Spencer Turnbull Bio
Spencer Ketcham Turnbull (born September 18, 1992) is an American professional baseball pitcher. He has pitched in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Detroit Tigers, Philadelphia Phillies, and Toronto Blue Jays, and later signed with the Caliente de Durango of the Mexican League. A right-handed starter, Turnbull is best known for the no-hitter he threw against the Seattle Mariners on May 18, 2021.
After starring at Madison Central High School in Mississippi and playing college baseball for the Alabama Crimson Tide, Turnbull was selected by the Detroit Tigers in the second round of the 2014 MLB draft. He reached the major leagues in 2018 and has continued his professional career across multiple organizations.
Early Life and Background
Spencer Ketcham Turnbull was born on September 18, 1992, in Madison, Mississippi. He grew up in a supportive family and is the son of Jim and Missy Turnbull. Madison, a city just north of the state capital of Jackson, has long been a hotbed for baseball talent in central Mississippi, and Turnbull developed his game in that competitive environment.
He attended Madison Central High School, where he established himself as one of the top pitching prospects in the region. His performance on the mound drew attention from college programs across the Southeast, and he ultimately committed to the University of Alabama.
At Alabama, Turnbull quickly developed into the Crimson Tide’s top starting pitcher by 2013. Following that college season, he played collegiate summer baseball for the Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod Baseball League, one of the most prestigious amateur summer circuits in the country. The experience helped him sharpen his repertoire against high-level hitting.
Path to Baseball
Turnbull’s path to professional baseball accelerated after his junior season at Alabama. The Detroit Tigers selected him in the second round, with the 63rd overall pick, of the 2014 MLB draft. He signed with the Tigers and received a $900,600 signing bonus, forgoing his remaining college eligibility.
He began his professional career with the GCL Tigers in the Gulf Coast League and, after one start, was promoted to the Low-A Connecticut Tigers. Turnbull finished that 2014 season with the Connecticut club, posting an 0-2 record and a 4.45 ERA in 11 starts. The Tigers moved him up the ladder steadily, with 2015 spent at the Single-A West Michigan Whitecaps, where he went 11-3 with a 3.01 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP in 22 starts.
After missing most of 2016 with a shoulder impingement, Turnbull bounced back in 2017 by splitting the year between High-A Lakeland and Double-A Erie. The Tigers added him to their 40-man roster after that season, setting the stage for his major league debut the following year.
Spencer Turnbull Career
Early Career (2018-2019)
Turnbull made his major league debut on September 14, 2018, against the Cleveland Indians, pitching a 1-2-3 inning of relief with one strikeout. He finished his first MLB campaign with an 0-2 record across four relief appearances for Detroit.
In 2019, Turnbull broke camp with the Tigers as a member of the starting rotation and earned his first MLB win on April 23. He went 3-17 in 30 starts that season, posting a 4.61 ERA with 146 strikeouts in 148 and one-third innings. His 17 losses led the major leagues, and he also received the lowest run support of any qualifying MLB starter, at just 2.65 runs per game.
Detroit Tigers Breakthrough (2020-2021)
Turnbull picked up his first win in nearly a year on July 31, 2020, earning the victory in a 7-2 decision over the Cincinnati Reds. That win was also his first ever at Comerica Park after 18 previous home starts without one. He finished the shortened 2020 season with a 4-4 record, a 3.97 ERA, and 51 strikeouts in 58 and two-thirds innings across 11 starts.
He did not make Detroit’s Opening Day roster in 2021 after being placed on the non-baseball related COVID-19 injured list, but he returned to the rotation on April 21 and won his season debut against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Less than a month later, on May 18, 2021, Turnbull threw the eighth no-hitter in Tigers history against the Seattle Mariners, recording nine strikeouts and two walks in a 5-0 victory. It was Detroit’s first no-hitter since Justin Verlander’s in 2011.
The 2021 season ended prematurely for Turnbull. He went on the injured list on June 5 with a right forearm strain, suffered a setback, and was transferred to the 60-day injured list on July 7. On July 20, the Tigers announced that he would undergo Tommy John surgery, ending his year. In nine games, he posted a 4-2 record and a 2.88 ERA.
Recovery and Free Agency (2022-2023)
Turnbull missed the entire 2022 season while rehabilitating from Tommy John surgery. He returned to the major leagues on April 2, 2023, but struggled in his first seven starts, going 1-4 with a 7.26 ERA, and was optioned to Triple-A Toledo on May 7. A neck injury placed him on the injured list in mid-May, and he spent much of the rest of the year on the 60-day list before being activated in late August.
On November 17, 2023, the Tigers declined to tender Turnbull a contract, making him a free agent for the first time in his career.
Philadelphia Phillies Era (2024)
On February 14, 2024, Turnbull signed a one-year, $2 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies. He made his Phillies debut on April 2, throwing five scoreless innings with seven strikeouts and no walks. Across 17 appearances for Philadelphia, Turnbull logged a 2.65 ERA with 58 strikeouts, but a lat strain placed him on the injured list on June 27. He was transferred to the 60-day injured list on August 17 and did not return to the major league roster that year.
Toronto Blue Jays and Beyond (2025)
On May 5, 2025, Turnbull signed a major league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays and was optioned to the Florida Complex League Blue Jays. In three appearances, including one start, for Toronto, he went 1-1 with a 7.11 ERA and four strikeouts across six and one-third innings. The Blue Jays designated him for assignment on June 25 and released him on June 27.
Turnbull signed a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs on July 12, 2025, and went 0-3 with a 9.49 ERA in six starts for the Triple-A Iowa Cubs. He was released by the Cubs organization on August 28. Two days later, on August 30, he signed a minor league deal with the Kansas City Royals and went 0-2 with a 6.38 ERA in four appearances for the Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers. Turnbull elected free agency on November 6, 2025, and on June 4, 2026, signed with the Caliente de Durango of the Mexican League.
Driving Style and Strengths
Turnbull relies primarily on a four-seam fastball and a tailing two-seam fastball that each average 94 to 95 mph and can reach 98 mph. He complements those offerings with a slider in the mid-80s that has been his most effective pitch, limiting opponents to a .202 career batting average against, along with a curveball around 80 to 81 mph and a changeup in the high 80s. The mix of velocity, movement, and a swing-and-miss breaking ball allows him to attack both sides of the plate.
Notable Events and Milestones
The defining moment of Turnbull’s career remains his May 18, 2021 no-hitter against the Seattle Mariners, the eighth in Tigers history and the first by a Detroit pitcher since Justin Verlander’s in 2011. He also reached 100 MLB strikeouts in 2019 and has compiled 342 career strikeouts through the 2025 MLB season, according to his statistical record.
Spencer Turnbull Career Wins
Turnbull has registered his MLB victories primarily as a member of the Detroit Tigers, with additional appearances for the Toronto Blue Jays after signing in 2025. He earned his first major league win on April 23, 2019, and added his most recent big league victory during the 2025 season with Toronto.
Detroit Tigers Highlights
With Detroit, Turnbull notched his first MLB win on April 23, 2019, and went on to collect victories in 2020 and 2021, the latter capped by his no-hitter against the Seattle Mariners. His role as a starting pitcher for the Tigers made him a regular presence in the rotation whenever healthy.
Spencer Turnbull Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Turnbull is the son of Jim and Missy Turnbull. He has spoken openly about his Christian faith and the role his family has played throughout his career.
Personal Life
Following his no-hitter in 2021, Turnbull publicly revealed that he was dating Ashley TerKeurst, a fashion blogger and the daughter of author Lysa TerKeurst. The couple later married and have a child together.
2025 Season Performance
Turnbull’s 2025 season was a journey through three different organizations. He began the year as a free agent before signing a major league deal with the Toronto Blue Jays on May 5, where he went 1-1 with a 7.11 ERA across three appearances before being designated for assignment and released in late June.
He caught on with the Chicago Cubs on a minor league contract in mid-July and struggled to an 0-3 record and 9.49 ERA in six starts for the Triple-A Iowa Cubs, leading to his release on August 28. Two days later he signed with the Kansas City Royals, where he went 0-2 with a 6.38 ERA in four appearances for the Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers.
Turnbull elected free agency on November 6, 2025, and later signed with the Caliente de Durango of the Mexican League in 2026, continuing his professional career outside of MLB.