Matthew LeCroy

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**Matthew LeCroy**

Lancaster Barnstormers — No. 41
Designated hitter
Born: December 13, 1975 (1975-12-13) (age 32)
Bats: Right	Throws: Right
Major League Baseball debut
April 3, 2000 for the Minnesota Twins
Selected MLB statistics (through 2007)
Batting average	.260
Home runs	60
Runs batted in	218
Teams
Minnesota Twins (2000–2005) Washington Nationals (2006) Minnesota Twins (2007) Lancaster Barnstormers (2008)

Matthew Hanks LeCroy (born December 13, 1975 in Belton, South Carolina) is a catcher for the Lancaster Barnstormers of the Atlantic League. LeCroy has the distinction of being the active player with the most plate appearances without a stolen base in his career.

He had a few good years of success with the Minnesota Twins in the early 2000's. He was always a threat to hit a home run, and has hit 60 in his career of limited at bats. He was dropped by the Twins in 2006, and signed a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals.

Though battling bone spurs in his throwing knee, LeCroy was asked to fill in during a May 25, 2006, game against the Houston Astros at a time when Washington's starting catchers, Wiki Gonzalez and Brian Schneider, were out with injuries. He was replaced with Robert Fick in the middle of the seventh inning after the Astros stole six bases and LeCroy committed two catching errors. LeCroy would then be designated for assignment July 18, and then played for the New Orleans Zephyrs, Washington's Triple-A team. LeCroy is a 1994 graduate of Belton-Honea Path High School in Honea Path, South Carolina and has attended Clemson University, pursuing a degree in elementary education. He and his wife Holly (née Reid) have an adopted daughter, Isabella. LeCroy was signed to a minor league deal by the Twins in 2007 after turning down a Washington Nationals' offer to manage one of their minor-league teams. LeCroy started the 2007 season as designated hitter playing for the Rochester Red Wings in the International League. ^[1]

He had his contract purchased by the major league club on September 9, 2007, when fourth catcher Jose Morales went down with an injury. He was outrighted to the minor leagues on October 11, 2007. However, he refused the assignment and became a free agent. On February 15, 2008, LeCroy signed a minor league contract with an invite to spring training with the Oakland Athletics. On March 16, 2008, LeCroy was reassigned to minor league camp. He asked the Athletics to grant his release, which they did.

LeCroy was signed by the Lancaster Barnstormers of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball in April of 2008.^[2]