Mike Lentz

Michael David Lentz

• Bats Right, Throws Left
• Height 5' 10", Weight 190 lb.
• High School Juanita High School
• Born December 26, 1956

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Mike Lentz is one of only a handful of number two overall draft picks to never reach the major leagues.

He was selected by the San Diego Padres in the 1975 amateur draft and began his professional career that year. He started off well, as he went 5-3 with a 2.96 ERA in 11 starts for the low-A Walla Walla Padres. He was 7th in the Northwest League in ERA.

He advanced to Double-A in 1976 and pitched for the Amarillo Gold Sox, with whom he struggled - in 11 games (10 starts), he went 5-3 with a 5.47 ERA. He pitched for the Gold Sox again in 1977 and went 4-8 with a 5.79 ERA and 1.88 WHIP in 23 games (17 starts). He finished his career in A-ball, as he pitched for the Reno Silver Sox in 1978, his final professional season. That year, he went 8-11 with a 5.35 ERA in 26 starts. He allowed 210 hits, six shy of California League leader Alan Hargesheimer.

The only other player to be picked second overall during the 20th Century and not make AAA was Garry Harris; Mark Merchant and Augie Schmidt made it to AAA and all the others made the majors.

Overall, Lentz pitched four years in the minors and went 22-25 with a 5.05 ERA in 71 games (64 starts).

Lentz's son, Richie Lentz, pitched in the Boston Red Sox chain from 2007-2009. Another son, Ryan Lentz, played in the Montreal Expos system from 1998 to 2000.