Kieboom decided to retire from professional baseball shortly after the 2019 season, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.
The 29-year-old older brother of Nationals infielder Carter Kieboom, Spencer noted that his playing days were over while he discussed his post-career plans in his interview with Dougherty. Kieboom, a 2012 fifth-round pick of Washington, spent his entire career in the organization, appearing in 53 games in the majors and slashing .232/.326/.320 with two home runs and 13 RBI.
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Spencer Kieboom: Elects free agency
Rotowire
Kieboom (elbow) elected free agency Thursday after declining an outright assignment to Triple-A Fresno, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.
Kieboom was shuffled between the majors and minors last season before being sidelined with elbow inflammation in September, and it isn't entirely surprising to see the 28-year-old elect free agency given the Nationals' depth at catcher. In 52 games at the Double-A level in 2019, Kieboom hit just .196/.271/.256.
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Nationals' Spencer Kieboom: Outrighted to Triple-A
Rotowire
Kieboom (elbow) was outrighted to Triple-A Fresno on Monday.
The 28-year-old was placed on the 60-day minor-league injured list in late September, and was sent outright to Triple-A Fresno on Monday. In 52 games with Double-A Harrisburg this season, Kieboom hit just .196/.271/.256 with one home run.
Kieboom was transferred to the 60-day injured list Sunday with elbow inflammation, Dan Kolko of MASN Sports reports.
Kieboom was placed on the minor-league injured list in late August and will now be sidelined for the rest of the season. Tres Barrera had his contract selected from Double-A Harrisburg in a corresponding move to provide some additional depth behind the plate for Washington.
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Nationals' Spencer Kieboom: Sent back to Double-A
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The Nationals optioned Kieboom to Double-A Harrisburg on Thursday, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reports.
The Nationals haven't announced a corresponding transaction, but the team is expected to reinstate reliever Hunter Strickland (personal) from the paternity list to take Kieboom's spot on the active roster. Kieboom went unused during his two-day stint with the big club.
The Nationals officially recalled Kieboom from Double-A Harrisburg on Tuesday, Brittany Ghiroli of The Athletic reports.
Word surfaced earlier in the day that Kieboom was en route to Washington after a spot on the 25-man roster opened up with Hunter Strickland (personal) landing on the paternity list. Strickland will be activated ahead of Friday's game against the Marlins -- if not sooner -- so Kieboom will likely be in line for an abbreviated stint with the big club.
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Nationals' Spencer Kieboom: Moving up to big club
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The Nationals plan to recall Kieboom from Double-A Harrisburg ahead of Tuesday's game against the Orioles, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.
Washington will bring Kieboom in as third catcher and extra bench bat with reliever Hunter Strickland (personal) expected to be placed on the paternity list later Tuesday. Strickland will have to be reinstated ahead of Friday's series opener versus the Marlins, so Kieboom may only be in line for a brief stay with the big club before reporting back to Harrisburg.
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Nationals' Spencer Kieboom: Sent back to minors
Rotowire
Kieboom was optioned to Double-A Harrisburg on Tuesday.
Kieboom spent three days on the big-league roster but did not get the chance to make his season debut. He'll make way on the roster for Austin Voth, who starts Tuesday against the Orioles.
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Nationals' Spencer Kieboom: Returning to big leagues
Rotowire
Kieboom was called up from Double-A Harrisburg on Saturday, Sam Fortier of The Washington Post reports.
Kieboom will make his first trip to the majors this year after spending the first half of the season at Double-A. The 28-year-old is in the midst of the worst offensive season of his minor-league career with a .548 OPS in 38 games. Kieboom seems likely to return to Harrisburg once the Nationals require an additional starting pitcher early next week.
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Nationals' Spencer Kieboom: Optioned to minors
Rotowire
Kieboom was optioned to Double-A Harrisburg on Saturday, Byron Kerr of MASN Sports reports.
Kieboom appeared in 52 games for the Nationals last year, hitting .232/.322/.320. He'll remain a depth option for the organization this season.
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Nationals' Spencer Kieboom: Drives in three
Rotowire
Kieboom went 2-for-3 with three RBI and two runs scored in Wednesday's win over the Marlins.
Kieboom opened the scoring with a two-run single in the second inning before adding another RBI single in the fifth. The backup catcher has made the most of his limited opportunities in September, slashing .333/.444/.533 with two homers, seven RBI and a 5:6 K:BB in 12 games.
Nationals' Spencer Kieboom: On base three times against Brewers
Rotowire
Kieboom went 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored in Tuesday's loss to the Brewers.
The 27-year-old rookie continues to play sporadically behind Matt Wieters, and this performance boosted his slash line on the season to .233/.299/.267. Kieboom likely isn't ever going to offer much at the plate, but the coaching staff at least seems comfortable with his defense and pitch calling in a backup role.
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Nationals' Spencer Kieboom: Takes seat Sunday
Rotowire
Kieboom is out of the lineup Sunday against the Phillies.
After back-to-back starts behind the plate, Kieboom will head to the bench in favor of Pedro Severino.
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Nationals' Spencer Kieboom: Collects first big-league hit
Rotowire
Kieboom went 1-for-3 in Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader against the Dodgers.
Saturday marked Kieboom's first major-league at-bat since 2016 and first-ever major-league hit. He was recalled for catching depth ahead of a doubleheader, but there's a decent chance Kieboom latches on as Pedro Severino's backup for the foreseeable future.
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Nationals' Spencer Kieboom: Rejoins Nationals
Rotowire
The Nationals recalled Kieboom from Triple-A Syracuse on Friday, Dan Kolko of MASN Sports reports.
Kieboom was designated for assignment in early March and headed to Syracuse after clearing waivers, so the team moved Adam Eaton (ankle) to the 60-day disabled list to create room on the 40-man roster. Kieboom should serve as backup catcher to Pedro Severino for the Nationals, with Matt Wieters hitting the 10-day DL with a hamstring strain.
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Nationals' Spencer Kieboom: Clears waivers
Rotowire
Kieboom cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Syracuse on Tuesday, Dan Kolko of MASN Sports reports.
The Nationals DFA'd the catcher last week following the signing of reliever Joe Blanton. He'll stick around in the organization as a depth option at Triple-A, but it may take a DL stint for either Matt Wieters or Jose Lobaton for Kieboom to reclaim a spot on the 40-man roster.
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Nationals' Spencer Kieboom: Designated for assignment
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Kieboom was designated for assignment Thursday, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reports.
Kieboom was ultimately deemed expendable when the team needed a roster spot cleared to make room for reliever Joe Blanton, who signed a one-year deal with the team Tuesday. The 25-year-old backstop saw just one at-bat for the Nationals in 2016, and with the acquisitions of Matt Wieters and Derek Norris, Kieboom was expected to begin the season in Triple-A anyway.
