Professional career

A 14th-round pick by the Minnesota Twins in 2003, Speigner worked his way up the minor league chain, having a solid year in 2006 for the Double-A New Britain Rock Cats, and spent a short time with the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings. After the season, he was selected by the Washington Nationals as a Rule 5 Draft pick.

Speigner worked as a middle reliever and appeared in 12 games, with a respectable 3.77 ERA through mid-May. But by then, four of the Nationals five starters were on the disabled list, and, Speigner, along with a few other Nats relievers, was pressed into service as a starter. From May 16 through June 2, Speigner started four times, each time a disaster. His longest outing was 4 innings, and over the four game span compiled a record of 0-2 and an ERA of 14.44. In his June 2 start, however, while he gave up 6 runs on 6 hits in the first inning, he then retired 10 of the final 11 batters he faced. This gave Manager Manny Acta enough confidence to try Speigner one more time. On June 9, facing two-time Cy Young award winner Johan Santana, Speigner threw a gem, six innings, two hits, and one run, earning a 3-1 victory over the Minnesota Twins. Speigner gave credit to pitching coach Randy St. Claire for correcting a number of errors. But he followed that with a game against the Toronto Blue Jays in which he surrendered seven runs in 31⁄₃ innings. Three days later, he appeared in relief, and surrendered 2 runs in 2 innings, and the following day he was designated for assignment. The Nationals and the Twins worked out a deal allowing the Nationals to send Speigner to Triple-A Columbus. The Nationals gave up minor league outfielder Darnell McDonald.

[ Source: Wikipedia ]