Sam LeCure

Samuel Rohrer LeCure

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 1", Weight 190 lb.
• School University of Texas
• High School Helias High School
• Debut May 28, 2010
• Final Game October 4, 2015
• Born May 4, 1984 in Jefferson City, MO USA

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Biographical information

Sam LeCure made the majors in 2010. He was signed by scout Brian Wilson.

College career

In 16 games (six starts) with the University of Texas in 2003, he went 5-0 with a 3.74 ERA. He went 9-3 with a 2.34 ERA in 24 games (23 starts) in 2004. He was 6th in the Big 12 Conference in ERA. He did not pitch in 2005 due to academic issues, but Texas won the 2005 College World Series despite only eight pitchers available during the season.

Draft

He was originally drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies out of high school in the 45th round of the 2002 amateur draft, however he did not sign. He was then drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the fourth round of the 2005 amateur draft. LeCure was signed by scout Brian Wilson and made his pro debut that summer.

Minor league career

LeCure began his minor league career in 2005 with the Billings Mustangs, going 5-1 with a 3.27 ERA in 13 games (six starts). In 41 1/3 innings, he posted 44 strikeouts. Had he qualified, he would have been second in the Pioneer League in ERA.

For the Sarasota Reds in 2006, the Missouri native went 7-12 with a 3.43 ERA in 27 starts. He led Reds farmhands as well as the Florida State League in losses but also finished 6th in ERA, between Mitchell Boggs and Kyle Kendrick. He split 2007 between the Sarasota Reds and Chattanooga Lookouts, going a combined 8-5 with a 4.07 ERA in 22 starts. All but one of those games were with Chattanooga. He missed almost a month with a strained left oblique muscle.

In 2008, he pitched for Chattanooga, going 9-7 with a 3.42 ERA in 27 starts, finishing third in the Southern League in ERA, just ahead of SL Pitcher of the Year Todd Redmond. In 2009, the Missouri native was added to the Reds' 40-man roster. He spent the campaign with the AAA Louisville Bats, going 10-8 with a 4.46 ERA in 25 starts. He led the club in wins and tied Matt Maloney for the most strikeouts (125). He was 4th in the Reds system in strikeouts.

LeCure started 2010 on an excellent note with Louisville, going 5-2 with a 2.55 ERA after nine starts. He was then called up to the 2010 Reds to replace Enerio Del Rosario on the staff and fill Homer Bailey's spot in the rotation; Bailey had gone on the disabled list with Del Rosario coming up briefly until the rotation turn came around again. Despite his relative youth, being close to 26, he was one of the older Reds starters to appear to that point as 24-year-old Johnny Cueto, Bailey and 22-year-old rookie Mike Leake were all rotation mainstays.

Major league career

In his MLB debut, he beat Wandy Rodriguez and the Astros, 15-6. LeCure allowed two runs in six innings, walking four and allowing six hits (a Hunter Pence homer being the longest blow) while fanning five, including his last three. He went 0 for 3 with a run scored before leaving for pinch-hitter Drew Sutton.

Post-playing career

In 2018, LeCure became a broadcaster for the Cincinnati Reds.

Related Sites

• Sam LeCure on mlb.com