Carson Spiers Bio
William Carson Spiers, known as Carson Spiers, is an American professional baseball pitcher who has spent his career in the Cincinnati Reds organization. A right-handed reliever, Spiers made his Major League Baseball debut in September 2023 after working his way through the Reds’ minor league system. His journey through college and the lower minors reflected steady development, and he earned a 40-man roster spot later that same year.
After navigating injuries and roster changes in 2024 and 2025, Spiers returned to the Reds organization on a minor league contract. He continues to be recognized for his resilience and for coming from a family with deep ties to Clemson baseball.
Early Life and Background
Carson Spiers was born on November 11, 1997, and grew up in Greenville, South Carolina. He attended Greenville High School, where he was a two-sport athlete. On the baseball field, Spiers played third base, while on the gridiron he served as the team’s quarterback, drawing college interest for both sports.
His family had a strong athletic tradition tied to Clemson University. His uncle, Bill Spiers, played baseball for Clemson and went on to play in the major leagues, while his father, Michael, and grandfather, Bud, also played baseball for the Clemson Tigers. Spiers’ cousin, Will, was the punter for the Clemson football team, reinforcing a clear family connection to the university.
Path to Baseball
After high school, Spiers enrolled at Clemson University, where he played college baseball for the Clemson Tigers. He made three appearances as a pitcher in 2017 during his freshman year and posted a 2.08 earned run average the next season as a middle reliever. During the summer of 2018, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Falmouth Commodores of the Cape Cod Baseball League, where he recorded a 0.84 earned run average.
Spiers became Clemson’s closer in 2019 and finished his collegiate career with a 7-7 win-loss record, a 2.47 earned run average, 19 saves and 103 strikeouts across 109 and one-third innings pitched, all in a relief role.
Carson Spiers Career
Early Career (2021-2022)
After going unselected in the shortened 2020 Major League Baseball draft, Spiers signed with the Cincinnati Reds as a free agent. He did not play that year because the minor league season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, Spiers made his professional debut, splitting the year between the Single-A Daytona Tortugas and the High-A Dayton Dragons. Over 25 games, including 20 starts, he went 8-4 with a 3.55 earned run average and 130 strikeouts across 111 and two-thirds innings.
In 2022, Spiers moved up to Double-A and Triple-A with the Louisville Bats. He made 27 appearances, 23 of them starts, and posted a 4-6 record and 5.33 earned run average with 105 strikeouts in 121 and two-thirds innings. After splitting time as a starter and reliever, he transitioned to a full-time relief role with the Chattanooga Lookouts of the Double-A Southern League in 2023.
MLB Debut and Roster Promotion (2023)
On September 1, 2023, the Cincinnati Reds promoted Spiers to the major leagues as a COVID-19 substitute. He made his MLB debut on September 3, 2023, starting for the Reds. In his first two major league starts, he allowed seven runs on ten hits and five walks while striking out eight in seven innings. The Reds returned him to the minors on September 10, but four days later, on September 14, they selected his contract to the 40-man roster and promoted him back to the majors. In four total appearances that September, he logged a 6.92 earned run average with 12 strikeouts across 13 innings.
Cincinnati Reds Tenure (2024-2025)
Spiers was optioned to Triple-A Louisville to open the 2024 season. He went on to make 22 appearances, including 10 starts, for Cincinnati, compiling a 5-7 record and a 5.46 earned run average with 80 strikeouts across 90 and two-thirds innings. Through the 2025 season, his major league totals included a 5-10 win-loss record, a 5.69 earned run average and 103 strikeouts.
Spiers struggled early in 2025, going 0-2 with a 6.08 earned run average and 11 strikeouts in 13 and one-third innings over three appearances. On April 20, 2025, he was placed on the injured list with a right shoulder impingement syndrome, was transferred to the 60-day injured list on May 23, and on July 26 it was announced that he had suffered a UCL injury during his rehabilitation that required season-ending surgery. The Reds designated him for assignment on November 18, 2025, and non-tendered him on November 21, making him a free agent. He re-signed with the Cincinnati Reds organization on a minor league contract on November 24, 2025.
Driving Style and Strengths
Spiers has been deployed primarily as a relief pitcher, both in college and professionally, and has shown the ability to log multiple innings out of the bullpen. His Cape Cod League success and his role as Clemson’s closer demonstrated composure in high-leverage situations, and the Reds have continued to value his versatility as both a long reliever and an occasional starter at the major league level.
Notable Events and Milestones
Spiers’ biggest career moment came on September 3, 2023, when he made his Major League Baseball debut for the Cincinnati Reds. Shortly afterward, his selection to the 40-man roster marked a key step in his professional growth, and his continued presence in the Reds organization despite injuries underscored his standing within the club.
Carson Spiers Career Wins
Spiers has collected professional wins across multiple levels, including the minor leagues and Major League Baseball. His most productive stretch came during his 2021 professional debut, when he won eight games, and he added his first major league decisions in 2023 and 2024 while working in both starting and relief roles for the Cincinnati Reds.
Minor League Highlights
Spiers opened his professional career with an 8-4 record in 2021, split between Single-A Daytona and High-A Dayton. The following year, he went 4-6 between Double-A and Triple-A Louisville. Across those first two professional seasons, he combined for 130 and 105 strikeouts, respectively, establishing himself as a steady strike-thrower in the Reds’ system.
Other Wins and Performances
At the major league level, Spiers has contributed to a number of team victories as a reliever and spot starter, with his role expanding in 2024. While his win totals at the highest level have been modest, his ability to handle multiple innings has made him a flexible option in the Cincinnati bullpen.
Carson Spiers Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Spiers comes from a family with deep ties to Clemson athletics. His uncle, Bill Spiers, played baseball at Clemson and went on to play in the major leagues. His father, Michael, and his grandfather, Bud, also played baseball for the Clemson Tigers, and his cousin, Will, was the punter for the Clemson football team. That multi-generational connection to Clemson helped shape his path in both baseball and football.
Personal Life
Spiers’ upbringing in Greenville, South Carolina, kept him close to the Clemson community, where several members of his family played college sports. That environment provided early exposure to high-level competition and contributed to his development as a pitcher.
2025 Season Performance
Spiers’ 2025 season was disrupted almost from the start. After three early appearances with the Cincinnati Reds in which he posted an 0-2 record and a 6.08 earned run average, he was placed on the injured list on April 20 with a right shoulder impingement syndrome. He was transferred to the 60-day injured list on May 23 as the issue persisted.
On July 26, 2025, the Reds announced that Spiers had suffered a UCL injury during his rehabilitation that required season-ending surgery, effectively ending his year. He was designated for assignment on November 18 and non-tendered on November 21, becoming a free agent before re-signing with the Cincinnati Reds organization on a minor league contract on November 24.
Looking ahead, Spiers will be working his way back from UCL surgery while attempting to re-establish himself in the Reds’ system. His return to the organization suggests the club still values his arm, and his recovery progress will be a key storyline in the coming year.
