Mark Leiter, Relief Pitcher, Chicago Cubs

Date of Birth: 3/31/1991
Birthplace: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
College: New Jersey Institute of Technology

Mark Leiter, relief pitcher for the Chicago Cubs, was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in 2013. He pitched in the Phillies' minor league system from 2013 through 2016. He was primarily a relief pitcher in 2013 and primarily a starting pitcher from 2014 through 2016.

As a minor league pitcher from 2013 through 2016, Leiter had 27 wins and 22 losses in 69 games as a starter and 24 games as a reliever. He struck out 406 batters and walked 114 in 440.1 innings. He gave up 420 hits, including 27 home runs, and 188 runs (166 earned runs).

Leiter was first called up to the Phillies on April 18, 2017. He pitched in 11 games as a starter and 16 games of relief and he finished the season with 3 wins and 6 losses, 84 strikeouts to 31 walks, and a 4.96 ERA in 90.2 innings.

The Toronto Blue Jays claimed Leiter off waivers on September 1, 2018. He finished the season with a 7.71 ERA in 23.1 innings in 12 games with the Phillies and 8 games with the Blue Jays. He also pitched 33.1 innings in 23 games in the minors.

Leiter spent the entire 2019 season on the DL. He became a free agent on November 4, 2019. He signed a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks on February 7, 2020. He was released on May 22, 2020. He didn't play professional baseball in 2020.

Leiter signed with the Detroit Tigers on March 18, 2021. He played only in the minors with the Tigers.

Leiter became a free agent on November 7, 2021. He signed a minor league contract with the Cubs on December 15th.

Personal Life

Leiter's father, also named Mark, was a major league pitcher from 1990-1999 and in 2001. He played for eight different teams. His uncle, Al Leiter, pitched in the major leagues from 1987 through 2005.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Mark Leiter
MiLB - Mark Leiter