| Liam Spence | |
| Team: | Sioux Falls Canaries |
| Number: | 21 |
| Position: | Infielder |
| Birth Date: | 9 April 1998 |
| Birth Place: | Geelong, Victoria, Australia |
| Bats: | Right |
| Throws: | Right |
Liam John Spence (born April 9, 1998) is an Australian professional baseball infielder for the Sioux Falls Canaries of the American Association of Professional Baseball. Spence is a member of the Australia national baseball team in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
Spence graduated from St. Joseph's College in Geelong, Victoria.[1] He then attended Central Arizona College, where he played college baseball for two years, before he transferred to the University of Tennessee to play for the Tennessee Volunteers.[2] In 2021, he was a finalist for the Brooks Wallace Award.[3]
The Chicago Cubs drafted Spence in the fifth round, with the 154th overall selection, of the 2021 Major League Baseball draft.[4] He spent his first professional season with the rookie–level Arizona Complex League Cubs, High–A South Bend Cubs, and Triple–A Iowa Cubs. In 20 total games, he combined for a .175/.243/.175 batting line with six RBI and one stolen base.[5]
Spence split the 2022 campaign between the ACL Cubs and Single–A Myrtle Beach Pelicans. In 62 combined contests, he batted .192/.318/.305 with four home runs and 29 RBI.[6] Spence returned to High–A South Bend in 2023, playing in 36 games and hitting .214/.346/.303 with one home run, 10 RBI, and two stolen bases.[7]
On March 29, 2024, Spence was released by the Cubs organization.[8]
On May 2, 2024, Spence signed with the Sioux Falls Canaries of the American Association of Professional Baseball.[9]
Liam's two older brothers, Josh and Nic, played baseball for Central Arizona. Josh also played for the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball.[10]