Donnie Leshnock

Donnie Douglas Leshnock

• Bats Left, Throws Right
• Height 6' 4", Weight 205 lb.
• School University of North Carolina

• Born April 20, 1971 in Youngstown, OH USA

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Donnie Leshnock is the son of pitcher Don Leshnock. After being drafted in the 5th round of the 1992 amateur draft out of the University of North Carolina, he played in the New York Yankees organization from 1992 to 1995. His first season was as a catcher, when he hit .222/.305/.274 in 62 games with the Oneonta Yankees of the New York-Penn League. He was moved to the mound the following season, and spent the rest of his professional career as a pitcher, except for one appearance as a backstop in 1993. That game was the only one of his career at the AA level, when he caught one game for the Albany-Colonie Yankees of the Eastern League, going 0 for 3 at the plate, so he was presumably moved up because of the need for an emergency catcher.

His best year was his last one in organized baseball, in 1995, when he went 10-6, 3.08 for the Tampa Yankees of the Florida State League, striking out 67 in 87 2/3 innings. He must presumably have been injured after that, as he was down to playing in the independent Northeast League in 1996, where he was 2-0, but with a 5.87 ERA and more walks than strikeouts in 9 games for the Albany Diamond Dogs. Those were his last appearances as a professional.