A 1995 graduate of Northridge High School in Ohio, he
was a three-year letterman in baseball and basketball...
earned all-conference honors in baseball during his senior
season...Attended Miami University (OH) before playing two
seasons of baseball at Sinclair Community College in Dayton, OH...He, his wife Tiffany and daughter Mackenzie (9/11/01)
reside in Plant City, FL during the off-season.
2005
Spurling, who missed the entire 2004 season with Tommy John surgery, began the 2005 campaign at Triple-A Toledo before rejoining the Tigers on May 10. He went 2-0 with a 2.20 ERA over the first half of the season before giving up five runs, three on homers, in one-third of an inning July 18 at Chicago. He rebounded by posting a 2.73 ERA over his final 28 appearances. He tossed 2 2/3 scoreless innings against Cleveland on August 5.
2004
Missed the entire season after he underwent ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction surgery in his right elbow on March 4...the procedure was performed by Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, AL...Placed on the 60-day disabled list on April 2 with ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction surgery in his right elbow.
2003
Third among American League rookies with 66 appearances -- third all-time in Tigers single-season history for
appearances by a
rookie...tied for sixth among league rookies with three saves.
Lefthanded batters hit .352 (
45x128) against Spurling, fourth-highest in the league...limited righties to a
.200
batting average (
33x165).
Averaged 4.44 strikeouts per nine innings, fourth-lowest among league relievers.
Allowed 44.2 percent of inherited runners to score (
23x52), fourth-worst among league relievers.
Held the first batter he faced to a
.190 batting average (
11x58), 12th-best among AL relievers.
Opponents hit .247 (
36x146) with runners on base, 19th-best among league relievers.
Made his major league debut on April 2
versus Minnesota, working a
scoreless inning of relief.
Registered his first major league save May 4
versus Tampa Bay -- worked a
career-best three innings against the
Devil Rays, surrendering one run on three hits.
Appeared in a
team-high 14 games during May, posting a
2.70 ERA (
13.1IP/4ER) and two saves.
Suffered his first loss at the major league level on June 29 versus Arizona, serving up a
game-winning two-run
home run to Robby Hammock in the 10th inning.
Matched Jamie Walker for the staff lead with 13 appearances during June...scored upon in seven of his 13
appearances during the month, posting a
7.07 ERA (
14.0IP/11ER).
Earned his first major league win July 8
versus the Chicago White Sox despite allowing one run on two hits in an
inning of work.
Equaled a
career high with three scoreless innings of relief at Seattle on July 31.
Walked 12 batters in his final 17 outings, a
stretch of 22.2 innings, August 13-September 26...issued just 10 walks
in his first 49 appearances, a
stretch of 54.1 innings.
Fanned a
career-high three batters August 19 versus Texas.
Suffered the loss in consecutive outings August 23 versus Anaheim and August 27 at Cleveland, allowing seven
runs on eight hits in 2.2 innings (
23.62 ERA)...finished month of August with a
7.71 ERA (
14.0IP/12ER) in 11
games, surrendering at least one run in six of the outings -- tied for second on the staff during the month in
appearances.
Put together a
solid September for the Tigers, posting a
1.98 ERA (
13.2IP/3ER) in 12 games -- tied for second
on the staff during the month in appearances.
In 37 games prior to the all-star break, he was 1-1
with a
5.01 ERA (
41.1IP/23ER) and three saves...after the allstar
break, he finished 0-2
with a 4.29 ERA (
35.2IP/17ER) in 29 outings.
2002
Selected by the Braves from the Pittsburgh Pirates organization in the first round of the Rule 5 draft on December 16, 2002.
Spent 2nd consecutive season with Pirates' AA Altoona affiliate.
Tossed a 1-2-3 ninth inning in a no-hitter April 23 vs. Akron.
Saved both games of a doubleheader May 14 vs. New Haven.
Pitched 20.1 consecutive scoreless innings May 11 thru June 16.
Allowed just two runs in his final 16 outings (14.2 IP, 0.95 ERA) while notching nine saves.
Finished third in the Eastern League's Rolaids Relief Man standings.
AA mid-season All-Star...Ranked third in saves (20) and tied for fourth in games (51) in Eastern League.
2001: Spent entire season with Altoona...Split season between starting rotation and bullpen...Went 2-6 with a 3.28 ERA (90.2 IP, 33 ER) in 15 starts and 3-1 with one save and a 2.61 ERA (31.0 IP, 9 ER) in 19 relief appearances...Ranked fourth among Pittsburgh farmhands with a 3.11 ERA...Made first outing as a starter April 8 and lost at Erie (5.0 IP, 4 ER)...Tossed 5.0 innings of relief in next appearance April 13 and then made 14 straight starts thru July 12...Hurled 7.0 scoreless frames and picked up first win April 18 at Bowie...Also struck out season-high six batters April 18...Posted a 1.82 ERA (29.2 IP, 6 ER) in five games during the month of April...Lost four straight decisions from April 24 thru June 23...Did not surrender a run in six consecutive outings from July 18-31 (10.0 IP)...Recorded lone save Aug. 13 vs. Erie...Surrendered all nine of his home runs as a starter. 2000: Made 34 relief appearances for Class A Tampa...Did not allow a run over 9 appearances May 25-June 14 (2-0, 1 save, 17.1 IP, 6 H, 2 BB, 17 K)...Acquired by Pirates from Yankees in exchange for INF Luis Sojo Aug. 7, allowing only 2 ER in 9 games (18.1 IP, 0.98 ERA).1999: Appeared in 49 games in relief for Class A Greensboro...Pitched scoreless ball over 7 appearances June 24-July 15 (10.1 IP, 8 H)...Held right-handed hitters to a .213 Opp. BA (36 x 169). 1998: Began pro career with Gulf Coast League Yankees.
