ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The primary explanation for how Jeffrey Springs evolved from a fringy reliever who was dumped off big-league rosters three times and traded twice into a key part of a standout Rays rotation with a new four-year, $31 million contract is his fervent drive and determination to succeed.
Much the same way he got to the major leagues after being passed over by the major colleges following a stellar career at South Point (North Carolina) High. He wound up at Appalachian State, was drafted in the 30th round by Texas in 2015 and signed for a $1,000 bonus. He then bounced from the Rangers to the Red Sox to the Rays in a span of 13 months without much success (and a 5.42 ERA to show it).
“He’s brought a considerable amount of persistence to his career,” pitching coach Kyle Snyder said.
