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Mark Leiter Jr.

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Mark Leiter Jr.
Leiter Jr. with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2017
New York Yankees – No. 38
Pitcher
Born: (1991-03-13) March 13, 1991 (age 33)
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
April 28, 2017, for the Philadelphia Phillies
MLB statistics
(through 2024 season)
Win–loss record10–22
Earned run average4.56
Strikeouts342
Teams

Mark Edward Leiter Jr. (born March 13, 1991) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Philadelphia Phillies, Toronto Blue Jays, and Chicago Cubs. Leiter was drafted by the Phillies in the 22nd round of the 2013 Major League Baseball draft, and made his MLB debut in 2017 with the Phillies.

Career

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Philadelphia Phillies

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Leiter attended Toms River High School North in Toms River, New Jersey and played college baseball at the New Jersey Institute of Technology. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 22nd round of the 2013 Major League Baseball draft[1][2] and signed. He made his professional debut that year with the GCL Phillies and he was promoted to the Clearwater Threshers and Lakewood BlueClaws during the season. In 45 innings pitched between the three teams, he was 4–0 with a 1.20 ERA. In 2014, he played for Lakewood and Clearwater, compiling a combined 9–12 record and 4.35 ERA in 27 total starts, and in 2015, he pitched with Clearwater and the Reading Fighting Phils, going 8–7 with a 3.09 ERA in 27 games (21 starts). Leiter spent 2016 with Reading where he pitched to a 6–3 record and 3.39 ERA in 23 games (17 starts).[3] He began 2017 with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.

Leiter was called up to the Major Leagues for the first time on April 18, 2017,[4] making his debut on April 28.[5] He finished his rookie season with a 3–6 record and a 4.96 ERA with 84 strikeouts over 27 appearances (11 starts).[6] He began 2018 on the disabled list and was optioned to Lehigh Valley after he was activated.

Toronto Blue Jays

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On September 1, 2018, Leiter was claimed off waivers by the Toronto Blue Jays.[7] He was activated from the disabled list on September 3 and made 8 appearances for Toronto, struggling to a 13.50 ERA with 9 strikeouts across 6+2⁄3 innings. Leiter was designated for assignment by the Blue Jays on November 26.[8] He later cleared waivers and was assigned to the Triple–A Buffalo Bisons.

On March 17, 2019, the Blue Jays organization announced Leiter would miss the entire season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.[9] Leiter elected free agency following the season on November 4.[10]

Arizona Diamondbacks

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On February 13, 2020, Leiter signed a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[11] Leiter was released by the Diamondbacks organization on May 22.

Somerset Patriots

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On July 9, 2020, Leiter signed with the Somerset Patriots of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.[12] He did not play in a game for the Patriots due to the cancellation of the 2020 ALPB season as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic,[13] though he would participate in a pop-up series of games that the team would create called the SOMERSET Professional Baseball Series.[14]

Detroit Tigers

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On March 24, 2021, Leiter signed a minor league contract with the Detroit Tigers organization.[15] Leiter split the 2021 season with the Double-A Erie SeaWolves and the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens. He made 25 appearances, going 10–8 with a 3.77 ERA and 145 strikeouts. He became a free agent following the season.

Chicago Cubs

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On December 17, 2021, Leiter signed a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs.[16] On April 16, 2022, Leiter's contract was selected by the Cubs.[17] On August 16, Leiter recorded his first career save in a game against the Washington Nationals.[18] In 35 appearances for Chicago, Leiter registered a 2–7 record and 3.99 ERA with 73 strikeouts in 67+2⁄3 innings pitched.

On January 13, 2023, Leiter was designated for assignment by Chicago after the signing of Eric Hosmer was made official.[19] On January 19, Leiter cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple–A Iowa Cubs.[20] However, four days later, Leiter rejected the outright assignment and elected free agency.[21] On February 2, Leiter re-signed with the Cubs on a minor league contract.[22] On March 30, the Cubs selected Leiter's contract, adding him to the major league roster.[23] In 69 relief appearances, he logged a 3.50 ERA with 77 strikeouts and four saves across 64+1⁄3 innings pitched.[24]

Leiter made 39 appearances out of the bullpen for the Cubs in 2024, compiling a 2–4 record and 4.21 ERA with 53 strikeouts over 36+1⁄3 innings pitched.[25]

New York Yankees

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On July 30, 2024, the Cubs traded Leiter Jr. to the New York Yankees in exchange for infielder Ben Cowles and pitcher Jack Neely.[26]

Personal life

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His father, Mark Leiter, and uncle, Al Leiter, pitched in the major leagues.[27] His cousin Jack Leiter was drafted by the Texas Rangers in 2021.[28]

Leiter has been a resident of the Lanoka Harbor section of Lacey Township, New Jersey.[29]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Housenick, Tom (March 28, 2017). "Phillies minor league pitcher Mark Leiter prepared for any situation". The Morning Call. Allentown, Pennsylvania. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
  2. ^ Edelson, Stephen (June 15, 2016). "Mark Leiter Jr. slowly shedding underdog status". Asbury Park Press. Neptune, New Jersey. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
  3. ^ "Mark Leiter Jr. Stats, Highlights, Bio – MiLB.com Stats – The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  4. ^ Rizzo, Salvador (April 19, 2017). "Leiter Jr. Called Up to the Major Leagues". Observer. New York, New York. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
  5. ^ Zolecki, Todd (April 29, 2017). "Leiter 'cool, calm' for perfect MLB debut: Reliever part of second father-son duo to play for Phillies". phillies.com. MLB Advanced Media. Archived from the original on April 29, 2017. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
  6. ^ "Mark Leiter Jr. Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
  7. ^ "Blue Jays claim Leiter Jr., recall Reid-Foley, Fernandez, Guerrieri". Sportsnet. September 1, 2018. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
  8. ^ "Blue Jays add right-hander Oliver Drake off waivers from Rays". Sportsnet. November 26, 2018. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
  9. ^ "Jays' Travis out 4–6 weeks after surgery". TSN.ca. March 17, 2019. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
  10. ^ "Minor League Free Agents 2019". baseballamerica.com. November 7, 2019. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  11. ^ "2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled". mlb.com. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  12. ^ "Former Old Bridge and Piscataway stars highlight Somerset Patriots roster". mycentraljersey.com. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  13. ^ "Atlantic League Professional Baseball: Transactions".
  14. ^ Somerset Patriots (July 9, 2020). "SOMERSET Professional Baseball Series Rosters Announced". The Bridgewater Patch. Patch Media. Patch.com. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
  15. ^ "Tigers Sign Mark Leiter Jr". Fantasy Alarm. March 24, 2021. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
  16. ^ "Cubs Sign Mark Leiter Jr". MLB Trade Rumors. December 17, 2021. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
  17. ^ Franco, Anthony (April 16, 2022). "Cubs Planning To Select Mark Leiter Jr". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  18. ^ "Mark Leiter Jr. Picks up save | 08/16/2022". MLB.com.
  19. ^ "Cubs' Mark Leiter: DFA'd by Cubs". cbssports.com. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
  20. ^ "Cubs' Mark Leiter: Outrighted to Triple-A". cbssports.com. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  21. ^ "Mark Leiter: Becomes free agent". cbssports.com. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
  22. ^ "Cubs' Mark Leiter: Re-signs on MiLB deal". cbssports.com. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  23. ^ "Cubs Select Mark Leiter Jr". mlbtraderumors.com. March 30, 2023. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  24. ^ "Mark Leiter Jr. 2023 pitching Stats Per Game - MLB". espn.com. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  25. ^ "Yankees add relievers Mark Leiter Jr., Enyel De Los Santos". espn.com. July 30, 2024. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  26. ^ Bastian, Jordan (July 30, 2024). "Yankees acquire Leiter Jr. from Cubs for 2 prospects". MLB.com. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
  27. ^ Hagen, Paul (November 2013). "Phillies Alumni feature: Mark Leiter Sr. and Mark Leiter Jr. grew up as Philadelphia Phillies fans". mlb.com. MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
  28. ^ Havsy, Jane (July 11, 2021). "Jack Leiter selected by Texas Rangers at No. 2 pick in 2021 MLB Draft". Daily Record. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  29. ^ Joyce, Greg. "Mark Leiter Jr. gets surprise call from IronPigs to Phillies", The Express-Times, April 19, 2017. Accessed May 10, 2017. "The Lanoka Harbor, N.J. resident split 2015 between Reading and High-A Clearwater – both starting and relieving – after splitting 2014 between Clearwater and Low-A Lakewood, only starting."
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