| Chris Leroux | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Chris Leroux atFlorida Marlins training camp 2010 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Pitcher | ||||||||||||||||||
| Born: (1984-04-14)April 14, 1984 (age 41) Montreal,Quebec | ||||||||||||||||||
Batted: Left Threw: Right | ||||||||||||||||||
| Professional debut | ||||||||||||||||||
| MLB: May 26, 2009, for the Florida Marlins | ||||||||||||||||||
| NPB: June 2, 2013, for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows | ||||||||||||||||||
| Last appearance | ||||||||||||||||||
| NPB: August 11, 2013, for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows | ||||||||||||||||||
| MLB: May 2, 2014, for the New York Yankees | ||||||||||||||||||
| MLB statistics | ||||||||||||||||||
| Win–loss record | 1–3 | |||||||||||||||||
| Earned run average | 6.03 | |||||||||||||||||
| Strikeouts | 66 | |||||||||||||||||
| NPB statistics | ||||||||||||||||||
| Win–loss record | 0–2 | |||||||||||||||||
| Earned run average | 9.00 | |||||||||||||||||
| Strikeouts | 14 | |||||||||||||||||
Stats atBaseball Reference  | ||||||||||||||||||
| Teams | ||||||||||||||||||
Medals
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Christopher Adam Leroux (born April 14, 1984) is a Canadian former professionalbaseballpitcher and television personality. He played for theFlorida Marlins,Pittsburgh Pirates, andNew York Yankees inMajor League Baseball (MLB) and for theTokyo Yakult Swallows ofNippon Professional Baseball (NPB). Leroux also competed for theCanadian national baseball team in international competitions.
Leroux attendedSt. Joseph Secondary School inMississauga, Ontario. TheTampa Bay Devil Rays selected Leroux in the ninth round in the2002 MLB draft, but he did not sign. He attendedWinthrop University, where he playedcollege baseball for theWinthrop Eagles baseball team.[1] He also playedcollegiate summer baseball for theFalmouth Commodores of theCape Cod League in 2004.[2][3]
TheFlorida Marlins selected Leroux in the seventh round of the2005 MLB draft, and he signed. In 2006, Leroux was assigned to theGreensboro Grasshoppers of theClass ASouth Atlantic League, where he made three starts before being injured. After a rehab assignment with theGulf Coast Marlins of theRookie-levelGulf Coast League, he was assigned to theJamestown Jammers of theClass A-Short SeasonNew York-Penn League. In 11 total starts, he went 0-4 with a 6.06earned run average (ERA),striking out 22 in32+2⁄3innings pitched. Leroux played 2007 with Greensboro, where in 46 appearances, he went 2-3 with a 4.14 ERA, striking out 76 in71+2⁄3 innings.[citation needed]
Leroux played 2008 with theJupiter Hammerheads of theClass A-AdvancedFlorida State League, where in 57 games, he went 6-7 with a 3.65 ERA and one save, striking out 78 in 74 innings. Leroux began 2009 with theJacksonville Suns of theClass AASouthern League, where he played until he was promoted to the major leagues by the Marlins. He had a few stints with Florida, but spent most of his time in Jacksonville, where in 46 games, he went 5-3 with a 2.70 ERA and two saves, striking out 55 in 60 innings.
On May 23, 2009, Leroux was recalled by the Marlins. He made his MLB debut three days later against thePhiladelphia Phillies. He was optioned the next day whenBrett Carroll was recalled.[4] He rejoined the Marlins whenMatt Lindstrom went on the disabled list. In his third appearance, he recorded his first MLB strikeout, which was ofCristian Guzmán. In 5 games with the Marlins, he had a 10.80 ERA with two strikeouts in6+2⁄3 innings.
Leroux opened 2010 with theNew Orleans Zephyrs of theClass AAAPacific Coast League (PCL), but was recalled on April 14.[5] Leroux was placed on the 15-day disabled list on May 19 with a right elbow strain. He missed 26 games, and was subsequently assigned to New Orleans. He was recalled on September 3 when the rosters expanded.[6]
Leroux was claimed off waivers by thePittsburgh Pirates on September 13, 2010.[7] In 23 games with both teams, he went 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA with 22 strikeouts in22+2⁄3 innings.
Leroux began 2011 with theIndianapolis Indians of the Class AAAInternational League, but after a poor start, he was demoted to theAltoona Curve of the Class AAEastern League.[8] After a 5-game stint with Altoona, he returned to Indianapolis. On July 3, Leroux was recalled to Pittsburgh, replacingBrad Lincoln.[9] He was optioned to Indianapolis on July 22, but was recalled 5 days later, only to be placed on the disabled list with a left calf strain 2 days after that.[10] He was activated from the disabled list on August 22, and remained on the roster for the rest of the season. In 23 games with the Pirates, he went 1–1 with a 2.88 ERA.
Prior to the 2012 season, Leroux was placed on the 60-day DL with a rightpectoral strain.[11] He rejoined the club as aSeptember call-up after rehab and an assignment to the AAAIndianapolis Indians.[12] In 10 games with the Pirates, he had a 5.56 ERA with 12 strikeouts in 11.2 innings.
Leroux made the 2013 Opening Day roster with the Pirates, but wasdesignated for assignment on April 12 after pitching in 2 games.[13] He elected free agency on April 17, 2013.
On April 23, 2013, Leroux signed with theTokyo Yakult Swallows of theCentral League ofNippon Professional Baseball.[14]
On January 27, 2014, Leroux signed a minor league contract with theNew York Yankees. The deal included an invitation to major league spring training.[15] Leroux began the season with theScranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders of the International League. He made his Yankee debut on April 29, 2014.[16] He was designated for assignment on May 3, 2014. He was called back up by the Yankees on July 23, 2014, but was designated for assignment two days later. He was called back up a third time on August 11, 2014 and again designated for assignment two days later. After the 2014 season, he became a free agent. After pitching two innings, he earned a 22.50 ERA, a loss, and didn't earn a win.
Leroux signed a minor league deal with theMilwaukee Brewers on January 26, 2015. He began the season with theColorado Springs Sky Sox of the PCL. On May 18, 2015, he was traded to thePhiladelphia Phillies for cash considerations. He spent the rest of the season with theReading Fightin Phils of the Eastern League and theLehigh Valley IronPigs of the International League.
On April 3, 2016, Leroux was traded to theToronto Blue Jays for cash considerations, and assigned to theBuffalo Bisons of the International League.[17] He was released on August 28.[18]
After playing for the Canadian national team in the2017 World Baseball Classic, Leroux retired from baseball.[19]
He was selected to theCanada national baseball team at the2009 World Baseball Classic,2013 World Baseball Classic,2015 Pan American Games,2015 WBSC Premier12,2017 World Baseball Classic,2019 Pan American Games Qualifier,[20]2019 Pan American Games and2019 WBSC Premier12.[21]
Leroux throws three pitches: afour-seam fastball andtwo-seam fastball in the low-to-mid 90s, and aslider in the low-to-mid 80s.[22] He also used to throw achangeup to left-handed hitters, but he dropped it after the 2011 season to simplify his pitching approach.[23]
In 2017, Leroux was cast as the Bachelor onThe Bachelor Canada.[24]
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