Joey Spence joins the Milwaukee baseball coaching staff for his first season in 2026-27.
No stranger to the program, Spence was a member of the 2026 Horizon League Championship team, playing an integral role in the team’s championship season. Spence was the 2026 Horizon League Championship Most Valuable Player following his game-winning home run in the bottom of the ninth to knock off top-seeded Wright State.
In addition to his league in the Horizon League postseason, Spence helped play a pivotal role during the team’s run to the NCAA Regional Championship. During the NCAA Championship, he hit .350 with four doubles and five runs scored as the team defeated host Auburn and UCF to become the first Horizon League program to advance to a regional championship through the winner’s bracket.
Prior to his playing time with the Panthers, Spence played collegiately at Texas A&M – Texarkana, preceded by a stop at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana. While with the Fighting Irish, Spence helped the team reach the College World Series, winning the Statesboro Regional and Knoxville Super Regional along the way in 2022.
Summer stops included a two-year stint with the Lakeshore Chinooks of the Northwoods League in both 2022 and 2023, earning Offensive Player of the Year accolades in 2023. He was a member of the MLB Draft League the following two summers, playing for the West Virginia Black Bears in 2024 and Williamsport Crosscutters in 2025.
Before committing to college, Spence was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2021 Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft out of West Bend East High School.
During his prep days, Spence was rated as the top catcher in his class in the State of Wisconsin as recognized by both Prep Baseball and Perfect Game. He also participated in the Perfect Game National Showcase, the Future Stars Series National Team, and the PCR Super 60 Showcase.
Beyond his playing career, Spence has been working as the Director of Young & High School Catching Development with STiKS Academy since his graduation from Milwaukee in May 2026.
He also has coaching experience working for Driveline Baseball in Tampa, Florida, while also working as a camp coach at Notre Dame during his time in South Bend.
Spence earned his degree at Milwaukee in 2026 in General Arts & Letters.
