Spangenberg was returned to Triple-A Memphis on Friday.
Spangenberg served as a replacement player during the Cardinals' road trip to Toronto since Paul Goldschmidt (personal) and Nolan Arenado (personal) were on the restricted list. The 31-year-old will head back to the minors now that the Cardinals have returned to the United States.
Spangenberg had his contract selected from Triple-A Memphis on Tuesday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Spangenberg will crack the major-league roster for the first time this season, replacing Paul Goldschmidt (personal) for the Cardinals' two-game series in Toronto. The 31-year-old owns a .218 average with 10 homers, 32 RBI, 35 runs and 10 stolen bases over 238 at-bats in 65 games with Memphis this year.
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Cardinals' Cory Spangenberg: Reassigned to Triple-A
Rotowire
Spangenberg was reassigned to minor-league camp Monday, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
After joining the Cardinals' camp as a non-roster invitee March 25, Spangenberg went 4-for-8 with three doubles, six runs and an RBI over three games. His strong performance wasn't enough for him to crack the Opening Day roster, but it certainly made his chance to get called up from Triple-A Memphis at some point more likely. The 31-year-old spent the last couple seasons overseas in Japan, last appearing in the MLB in 2019, batting .232 with four extra-base hits, 11 runs, 10 RBI and three stolen bases over 32 games with the Brewers.
Spangenberg signed with the Cardinals as a non-roster invitee Friday.
Spangenberg owns a .256/.315/.389 slash line in 419 career major-league games. The last of those games came in 2019, as he spent the last two seasons playing for the Seibu Lions in Japan, where he hit .257/.330/.463. He'll compete for a spot on the Cardinals' bench in camp.
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Cory Spangenberg: Remains in Japan
Rotowire
Spangenberg re-signed with the Seibu Lions of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball on Thursday, Yahoo Japan reports.
Spangenberg spent the 2020 season in Japan, and he'll remain in the NPB on a one-year deal for the upcoming season. The outfielder appeared in 111 games last year, hitting .267 with 14 home runs, 55 RBI and 150 strikeouts.
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Cory Spangenberg: To play overseas
Rotowire
Spangenberg signed a contract with Seibu on Thursday, Patrick Newman of NPBTracker.com reports.
Spangenberg chose free agency at the beginning of November after Milwaukee outrighted him from the 40-man roster. He hit .232 with two home runs, 10 RBI and three stolen bases over 32 contests with the Brewers in 2019.
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Cory Spangenberg: Elects free agency
Rotowire
Spangenberg was outrighted to Triple-A San Antonio on Friday and elected free agency.
Spangenberg was a later addition to the 2019 roster, and he came through in clutch moments for Milwaukee down the stretch. He slashed .232/.277/.358 with two home runs, 10 RBI and three stolen bases over 32 contests.
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Brewers' Cory Spangenberg: Gets fourth start in five games
Rotowire
Spangenberg will start in left field and bat sixth Sunday against the Rockies.
Spangenberg will close out the regular season with four starts in the final five games, as injuries to Lorenzo Cain (ankle) and Ryan Braun (calf) will open up a spot for him in the outfield. So long as both of the banged-up outfielders are able to make it back for the postseason, Spangenberg isn't likely to see regular usage in October.
Spangenberg went 2-for-3 with a triple and three RBI in Monday's victory over the Padres.
Spangenberg spent the bulk of the season with the Brewers' Triple-A affiliate, but he has played a key role late in the season, particularly the last two days, over which he picked up four hits and five RBI. He has been playing second base regularly, but that will no longer be the case when Keston Hiura (hamstring) returns to action, likely sometime this week. However, according to The Brewer Nation, manager Craig Counsell said after Monday's game that Spangenberg could see some action at shortstop -- in place of Orlando Arcia -- when Hiura is back in the lineup.
Spangenberg is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Marlins.
Spangenberg started the last 10 games at second base and tallied one hit in nine of them, but he will be held out Thursday with manager Craig Counsell electing to give the right-handed-hitting Hernan Perez the start at second base against southpaw Caleb Smith. More days off could be in store for Spangenberg in the near future, as Perez resumes his utility role with shortstop Orlando Arcia back with the team, and Keston Hiura (hamstring) could be back in the lineup sometime next week.
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Brewers' Cory Spangenberg: Hits first homer
Rotowire
Spangenberg went 1-for-4 with a home run in Thursday's 10-5 loss to the Cubs.
Making his third consecutive start, Spangenberg hit his first home run of the season in the sixth inning off Brad Wieck. The 28-year-old was optioned to the minors back in March, but was called up on August 24 after a successful stint with Triple-A San Antonio. He should see more playing time if the power continues.
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Brewers' Cory Spangenberg: Gets third straight start
Rotowire
Spangenberg will man third base and bat seventh Wednesday against the Cardinals.
He'll pick up his third consecutive start, including his second in a row at the hot corner with Mike Moustakas tending to a wrist injury. Moustakas is viewed as day-to-day and could be ready to reclaim starting duties in Friday's series opener with the Cubs, but Spangenberg's inclusion in the lineup for three straight days at least implies that he's moved ahead of Hernan Perez as the Brewers' top utility infielder.
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Brewers' Cory Spangenberg: Returns to big leagues
Rotowire
Spangenberg was called up from Triple-A San Antonio on Saturday.
Spangenberg was designated for assignment by the Brewers back in May, but he has worked his way back to the major-league team by batting .344/.403/.557 with 12 homers and 23 stolen bases in 82 games with San Antonio since the move was made. He may just be up to provide depth, though it's possible Spangenberg gets some run at shortstop in the immediate future with Orlando Arcia batting .204 since the All-Star break. Spangenberg has made 16 starts at short for San Antonio this year.
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Brewers' Cory Spangenberg: Remains in organization
Rotowire
Spangenberg cleared waivers Thursday and was outrighted to Triple-A San Antonio.
It's no big surprise that Spangenberg went unclaimed, as the 28-year-old is off to a poor start for San Antonio, hitting .212/.305/.317 in 32 games. He'll remain as organizational depth for Milwaukee.
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Brewers' Cory Spangenberg: Dropped from 40-man roster
Rotowire
The Brewers plan to designate Spangenberg for assignment Tuesday.
The transaction opens up a spot on the 40-man roster for top prospect Keston Hiura, who will be promoted from Triple-A San Antonio ahead of Tuesday's game against the Phillies and presumably take over as the Brewers' everyday second baseman. If Spangenberg passes through waivers unclaimed, he would remain in the Brewers' farm system as a utility man at San Antonio. Over 118 plate appearances in the Pacific Coast League this season, Spangenberg was slashing just .212/.305/.317 while striking out more than a third of the time.
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Brewers' Cory Spangenberg: Optioned to minors
Rotowire
Spangenberg was optioned to minor-league camp Friday.
The Brewers couldn't find room for Spangenberg or fellow utility man Tyler Saladino, as Hernan Perez is set to fill a versatile bench role. Spangenberg will have multiple routes back to the big leagues, though his .258/.318/.391 career slash line limits his fantasy appeal when opportunities do arrive.
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Brewers' Cory Spangenberg: Still competing for roster spot
Rotowire
Spangenberg went 2-for-3 with a walk in Wednesday's spring game against the Padres.
Spangenberg has enjoyed facing his former team this spring, going 3-for-6 with two RBI over two games. Overall, he has gone 11-for-44 with three home runs and seven RBI while posting a .783 OPS. He's certainly in position to break camp with a bench spot on the Brewers' roster, but with the team bringing back Mike Moustakas to start at second base and Spangenberg having an option remaining, the Brewers could opt to have him open the season in the minors.
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Brewers' Cory Spangenberg: Knocks another homer
Rotowire
Spangenberg went 1-for-3 with a solo homer in Friday's game against the Mariners.
He put the Brewers on the board with his solo shot in the sixth inning, which was followed by a solo homer from Hernan Perez. While both of Spangenberg's hits this spring have left the yard, the utility man is hitting just .167 with four strikeouts through 12 at-bats.
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Brewers' Cory Spangenberg: Belts first homer of spring
Rotowire
Spangenberg went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Monday's 4-3 loss to the Angels.
Spangenberg launched his first homer of spring training in the first inning off of Jaime Barria. With the Brewers reprising the duo of Travis Shaw and Mike Moustakas, one of whom will likely be manning second base most days, Spangenberg seems to simply be a depth option at this point. He should continue to see plenty of opportunities at the dish this spring.
