| Matthew LeCroy | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) LeCroy with theHarrisburg Senators in 2018 | |
| Designated hitter /Catcher /First baseman | |
| Born: (1975-12-13)December 13, 1975 (age 49) Belton, South Carolina, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 3, 2000, for the Minnesota Twins | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 30, 2007, for the Minnesota Twins | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .260 |
| Home runs | 60 |
| Runs batted in | 218 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
Medals | |
Matthew Hanks LeCroy (born December 13, 1975) is an American former professionalbaseballcatcher,first baseman, anddesignated hitter. He is currently themanager of theRochester Red Wings, theTriple-A affiliate of theWashington Nationals.
During his eight-year career inMajor League Baseball (MLB), LeCroy had the dubious honor of being the active player with the mostplate appearances without astolen base.
LeCroy is a 1994 graduate ofBelton-Honea Path High School in Honea Path, South Carolina and attendedClemson University to pursue a degree in elementary education. While at Clemson, he was named to the1996 U.S. Olympic Baseball Team and helped the team to abronze medal after losing to both Cuba (gold medal) and Japan (silver medal) before defeating Nicaragua in the bronze medal game.
In 1997, LeCroy was drafted as a catcher in the first round (50th overall) of theMajor League Baseball Draft by theMinnesota Twins. Although challenged defensively behind the plate, averaging double-digit passed balls while throwing out less than 30 percent of potential base stealers, LeCroy put up superior power numbers in the minor leagues, hitting 101 home runs over five years in the Twins' system.[1] In 1999, LeCroy again competed at the international level when he played for the United States at the1999 Pan American Games inWinnipeg, Manitoba. The United States took second place behind Cuba in games made notable as the first time professional baseball players were allowed to compete in international games.
LeCroy got his first taste of the majors in 2000 when he made the major-league club out of spring training. From 2000 to 2002, LeCroy split time between the Twins and theirTriple–A teams, playing for theSalt Lake Buzz and later theEdmonton Trappers after the Twins changed their minor-league affiliate in 2001.[1] Due to his struggles behind the plate, LeCroy also spent time at first base and designated hitter; totaling more games in the major leagues at the latter position than he did at first base and catcher combined.[2] His peak years in the majors were 2003 (.287, 17 HR, 64 RBI in 107 games) and 2005 (.260, 17 HR, 50 RBI in 101 games).
Despite his productive 2005 season, Minnesota did not re-sign LeCroy and he signed a minor-league contract with the Washington Nationals on February 8, 2006.
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Despite bone spurs in his throwing knee, LeCroy was asked to fill in during a May 25, 2006, game against theHouston Astros when Washington's starting catcherBrian Schneider and backupWiki Gonzalez were out with injuries. He was replaced by utilitymanRobert Fick in the middle of the seventh inning after the Astros stole seven bases and LeCroy committed two catching errors. After the game, managerFrank Robinson shed tears during the press conference regarding his removal of Matt in the middle of the seventh inning, which is usually considered embarrassing.[3] LeCroy wasdesignated for assignment July 18, which he accepted, and spent the rest of the year playing for theNew Orleans Zephyrs, then Washington's Triple–A affiliate team.
LeCroy was signed to a minor-league deal by the Twins on January 15,2007 after turning down an offer from theWashington Nationals to manage one of their minor-league teams. LeCroy started the 2007 season asdesignated hitter playing for theRochester Red Wings in theInternational League.[4] He had his contract purchased by the major-league club on September 9, 2007, when their fourth catcherJosé Morales went down with an injury, and finished the season with the Twins.
LeCroy was outrighted to the minor leagues by the Twins on October 11, 2007, but he refused the assignment and became a free agent.
As a member of the Twins, LeCroy became one of the few major leaguers to pinch hit a walk-off grand slam in a win over theToronto Blue Jays.[5] He was always a threat to hit a home run, and hit 60 in 472 games over his eight-year major-league career.
On February 15,2008, LeCroy signed a minor league contract with an invitation tospring training with theOakland Athletics. On March 16, 2008, LeCroy was reassigned to minor-league camp and asked the Athletics to grant his release, which they did. LeCroy then signed with theLancaster Barnstormers of the independentAtlantic League of Professional Baseball in April 2008.[6] LeCroy played 94 games with Lancaster (hitting .326 with 22 HR and 83 RBI) before retiring at the end of the season.
In November 2008, LeCroy was hired by the Nationals to manage the team's Class A affiliate, theHagerstown Suns. In 2011, LeCroy was moved up to the High Single-ACarolina League when he was named as the manager of thePotomac Nationals. In 2012, he was named the Double AHarrisburg Senators manager. In November 2013, he was named the bullpen coach on new Nationals managerMatt Williams' coaching staff, replacingJim Lett.[7] He was fired with Williams and the entire coaching staff after the 2015 season, but was brought back for his second stint as manager of the Harrisburg Senators for the 2016 season.[8][9]
The Nationals announced December 15, 2020, that LeCroy was being promoted to manager of the Class-AAARochester Red Wings.[10]
LeCroy and his wife Holly have five children, daughter Isabella (b. 2004), daughter Maggie (b. 2006), a son, and fraternal twins.[11]
· Baseball Reference · Fangraphs · Baseball Reference (Minors) · Retrosheet · Baseball Almanac| Preceded by | Hagerstown Suns Manager 2009-2010 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Potomac Nationals Manager 2011 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Harrisburg Senators Manager 2012-2013 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Washington Nationals Bullpen Coach 2014–2015 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Harrisburg Senators Manager 2016- | Succeeded by TBD |
