The Detroit Tigers might be struggling this season, but there’s a curious storyline unfolding with one of their former pitchers, Spencer Turnbull. While fans might not have thought about Turnbull recently, he’s made a surprising move by resurfacing with the Cerveceros de Tecate in Mexico’s Liga Norte de México. This regional league in northwestern Mexico is where Turnbull is now trying to reignite his baseball career.
Turnbull made a solid debut with his new team, pitching 2 and 1/3 innings and striking out five batters. It’s an interesting turn of events for a pitcher who was last seen in the majors with the Toronto Blue Jays. His journey from the big leagues to Mexico is certainly intriguing.
Tigers fans will recall Turnbull’s stint in Detroit from 2018 to 2023. During his time with the Tigers, he pitched in 61 games, maintaining a 4.55 ERA over more than 300 innings. While he may not have been the team’s ace, he was a reliable presence on the mound and even threw a memorable no-hitter in 2021.
One of Turnbull’s standout seasons with the Tigers was in 2019, despite a challenging 3-17 record. That record reflected more on the team’s struggles than his performance, as he posted a 4.61 ERA in 30 starts. Unfortunately, injuries have often limited his availability throughout his career.
After leaving the Tigers, Turnbull joined the Philadelphia Phillies in 2024 and seemed to find his groove with a 2.65 ERA over 54 1/3 innings, striking out 58 batters. However, his season was cut short by an injury in June.
He then signed with the Blue Jays in 2025, but his stint there was brief, as he struggled with a 7.11 ERA. Subsequent minor league deals with the Chicago Cubs and Kansas City Royals didn’t pan out as hoped.
Now, Turnbull is aiming to rediscover his form in Mexico. While it’s more common for pitchers to head to Japan or Korea to revive their careers, Turnbull’s choice of Mexico is an interesting one. It brings to mind Cody Ponce’s successful stint in the KBO, which led to a lucrative contract with the Blue Jays.
For Turnbull, the key is staying healthy and proving that his pitching prowess is still intact. If he can do that, there’s a good chance a major league team might take a chance on him. Tigers fans know what he’s capable of when he’s at his best, and if he can stay on the mound, a return to the big leagues might not be far off.