85 batters in 56 2/3 innings between Double-A Frisco and Triple-A Round Rock last year, before making his Rangers debut with three strikeouts over 1 2/3 perfect innings against the Rays.

“It’s been a roller coaster,” Speas said. “I’ll be honest, I feel we’ve hit every part of the United States so far, but just continuing to stay positive and uplifted in spirits and continue to keep going while the season’s still early.”

Speas’ daughter remains his No. 1 priority in life, and he keeps in touch with her daily via FaceTime when he’s on the road. She’s 4 years old now and involved in basketball, soccer and dance. She was the reason he stepped away from the game and she’s the reason he returned.

“As I got further into it and we got to spend a lot more time together, I knew that was a dream I wanted to continue chasing,” he said. “Even though she was young and not ready to understand why I did what I did, I knew she would be happy to know I was back out here doing it.”