The nephew of retired Yankees and Mets pitcher Al Leiter has signed a minor-league deal with the Cubs.
Mark Leiter Jr., whose father was an 11-year big-leaguer, hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2018. In 47 games (11 starts), the 6-foot righty has a 5.53 ERA in 114 innings.
Leiter had a 3.77 ERA in 25 games (19 starts) between Double-A and Triple-A for the Tigers last year. He’s expected to compete for a bullpen job with Chicago or head to Triple-A as rotation depth.
Leiter suffered a torn UCL in spring training 2019 and missed the season. Though he signed a minor-league deal with the Diamondbacks in 2020, he wasn’t invited to Arizona’s 60-player alternate site, and the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the minor-league season.
The Phillies drafted Leiter in the 22nd round of out New Jersey Technical Institute in 2013. He grew up in Toms River and is the cousin of 2021 No. 2 overall pick Jack Leiter.
On Monday, the Mets officially announced Buck Showalter as their next manager. From their press release:
The New York Mets today announced that they have named Buck Showalter the 24th manager in team history, agreeing to terms on a three-year contract. Showalter will wear #11.
“Buck has been one of the best baseball minds for the last two decades and he makes teams better,” said Chairman, CEO and Owner Steve Cohen. “We have a lot of talent on this team and Buck is the right manager to take us to the next level and lead us to sustained success. I am excited he is our new manager.”
Showalter, 65, has 20 years of managerial experience in the major leagues, owning a lifetime record of 1,551-1,517 (.506). He is a three-time Manager of the Year award winner, earning the honors in 1994, 2004 and 2014. Showalter’s 1,551 career wins rank 24th all-time in MLB history and the 3,069 games managed rank 21st in the majors. He has guided three of the four teams he’s managed to the postseason and been to the playoffs a total of five times. As the manager of the Yankees, Showalter ended a 14-year playoff drought, took Baltimore to the postseason after previously missing the playoffs for 15 years and led Arizona to the postseason in just their second year of existence.
“I’d like to thank Steve and Alex Cohen, Sandy and Billy for their confidence in me to lead this team,” said Showalter. “This is a tremendous opportunity and a great responsibility to represent this organization, all Mets fans and this city. I’m energized and eager to get started.”
Please subscribe to us now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust.
Brendan Kuty may be reached at bkuty@njadvancemedia.com.