Rob Lemle

Robert Dwayne Lemle

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 175 lb.
• High School Compton High School
• Born October 7, 1967
• Died November 24, 1989 in Compton, CA USA

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Outfielder Rob Lemle played in the New York Mets system from 1985 to 1989. He was drafted by the club in the 3rd round of the 1985 amateur draft, one pick ahead of first baseman Tino Martinez.

Lemle hit only .173/.308/.241 in his pro debut with the Kingsport Mets, with 11 steals in 15 tries and 25 walks the positives. In 1986, he played for Kingsport (.340/.421/.520, 12 RBI in 13 G) and the Little Falls Mets (.140/.220/.206 in 43 G) and only stole 3 bases in 5 tries. He also pitched an inning, walking 3 and allowing a hit but no runs, while fanning one. In 1987, Lemle showed progress with Little Falls (.293/.393/.380 in 26 G) and the Columbia Mets (.218/.258/.253 in 37 G), fielding .990 and swiping 16 bases in 20 tries. During 1988, he hit .235/.364/.258 with 40 walks and 16 steals in 19 tries over 61 games for Columbia. He was shot in a drive-by in January 1989, with bullets lodging in his left knee and going through his behind.

The speedy outfielder's best season was probably his last: With the Columbia Mets in 1989, he hit .279/.359/.310 with 41 runs scored and 38 stolen bases (in 47 tries) in 66 games before being hit by a pitch on his left hand, breaking it in three places to end his year. Despite the limited playing time, he was 6th in the Mets chain in swipes and 8th in the South Atlantic League. His life ended tragically that offseason, when he was killed in a gang-related shooting outside a liquor store in his hometown of Compton, CA. He was 22 years old.

Overall, he hit .236/.335/.289 with 84 stolen bases in 106 tries, 132 runs and 84 RBI in 307 games over five seasons. He fielded .965.

Article on Lemle's death