Leary was drafted by the New York Mets in the first round of the 1979 Major League Baseball draft. He made his major league debut with the Mets in 1981 and played for them until 1984. During his time with the Mets, Leary struggled with injuries and inconsistency, and he was eventually traded to the Milwaukee Brewers in 1984.
Leary played for the Brewers for one season before being traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1985. It was with the Dodgers that Leary had the most success of his career. He was a key member of the Dodgers' pitching staff during their World Series championship season in 1988, winning 17 games and posting a 2.91 ERA. Leary was named to the National League All-Star team that year and finished third in the Cy Young Award voting.
After his successful season with the Dodgers, Leary signed a lucrative free-agent contract with the New York Yankees. However, he struggled during his time with the Yankees, posting a 9-19 record with a 5.19 ERA over two seasons. He was eventually traded to the Seattle Mariners in 1992.
Leary played for the Mariners for two seasons before being traded to the Texas Rangers in 1994. He retired from baseball after the 1994 season, finishing his career with a 78-105 record and a 4.53 ERA.
Despite his struggles on the field, Leary was known for his work ethic and dedication to the game. He was also involved in several charitable organizations throughout his career, including the Muscular Dystrophy Association and the Special Olympics.
After retiring from baseball, Leary worked as a pitching coach for several minor league teams and served as a color commentator for Dodgers games on television. He also wrote a book about his experiences in baseball, titled "Relentless: The Hard Road to Success."
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