| Mark Leiter Jr. | |
| Team: | New York Yankees |
| Number: | 38 |
| Position: | Pitcher |
| Birth Date: | 13 March 1991 |
| Birth Place: | Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S. |
| Bats: | Right |
| Throws: | Right |
| Debutleague: | MLB |
| Debutdate: | April 28 |
| Debutyear: | 2017 |
| Debutteam: | Philadelphia Phillies |
| Statyear: | August 18, 2024 |
| Statleague: | MLB |
| Stat1label: | Win–loss record |
| Stat1value: | 9–22 |
| Stat2label: | Earned run average |
| Stat2value: | 4.58 |
| Stat3label: | Strikeouts |
| Stat3value: | 320 |
| Teams: |
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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 made his MLB debut in 2017 with the Phillies.
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.
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 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]
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.
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.
On March 24, 2021, Leiter signed a minor league contract with the Detroit Tigers organization.[13] 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.
On December 17, 2021, Leiter signed a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs.[14] On April 16, 2022, Leiter's contract was selected by the Cubs.[15] On August 16, Leiter recorded his first career save in a game against the Washington Nationals.[16] In 35 appearances for Chicago, Leiter registered a 2–7 record and 3.99 ERA with 73 strikeouts in innings pitched.
On January 13, 2023, Leiter was designated for assignment by Chicago after the signing of Eric Hosmer was made official.[17] On January 19, Leiter cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple–A Iowa Cubs.[18] However, four days later, Leiter rejected the outright assignment and elected free agency.[19] On February 2, Leiter re-signed with the Cubs on a minor league contract.[20] On March 30, the Cubs selected Leiter's contract, adding him to the major league roster.[21] In 69 relief appearances, he logged a 3.50 ERA with 77 strikeouts and four saves across innings pitched.[22]
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 innings pitched.[23]
On July 30, 2024, the Cubs traded Leiter Jr. to the New York Yankees in exchange for infielder Ben Cowles and pitcher Jack Neely.[24]
His father, Mark Leiter, and uncle, Al Leiter, pitched in the major leagues.[25] His cousin Jack Leiter was drafted by the Texas Rangers in 2021.[26]
Leiter has been a resident of the Lanoka Harbor section of Lacey Township, New Jersey.[27]