Leonel Campos

Leonel Enrique Campos Linares

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 3", Weight 215 lb.

• Debut September 3, 2014
• Final Game September 20, 2017
• Born July 17, 1987 in Valera, Trujillo Venezuela

BR page

Biographical Information

Leonel Campos appeared in four big league seasons with the San Diego Padres and Toronto Blue Jays.

Campos pitched for the Venezuelan national team that won Silver in the 2009 Bolivarian Games and Gold in the 2010 South American Games. He allowed four hits, four walks and four runs in 4 2/3 innings for the Aguilas del Zulia in the 2010-2011 Venezuelan Winter League but was sharper in the postseason (2 hits, 6 walks and a run allowed with 7 strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings). San Diego Padres scout Yfrain Linares signed him late in 2010 at the age of 23.

Leonel pitched one game for the 2011 Eugene Emeralds (4 runs and 5 hits in 2 innings) then had Tommy John surgery and did not return until 2013. When he returned, he was excellent for the Fort Wayne TinCaps (2-1, 5 saves, 2.23, 19 hits, 63 strikeouts in 36 1/3 innings over 28 games) and San Antonio Missions (1-0, 2 saves, 0.88, 43 strikeouts in 30 2/3 innings over 26 games). On May 9, he teamed with Max Fried, Matthew Shepherd and Roman Madrid for a no-hitter against the Great Lakes Loons. Leonel tied for 8th in the Padres chain in appearances and had the lower ERA of any of their hurlers with 60 or more innings. He allowed just 33 hits while walking 68 in 67 innings and struck out 106. He was 4th among San Diego minor leaguers in strikeouts, behind starters Keyvius Sampson, Matt Wisler and Frank Garces.

Campos pitched in each of the next four big league seasons, 2014 to 2017, the first three with San Diego. He made a personal best 18 appearances in 2016, with a 5.73 ERA in 22 innings. After a 2.63 ERA in 13 2/3 innings with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2017, he was let go twice in the off-season and moved along to Japan, making one appearance with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp in 2018 before being farmed out to ni-gun for 27 appearances. He has pitched in the Venezuelan Winter League since.

Sources include 2013 Padres Media Guide, purapelota

Related Sites

• Leonel Campos on mlb.com
• BR Minors page