Mike Leake is a former professional baseball player who played as a pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB). He was born on November 12, 1987, in San Diego, California, and attended Arizona State University, where he played college baseball for the Arizona State Sun Devils.
Leake was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the first round of the 2009 MLB draft and made his MLB debut on April 11, 2010. He spent his first six seasons with the Reds, where he established himself as a reliable starting pitcher. In his rookie season, he went 8-4 with a 4.23 ERA in 22 starts, helping the Reds win the National League Central division title. He finished fourth in the National League Rookie of the Year voting that year.
Over his six seasons with the Reds, Leake compiled a record of 64-52 with a 3.92 ERA in 192 games (179 starts). He was known for his durability, as he pitched at least 190 innings in each of his final three seasons with the team. He also had a reputation as a good hitter for a pitcher, batting .254 with five home runs and 38 RBIs in his time with the Reds.
In July 2015, Leake was traded to the San Francisco Giants, where he finished the season with a 2-5 record and a 4.07 ERA in nine starts. He became a free agent after the season and signed a five-year, $80 million contract with the St. Louis Cardinals.
Leake spent two and a half seasons with the Cardinals, going 16-24 with a 4.46 ERA in 64 starts. He was traded to the Seattle Mariners in August 2017 and finished the season with a 3-1 record and a 2.53 ERA in five starts. He spent the next two seasons with the Mariners, going 23-25 with a 4.46 ERA in 62 starts.
In July 2019, Leake was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks, where he finished the season with a 3-3 record and a 4.35 ERA in 10 starts. He became a free agent after the season and did not sign with a team for the 2020 season.
Overall, Leake had a solid career as a starting pitcher in the MLB, compiling a record of 105-98 with a 4.05 ERA in 301 games (296 starts). He was known for his durability, as he pitched at least 175 innings in eight of his 10 seasons in the league. He was also a good hitter for a pitcher, batting .200 with eight home runs and 59 RBIs in his career.
⚾