Sparks started his major league career with the Milwaukee Brewers in 1995. He signed as a free agent for the Anaheim Angels in 1998 and was a free agent again in 2000. He signed briefly with the Philadelphia Phillies and was released in spring training. Sparks started the 2000 season with the Detroit Tigers and had a career high 14 wins for them in 2001. He was most recently on the Oakland Athletics and has just been signed by the Arizona Diamondbacks