Curt Leskanic

Curtis Leskanic
Pitcher
Born: (1968-04-02) April 2, 1968
Homestead, Pennsylvania
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
June 27, 1993, for the Colorado Rockies
Last MLB appearance
October 2, 2004, for the Boston Red Sox
MLB statistics
Win–Loss record 50–34
Earned run average 4.36
Strikeouts 641
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Curtis John Leskanic (/lɛsˈkænk/; born April 2, 1968) is an American former Major League Baseball relief pitcher. During a 12-year baseball career, he pitched from 1993–2004 for the Colorado Rockies, Milwaukee Brewers, Kansas City Royals and Boston Red Sox. He is currently a professional scout for the Red Sox.

Career

Leskanic was drafted in the eighth round of the 1989 baseball amateur entry draft by the Cleveland Indians, but was traded in 1992 to the Minnesota Twins with Oscar Munoz for Paul Sorrento. Later that same year, he was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 1992 Expansion Draft. In 1993, he made his major league debut with the Rockies.

In 2004, during the Kansas City Royals disastrous 58–104 season he was released on June 18. On June 22, he was picked up by the Boston Red Sox and then made three appearances during the 2004 ALCS against the New York Yankees and was credited with the Game 4 win. His one and a third innings of shutout baseball during Game 4 were the last he would ever throw; he retired following the 2004 season. He did make a return to Fenway Park for Opening Day 2005; there he received his World Series ring, as well as a large ovation. For Opening Day 2008, he got to carry out the World Series trophy.[1]

There is some uncertainty as to Leskanic's actual age. He graduated from Steel Valley High School in Munhall, PA in 1985 and enrolled at Allegheny County Community College during the fall of that year. In 1986 he transferred to LSU, and was drafted after his junior year. Leskanic may have omitted his time at ACCC on his professional resume. Many believe his actual birth date to be in either late 1966 or early 1967 making him older than actually reported; a common practice for right handed pitchers in Major League Baseball.

Leskanic was a little league coach in Florida and a scouting consultant for Boston before joining the Red Sox professional scouting staff for the 2008 season.

Personal life

Leskanic has a son, Brandon, and two daughters, Chloe and Chandler.[2] His cousin Katrina Leskanich is the lead singer of the music group Katrina and the Waves, best known for the hit single "Walking on Sunshine."[3]

In September 2011, Leskanic was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol.[4]

See also

References

  1. "Red Sox' home opener a success all around". The Boston Globe. April 8, 2008. Archived from the original on October 21, 2012. Retrieved April 9, 2008.
  2. Jeff Birnbaum (September 26, 2008). "Where are they now? Curtis Leskanic". MLB.com. Archived from the original on August 26, 2014. Retrieved August 26, 2014.
  3. Archived December 4, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.
  4. Gary Taylor (September 15, 2011). "Curtis Leskanic: Former pro baseball pitcher arrested on DUI charge". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on October 5, 2012. Retrieved September 14, 2011.
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