Glenn Sparkman


Glenn Michael Sparkman is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball. He previously played for the Toronto Blue Jays.

High school and college

Sparkman attended Ganado High School in his hometown of Ganado, Texas. Undrafted out of high school, he attended Wharton County Junior College in Wharton, Texas. In 2013, his junior year, he went 5-4 with a 2.78 ERA in 77.2 innings.

Professional career

Kansas City Royals

Sparkman was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the 20th round of the 2013 Major League Baseball draft. He was assigned to the Rookie Idaho Falls Chukars for the 2013 season and made 20 relief appearances, posting a 1–0 win–loss record, 1.72 earned run average, and 47 strikeouts in 36 innings pitched. Sparkman was promoted to the Advanced-A Wilmington Blue Rocks of the Carolina League for the 2014 season. He was named the Carolina League's Pitcher of the Year after pitching to an 8–3 record, 1.56 ERA, and 117 strikeouts in 121 innings pitched.
Sparkman began the 2015 season with the Double-A Northwest Arkansas Naturals, making four starts and going 2–2 with a 3.60 ERA before going on the disabled list with an arm injury. It was later determined that he needed Tommy John surgery, which caused him to miss the remainder of the season and the start of the 2016 season. Sparkman rehabbed with the Arizona League Royals, and also made starts for the Class-A Lexington Legends, Advanced-A Wilmington, and Double-A Northwest Arkansas in 2016. In 16 combined starts, he posted a 2–7 record, 5.22 ERA, and 65 strikeouts in 60 innings.

Toronto Blue Jays

On December 8, 2016, Sparkman was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2016 Rule 5 draft. Sparkman suffered a broken right thumb in spring training in 2017, and opened the season on the 10-day disabled list. On April 10, he was transferred to the 60-day disabled list. Sparkman was activated on June 30 and called up by the Blue Jays. He appeared in relief in two games, giving up seven runs over a single inning pitched. He was designated for assignment on July 3.

Return to Kansas City

On July 8, 2017, Sparkman was returned to the Kansas City Royals. He was added to the Royals active roster on July 8, 2018.