Justin Speier was a professional baseball player who played as a relief pitcher for various teams in the Major League Baseball (MLB). He was born on November 6, 1973, in Walnut Creek, California, and attended the University of California, Berkeley, where he played college baseball for the California Golden Bears.
Speier was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 55th round of the 1995 MLB draft but did not sign with the team. Instead, he signed with the Toronto Blue Jays as an undrafted free agent in 1998. He made his MLB debut with the Blue Jays on April 22, 1998, and played for the team until 2001.
In 2002, Speier signed with the Colorado Rockies as a free agent and played for the team until 2004. He then signed with the Toronto Blue Jays again in 2005 and played for the team until 2006. In 2007, he signed with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and played for the team until 2008. He then signed with the Toronto Blue Jays again in 2009 but was released by the team in August of that year.
Throughout his career, Speier was known for his versatility as a relief pitcher. He could pitch in various situations, including as a setup man or a closer. He had a career record of 34-34 with an ERA of 4.11 and 446 strikeouts in 599 innings pitched.
Speier was also known for his durability and consistency. He appeared in at least 50 games in eight of his 12 seasons in the MLB and had an ERA below 4.00 in six of those seasons. He was also a reliable postseason performer, with a 2.70 ERA in 10 postseason appearances.
After his playing career, Speier became a coach and worked as a pitching coach for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim's minor league affiliates. He also worked as a scout for the team.
In conclusion, Justin Speier was a versatile and consistent relief pitcher who played for various teams in the MLB. He had a successful career, appearing in over 600 games and earning a reputation as a reliable postseason performer. After his playing career, he became a coach and scout for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
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