Former major league infielder Scott Spiezio, who had a lamentable 141-game stay with the Mariners in 2004-05, has been arrested by authorities in Ottawa, IL., after allegedly smashing through a neighbor’s window. When the 42-year-old veteran of nine MLB seasons fled the scene, Ottawa police used a K-9 unit to track him down, according to a report by TMZ Sports.
Spiezio was found a few hours later and the cops reportedly used a taser to take him into custody. Spiezio’s girlfriend, whose name was not disclosed, alerted authorities about the middle-of-the-night window smash. Spiezio has yet to be charged with a crime, but the case is under review.
Spiezio signed with the Mariners as a free agent Dec. 19, 2003 after spending the first eight years of his career with the Oakland Athletics and then-Anaheim Angels. He hit .215 in 415 at-bats over 112 games in 2004 and batted just .064 in 29 games in 2005. The Mariners designated Spiezio for assignment Aug. 19, 2005.
A .198 hitter during his Mariners’ tenure, Spiezio, who earned $5.6 million for the 141 games, ranks among the worst free-agent signings in franchise history.
Two months after the Mariners released him, Spiezio and a female companion were charged with assaulting a cab driver in Chicago following a dispute over a fare. Spiezio was also charged with theft (the cab driver’s cell phone) and criminal damage to property (Spiezio’s girlfriend reportedly broke the cabbie’s glasses).
Perhaps best remembered for hitting a three-run home run in Game 6 of the 2002 World Series that helped propel the Angels to a world championship, Spiezio spent two years with the St. Louis Cardinals (2006-07) before retiring.
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