- Full name Chris Leonard
- Born
- Profile Throws: L
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An organization short on southpaws decided to take a chance on Leonard, and in 2004 the Jays will start to see if their gamble pays off. Leonard entered 2002 ranked as one of the top college pitchers available for that year's draft. He led the Mid-American Conference in wins in 2001 at 11-3, 3.36, then followed up by leading the Cape Cod League in ERA during a 6-0, 0.98 summer. He ranked as the Cape's No. 4 prospect (behind fellow Jays farmhands Russ Adams and David Bush) thanks to a high-80s mph fastball, a smooth yet deceptive delivery, a solid curveball and a good changeup. Leonard struggled in 2002, though, going just 2-4, 4.85 while pitching with a split fingernail and blister on the index finger of his left hand. Later in the spring, he was diagnosed with elbow damage that required Tommy John surgery that summer. His recovery from the operation has gone slower than Francisco Rosario's. The Jays didn't push Leonard to throw in instructional league, where they had hoped to see him. He threw on the side but not in games. If he comes back healthy from the surgery--and the track record with Tommy John surgery is pretty good-- Leonard could be a solid middle-of-the-rotation starter.