Schwellenbach is the 353rd former Northwoods League player to debut in MLB
Rochester, Minn. – Former Traverse City Pit Spitter Spencer Schwellenbach made his Major League debut for the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday, May 29, 2024. Schwellenbach is the 353rd former Northwoods League player to reach the Major League level.
Schwellenbach, who played collegiately at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, played for the Pit Spitters in 2020 and was drafted by the Braves in the 2nd round of the 2021 MLB draft.
In 2020 with the Pit Spitters, Schwellenbach played in 22 games and hit .356 with six doubles, one triple and 17 runs scored. He drove in 17 and stole 12 bases.
Schwellenbach started his professional career in 2023 with the Augusta GreenJackets of the A Level Carolina League. After 13 games in Augusta, he was promoted to the Rome Braves of the High-A South Atlantic League. As a pitcher now, he appeared in 16 games and was 5-2 with a 2.49 ERA. He struck out 55 batters in 65.0 innings while walking 16.
Schwellenbach began the 2024 season with Rome and then was sent up to the Mississippi Braves of the AA Southern League. Between the two clubs he had appeared in eight games and was 4-1 with a 1.80 ERA to go along with 51 strikeouts in 45.0 innings. In his Major League debut against the Washington Nationals, Schwellenbach started the game on the mound and went 5.0 innings allowing three runs on five hits while striking out five.
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The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Now in its’ 31st season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 26 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires, and front office staff, over 350 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time All-Star and 2016 Roberto Clemente Award winner Curtis Granderson, three-time Cy Young Award winner and two-time World Series Champion Max Scherzer (TEX), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford (STL) and World Series Champion Chris Sale (ATL). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and 2019/2021 Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and 2023 World Series Champion, 2021 and 2023 All-Star, MLB Gold Glove and Silver Slugger winner and two-time All-MLB first team shortstop Marcus Semien (TEX). League games are viewable live on Northwoods League+ (at watch.northwoodsleague.com), ESPN+, and the Northwoods League Network. Learn more and find complete streaming schedules at watchnwl.com. For more information, visit www.northwoodsleague.com or download the Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play.
