Leoner Vasquez

Leoner Vasquez
(Leo)

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 6' 4", Weight 193 lb.

• Born July 1, 1973 in La Romana, La Romana D.R.

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Leoner Vasquez pitched professionally from 1995 to 2001. A relative late bloomer, in the context of the Dominican Republic where most players sign their first professional contracts at 16 or 17, he had to go to Taiwan to begin his professional career, doing so with the Mercuries Tigers of the Chinese Professional Baseball League, going 2-3, 4.93 in 9 games. In 1996, he moved to the U.S. where he pitched in the independent Prairie League, going 11-2, 2.22 for the Aberdeen Pheasants.

His indy league success led to his signing with the New York Mets organization for 1997, splitting the season between the Capital City Bombers of the South Atlantic League and Binghamton Mets of the Eastern League, with a combined record of 4-6, 5.58. The quick rise was impressive, but the overall results were a lot better in 1998, when he combined to go 4-3, 2.93 between the St. Lucie Mets of the Florida State League and Binghamton. In 1999, he began the season at Binghamton and was 1-2, 3.83 in 27 games as he was used strictly as a reliever for the first time. On July 23rd, he was included in a major league trade, going to the Oakland Athletics along with OF Terrence Long in return for P Kenny Rogers. He moved over to the Midland RockHounds of the Texas League, where he was 3-1, 3.09 in 13 games and also pitched in AAA for the first time with one game with the Vancouver Canadians of the Pacific Coast League. In 2000, he was back at Midland, where he was 6-5, 2.72 with 4 saves. In 2001, he spent the entire season in AAA with the Sacramento River Cats, but with middling results: 0-1, 5.28 in 36 games and no saves. It was his final professional season.