Mike Leake Stats & Scouting Report

IP	1,829.0
ERA	4.06
WHIP	1.281
BB/9	2.0
SO/9	6.1

Full name Michael Raymond Leake
Born 11/12/1987 in San Diego, CA
Profile Ht.: 5'10" / Wt.: 165 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Arizona State
Debut 04/11/2010
Drafted in the 1st round (8th overall) by the Cincinnati Reds in 2009 (signed for $2,270,000).

View Draft Report

Few pitchers were as consistently good this season as Arizona State righthander Mike Leake. That shouldn't come as a surprise--he's been carving up the Pac-10 for three years. A seventh-round draft pick by the Athletics out of Fallbrook (Calif.) High in 2006, Leake instead headed for Tempe and has pitched his way into first-round consideration. Listed at 6 feet, 180 pounds, what he lacks in pure physicality, he makes up for in athleticism and results. In addition to baseball, Leake played soccer, football and basketball in high school and could be a position player at Arizona State if he wasn't so valuable on the mound. Leake pounds the strike zone with a fastball that sits 88-92 mph. He can dial it up to 94, but prefers to work at lower speeds to get more movement. Throwing from a lower three-quarters arm slot, he gets a lot of armside run and sink on his fastball that results in a lot of groundballs. He also throws a changeup, slider and cutter that grade out as above-average offerings. Leake is a smart pitcher with a bulldog mentality on the mound.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Leake didn't receive the hype of No. 1 overall pick Stephen Strasburg, but he was just as dominant during the spring, going 16-1, 1.71 at Arizona State. Sun Devils coach Pat Murphy said Leake could have been the team's best defensive third baseman or shortstop. The eighth overall pick in June, Leake signed at the Aug. 17 deadline for $2.27 million. Leake's feel for pitching and command are outstanding. He keeps hitters off balance by throwing five pitches (fastball, cutter, slider, curveball and changeup) for strikes. He can run his fastball up to 94 mph, but it's more effective when he pitches at 88-92 with better run and sink. His changeup is deceptive, and his curve and slider are two distinct breaking pitches that play well off each other. He fields his position like an extra infielder on the mound. At 6-foot-1 and with a mostly average fastball, Leake has little margin for error and a lower ceiling than his college dominance might indicate. Few pitchers can master a five-pitch arsenal, so it's possible he'll have to drop an offering or two as he moves through the minors. For now, Cincinnati will let him use his full repertoire. The Reds drafted Leake in part because he fit in their budget, but also because he was one of the most advanced pitchers in the draft. He likely will begin his pro career in high Class A and could challenge for a big league spot by the end of the season.

Top 100 Rankings

Best Tools List

Rated Best Curveball in the Cincinnati Reds in 2010

Career Transactions

Arizona Diamondbacks activated RHP Mike Leake from the restricted list.
RHP Mike Leake elected free agency.
Arizona Diamondbacks placed RHP Mike Leake on the restricted list.
Arizona Diamondbacks activated RHP Mike Leake.
Seattle Mariners traded RHP Mike Leake and cash to Arizona Diamondbacks for 2B Jose Caballero.
Mike Leake roster status changed by Seattle Mariners.
Seattle Mariners placed RHP Mike Leake on the temporarily inactive list.
Seattle Mariners activated RHP Mike Leake.
St. Louis Cardinals traded RHP Mike Leake and Future Considerations to Seattle Mariners for SS Rayder Ascanio.
St. Louis Cardinals activated RHP Mike Leake from the 15-day disabled list.
St. Louis Cardinals placed RHP Mike Leake on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to August 22, 2016. Shingles.
St. Louis Cardinals signed free agent RHP Mike Leake.
RHP Mike Leake elected free agency.
San Francisco Giants activated RHP Mike Leake from the 15-day disabled list.
San Francisco Giants placed RHP Mike Leake on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to August 3, 2015. Left hamstring strain
San Francisco Giants activated RHP Mike Leake.
Cincinnati Reds traded RHP Mike Leake to San Francisco Giants for 1B Adam Duvall and RHP Keury Mella.
RHP Mike Leake assigned to Louisville Bats.
Cincinnati Reds activated RHP Mike Leake.
Cincinnati Reds recalled RHP Mike Leake from Louisville Bats.
Mike Leake roster status changed by Louisville Bats.
Cincinnati Reds optioned RHP Mike Leake to Louisville Bats.
Cincinnati Reds activated RHP Mike Leake.
Cincinnati Reds reassigned RHP Mike Leake to the minor leagues.
Cincinnati Reds activated RHP Mike Leake from the 15-day disabled list.
Cincinnati Reds placed RHP Mike Leake on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to August 25, 2010. right shoulder fatigue
Cincinnati Reds selected the contract of RHP Mike Leake from Louisville Bats.
Mike Leake assigned to Louisville Bats from Cincinnati Reds.
Cincinnati Reds signed RHP Mike Leake.
RHP Mike Leake assigned to Peoria Saguaros.