# Leon Boyd

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{{short description|Dutch-Canadian baseball player (born 1983)}}
{{Infobox baseball player
| name        = Leon Boyd
| image       = Leon Boyd (cropped).jpg
| caption     = Boyd in 2009
| position    = [Pitcher](/source/Pitcher)
| birth_date  = {{Birth date and age|1983|8|30}}
| birth_place = [Vancouver, British Columbia](/source/Vancouver), [Canada](/source/Canada)
| bats        = Right
| throws      = Right
|medaltemplates=
{{MedalSport | Men's [baseball](/source/baseball)}}
{{MedalCountry | {{NED}} }}
{{MedalCompetition|[Baseball World Cup](/source/Baseball_World_Cup)}}
{{MedalGold| [2011 Panama](/source/2011_Baseball_World_Cup) | [National team](/source/Netherlands_national_baseball_team)}}
{{MedalCompetition|[Intercontinental Cup](/source/Intercontinental_Cup_(baseball))}}
{{MedalSilver| [2010 Taiwan](/source/2010_Intercontinental_Cup_(baseball)) | [National team](/source/Netherlands_national_baseball_team)}}
{{MedalCompetition|[European Baseball Championship](/source/European_Baseball_Championship)}}
{{MedalGold| [2007 Spain](/source/2007_European_Baseball_Championship) | [National team](/source/Netherlands_national_baseball_team)}}
{{MedalSilver| [2010 Germany](/source/2010_European_Baseball_Championship) | [National team](/source/Netherlands_national_baseball_team)}}
}}
'''Leon Boyd''' (born August 30, 1983) is a Dutch-Canadian former professional [baseball](/source/baseball) [pitcher](/source/pitcher). He pitched for the [Netherlands national team](/source/Netherlands_national_baseball_team) at the [2008 Summer Olympics](/source/Baseball_at_the_2008_Summer_Olympics) and [2009](/source/2009_World_Baseball_Classic) and [2013 World Baseball Classic](/source/2013_World_Baseball_Classic). He pitched in [Minor League Baseball](/source/Minor_League_Baseball) in 2009 and also pitched several years in the Dutch [Honkbal Hoofdklasse](/source/Honkbal_Hoofdklasse).

==Baseball career==

===B.C. Premier Baseball League===
Boyd was a starting pitcher for the White Rock Tritons of the [British Columbia Premier Baseball League](/source/British_Columbia_Premier_Baseball_League) for three seasons.{{Citation needed|date=February 2026}}

===College career===
Boyd began his [college baseball](/source/college_baseball) career at [Treasure Valley Community College](/source/Treasure_Valley_Community_College) in [Ontario, Oregon](/source/Ontario%2C_Oregon) in the {{By|2002}} season. He played only one season for the Chukars before transferring to [Seminole State Community College](/source/Seminole_State_College_(Oklahoma)) in [Seminole, Oklahoma](/source/Seminole%2C_Oklahoma) for the {{By|2003}} season.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/20090304179496/sports/sports/former-b.c.-pitcher-trades-his-canadian-roots-for-orange-jersey.html |title=Former B.C. pitcher trades his Canadian roots for orange jersey |date=2009-03-04 |access-date=2009-03-28 |first=Jim |last=Swanson |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090403080845/http://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/20090304179496/sports/sports/former-b.c.-pitcher-trades-his-canadian-roots-for-orange-jersey.html |archive-date=2009-04-03 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He would transfer again in {{By|2004}}, this time to play for the [Armstrong Atlantic State University Pirates](/source/Georgia_Southern_University%E2%80%93Armstrong_Campus). He played two seasons for the Pirates in 2004 and {{By|2005}}, throwing exclusively as a relief pitcher. Over these two seasons, he appeared in 34 games and compiled a 3.44 [ERA](/source/Earned_run_average) with 104 [strikeouts](/source/strikeouts) in 115 [innings pitched](/source/innings_pitched).<ref>{{cite news| url=http://aasupirates.com/sports/bsb/2008-09/news/boyd31809| title=Leon Boyd Signs Minor-League Deal With Toronto| date=2008-03-19| access-date=2009-03-28| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110122194454/http://aasupirates.com/sports/bsb/2008-09/news/boyd31809| archive-date=2011-01-22| url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Hoboken Pioneers (2006)===
Despite his Dutch family ties and a strong desire to play baseball in the Netherlands, Boyd was not pursued by any [Honkbal Hoofdklasse](/source/Honkbal_Hoofdklasse) clubs, even after numerous attempts to contact them after his college career ended.{{cn|date=October 2022}} Instead, he played for the {{Interlanguage link|Hoboken Pioneers|nl}} in [Belgium](/source/Belgium)'s {{Interlanguage link|Eerste divisie (baseball)|lt=Eerste Divisie|nl}}. He had a successful {{By|2006}} season, with an 11–1 [win–loss record](/source/Win%E2%80%93loss_record_(pitching)), 0.84 ERA, and 156 strikeouts in 96 innings pitched, and he also hit .421 with 2 home runs in 38 at bats for the Pioneers, who finished the season as the national runner up.

Following his strong season in Belgium, Boyd was picked up by the [Netherlands national team](/source/Netherlands_national_baseball_team) to play in the [2006 Intercontinental Cup](/source/2006_Intercontinental_Cup) in [Taichung](/source/Taichung), [Taiwan](/source/Taiwan).<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 October 2006 |title=Debutant Boyd aan selectie toegevoegd |url=https://www.honkbalsitearchief.nl/events/icup2006/boyd_selectie2510.html |access-date=2026-02-04 |website=www.honkbalsitearchief.nl |language=nl}}</ref> Despite his 0–2 record, Boyd had a 2.63 ERA and ranked second on the team in innings pitched.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Statistieken Nederland |url=https://www.honkbalsitearchief.nl/events/icup2006/statistieken.html |access-date=2026-02-04 |website=honkbalsitearchief.nl |language=nl}}</ref> Against [Cuba](/source/Cuba_national_baseball_team), he took the loss in a 3–2 defeat, allowing four hits and one run in {{frac|1|2|3}} IP of relief [Rob Cordemans](/source/Rob_Cordemans).<ref>{{Cite web |date=9 November 2006 |title=Nederland dichtbij stunt |url=https://www.honkbalsitearchief.nl/events/icup2006/dag1_nederland.html |access-date=2026-02-04 |website=honkbalsitearchief.nl}}</ref> Three days later, he allowed one run in six innings against [Japan](/source/Japan_national_baseball_team) but again lost as the Dutch were shut out.<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 November 2006 |title=Japan in slotfase langs Nederland |url=https://www.honkbalsitearchief.nl/events/icup2006/dag4_nederland.html |access-date=2026-02-04 |website=www.honkbalsitearchief.nl}}</ref> His final appearance of the tournament came against [Australia](/source/Australia_national_baseball_team), where he struck out 7 and allowed one run in six innings in a no-decision as the Netherlands won 4–3.<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 November 1006 |title=Nederland ontsnapt aan nachtmerrie |url=https://www.honkbalsitearchief.nl/events/icup2006/dag8_nederland.html |access-date=2026-02-04 |website=honkbalsitearchief.nl |language=nl}}</ref>

===2007: Neptunus and international tournaments===
After being scouted by and in contract talks with several Hoofdklasse teams, Boyd signed with Neptunus. He made a debut during the [2007](/source/2007_in_baseball) regular season, with a 9–0 record with no home runs allowed in over 66 innings. He tied for second in wins (with [Vaughan Harris](/source/Vaughan_Harris) and [Diego Markwell](/source/Diego_Markwell)), was third with a 1.22 ERA (1.22, trailing relievers [Duko Jansen](/source/Duko_Jansen) and [Chris Ryan](/source/Chris_Ryan)) and tied for sixth in strikeouts (61, tied with former [major leaguer](/source/Major_League_Baseball) [Eddie Oropesa](/source/Eddie_Oropesa)). He was a finalist for the Pitcher of the Year Award, but lost to [David Bergman](/source/David_Bergman_(baseball)), in part due to missing a month of the season with a back muscle strain.{{Citation needed|date=February 2026}} Despite his initial success, Boyd suffered two losses during the first round of the playoffs as Neptunus was upset by the [Pioniers](/source/Pioniers).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Playoffs 2007 |url=https://www.honkbalsitearchief.nl/competitie/2007/playoffs.html |access-date=2026-02-15 |website=honkbalsitearchief.nl |language=nl}}</ref>

In the [World Port Tournament](/source/2007_World_Port_Tournament), Boyd earned the best pitcher award, allowing only five hits in 15 innings and won twice, including a complete-game shutout [Chinese Taipei](/source/Chinese_Taipei_national_baseball_team), facing only 28 batters.<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 August 2007 |title=Boyd uitgeroepen tot beste werper |url=https://www.honkbalsitearchief.nl/events/wpt2007/individuele_prijzen1208.html |access-date=2026-02-04 |website=honkbalsitearchief.nl |language=nl}}</ref> He was 2–0 with a 0.93 ERA, one of the worst on the team, in the [European Baseball Championship](/source/2007_European_Baseball_Championship), helping the Netherlands win gold.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2007 |title=Statistieken Nederland |url=https://www.honkbalsitearchief.nl/events/ek2007/statistieken.html |access-date=2026-02-04 |website=honkbalsitearchief.nl}}</ref> He pitched in the [Baseball World Cup](/source/2007_Baseball_World_Cup), going 1–1 with a 2.55 ERA and a team-high 14 strikeouts for the fourth-place squad.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Statistieken Nederland |url=https://www.honkbalsitearchief.nl/events/wk2007/statistieken.html |access-date=2026-02-04 |website=honkbalsitearchief.nl}}</ref> He had a solid game but received a no-decision against Australia when closer [Michiel van Kampen](/source/Michiel_van_Kampen) blew a 3–2 lead in the ninth inning.<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 November 2007 |title=Nederland mist belangrijke zege |url=https://www.honkbalsitearchief.nl/events/wk2007/dag2_nederland.html |access-date=2026-02-05 |website=www.honkbalsitearchief.nl}}</ref> He allowed one run in six innings in a win over [South Korea](/source/South_Korea_national_baseball_team) and matched [Tadashi Settsu](/source/Tadashi_Settsu) (the eventual pitcher of the tournament) with five scoreless frames in the bronze medal game before allowing 2 runs in the 6th, and being shut out 5–0 by the Japanese.{{cn|date=October 2022}}

===2008: Beijing Olympics===
On June 12, 2008, Boyd threw a no-hitter against the [Amsterdam Pirates](/source/Amsterdam_Pirates). He allowed two runs,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2008-06-12 |title=No-hitter voor Neptuniaan Boyd |url=https://www.rijnmond.nl/nieuws/32313/no-hitter-voor-neptuniaan-boyd |access-date=2026-02-15 |website=rijnmond.nl |language=nl}}</ref> one unearned, thanks to 3 walks, 2 hit batsmen and 3 errors by his team.{{cn|date=October 2022}} Shortly thereafter, Boyd had a 4.50 ERA in the [European Baseball Cup](/source/2008_European_Baseball_Cup) in [Regensburg](/source/Regensburg).{{cn|date=October 2022}} He was knocked out early in a win against the host [Buchbinder Legionäre](/source/Regensburg_Legion%C3%A4re).<ref>{{Cite web |last=van Zon |first=Rogier |date=June 18, 2008 |title=Neptunus pas laat op gang |url=https://www.honkbalsitearchief.nl/events/ceb2008/dag1_neptunus.html |access-date=2026-02-15 |website=www.honkbalsitearchief.nl}}</ref>

Head coach [Robert Eenhoorn](/source/Robert_Eenhoorn) selected Boyd to pitch for the Netherlands at the [Summer Olympics](/source/Baseball_at_the_2008_Summer_Olympics) in [Beijing](/source/Beijing).<ref>[http://www.knbsb.nl/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1392&Itemid=174 Dutch Olympic Baseball squad 2008] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080804032141/http://www.knbsb.nl/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1392&Itemid=174 |date=2008-08-04 }}, knbsb.nl, ret: Aug 5, 2008</ref> In their second game of the tournament against the [United States](/source/USA_Baseball), Boyd entered the game during the 8th inning with the bases loaded and one out after [Dave Draijer](/source/Dave_Draijer) was struck by a batted ball on the right forearm. Boyd induced two groundouts, resulting in only a single run for the United States. He returned to pitch the top of the 9th inning, and after yielding a leadoff single to [Terry Tiffee](/source/Terry_Tiffee), retired the next three batters, including [Matt LaPorta](/source/Matt_LaPorta) by strikeout. However, a two-hour rain delay forced the game to be called during the Dutch half of the 9th inning. As a result Boyd's statistics during the 9th inning are unofficial, as the score reverted to the last completed inning.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://results.beijing2008.cn/WRM/ENG/INF/BB/C73/BBM400905.shtml |title=Game Summary(Box Score) - Men's Preliminaries - Game 5 |access-date=2009-04-03 |date=2008-08-13 |publisher=IBAF |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090105205215/http://results.beijing2008.cn/WRM/ENG/INF/BB/C73/BBM400905.shtml |archive-date=2009-01-05 }}</ref>

Boyd made his second appearance of the tournament on August 16, starting against [China](/source/China_national_baseball_team). He struck out six batters in six innings, yielding only six hits and two runs. The win was the only victory for the Dutch in the tournament.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://results.beijing2008.cn/WRM/ENG/INF/BB/C73/BBM400915.shtml |title=Game Summary(Box Score) - Men's Preliminaries - Game 15 |access-date=2009-04-03 |date=2008-08-13 |publisher=IBAF |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090105223041/http://results.beijing2008.cn/WRM/ENG/INF/BB/C73/BBM400915.shtml |archive-date=2009-01-05 }}</ref>

===2009===

====World Baseball Classic====
Boyd was selected once again for the Dutch national team at the [2009 World Baseball Classic](/source/2009_World_Baseball_Classic) (WBC). Although he has primarily been a [starter](/source/starting_pitcher) throughout his career, Boyd was asked by head coach [Rod Delmonico](/source/Rod_Delmonico) to serve as the [closer](/source/closer_(baseball)) for the Netherlands.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://bats.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/03/14/wheres-the-dutch-closer/|title=Where's the Dutch Closer?|first=Jack|last=Curry|date=2009-03-14|access-date=2009-03-17|work=The New York Times}}</ref> During the first round of the tournament held at [Hiram Bithorn Stadium](/source/Hiram_Bithorn_Stadium) in [San Juan](/source/San_Juan%2C_Puerto_Rico), [Puerto Rico](/source/Puerto_Rico), Boyd entered three separate games during tense, [late-inning pressure situations](/source/late-inning_pressure_situations), including two of which he ended up as the [pitcher of record](/source/pitcher_of_record).

In the Netherlands' first game of the tournament on March 7, against the heavily favored [Dominican Republic](/source/Dominican_Republic_national_baseball_team), Boyd pitched the 9th inning and earned the [save](/source/save_(baseball)) with a game-ending strikeout of [José Bautista](/source/Jos%C3%A9_Bautista). Two days later, he entered a game against [Puerto Rico](/source/Puerto_Rico_national_baseball_team) with the bases loaded and only one out in the 8th inning, only to give up a two-run double to [Yadier Molina](/source/Yadier_Molina) and an RBI-single to [Jesus Feliciano](/source/Jesus_Feliciano). The very next day, Boyd rebounded to earn the win in a 2–1 extra-innings Dutch victory that eliminated the Dominicans from the tournament.

Although the Dutch advanced to play in [Round 2](/source/2009_WBC) of the tournament at [Dolphin Stadium](/source/Dolphin_Stadium) in [Miami](/source/Miami), [Florida](/source/Florida),<ref>{{cite news|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/wbc/2009/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090310&content_id=3961486&vkey=wbc&team=ned | title=Dutch pull off second upset to advance |first=Will |last=Gonzalez |date=2009-03-11 |access-date=2009-03-12}}</ref> Boyd did not make his fourth appearance of the tournament until the 6th inning of an elimination game against the [United States](/source/United_States_national_baseball_team). Despite giving up a home run to [Adam Dunn](/source/Adam_Dunn), Boyd struck out both [David Wright](/source/David_Wright_(baseball)) and [Ryan Braun](/source/Ryan_Braun) in his one inning of relief.

====New Hampshire Fisher Cats====
Following his strong pitching performance in the Wbc, Boyd was signed by the [Toronto Blue Jays](/source/Toronto_Blue_Jays) to a [minor-league](/source/minor_league_baseball) [contract](/source/contract).<ref>{{cite news| url=http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090318&content_id=4012816&vkey=news_tor&fext=.jsp&c_id=tor | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090321033334/http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090318&content_id=4012816&vkey=news_tor&fext=.jsp&c_id=tor | url-status=dead | archive-date=March 21, 2009 |title=Jays take a chance on Classic star Boyd |access-date=2009-03-18 |last=Bastian |first=Jordan |date=2009-03-18}}</ref><ref>[https://twitter.com/GloBlair Jeff Blair of the Toronto Globe and Mail, ret: March 18, 2009 ]</ref> Although he was temporarily reassigned to the [Dunedin Blue Jays](/source/Dunedin_Blue_Jays) of the [Florida State League](/source/Florida_State_League) for an 8-game appearance early in the year, he played the bulk of the season as a member of the Jays' Double-A affiliate, the [New Hampshire Fisher Cats](/source/New_Hampshire_Fisher_Cats). He finished the year with a 1–6 record, a 4.76 ERA, 51 strikeouts, and 6 saves in over 64 innings for the two clubs.

===2010===
The Blue Jays released Boyd in March 2010,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Leon Boyd Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News |url=https://www.milb.com/player/leon-boyd-547958 |access-date=2026-02-15 |website=MiLB.com |language=en}}</ref> and he subsequently re-signed with Neptunus. According to Boyd, his release was affected by his high walk count and the Jays' trading of [Roy Halladay](/source/Roy_Halladay) to the [Philadelphia Phillies](/source/Philadelphia_Phillies) in December 2009.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Boyd |first=Leon |date=20 May 2010 |title=Release Story + Baseball Update |url=http://canadutch.blogspot.com/2010/05/release-story-baseball-update.html#links |website=CanaDutch}}</ref> After dealing Halladay the Blue Jays brought in many potential bottom-rotation, Triple-A-caliber potential big league replacements.

===2013===

Bord joined the Dutch national team for the [2013 World Baseball Classic](/source/2013_World_Baseball_Classic). He allowed 1 run in {{Fraction|5|2|3}} innings. He his final season in the Hoofdklasse for [Kinheim](/source/Kinheim).

==Personal life==
Growing up, Boyd attended high school at [Earl Marriott Secondary School](/source/Earl_Marriott_Secondary_School) in [South Surrey](/source/South_Surrey), [British Columbia](/source/British_Columbia). Although he was born in Canada, he received his Dutch passport in December 2005, as a result of his mother being born and raised in the [Netherlands](/source/Netherlands). His father played ice hockey in the Netherlands from 1971 to 1974 and met Leon's mother there. Boyd married American [softball](/source/softball) player Jeana Short on March 8, 2008. He has an older sister.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://thetyee.ca/Sports/2009/03/27/LeonBoyd/ |author=Tom Hawthorn|title= Holland's Hero Hurler Hails from White Rock |work=The Tyee|date=March 27, 2009|access-date=March 24, 2023}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{baseballstats|brm=boyd--001leo}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090310031346/http://www.honkbalsite.com/nederlandsteam/leonboyd.html Boyd's profile at honkbalsite.com] {{in lang|nl}}
*[http://www.sport1.nl//Honkbal/Spelers/136702/Leon-Boyd.html Boyd's Sport-1 profile] {{in lang|nl}}
*[https://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20090311.BCHAWTHORN11/TPStory/TPNational/BritishColumbia/ Globe and Mail article]
*[http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?n=Leon%20Boyd&pos=P&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=547958 Minor League Baseball]{{dead link|date=February 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
* [https://canadutch.blogspot.com/?m=1 Boyd's blog (2009–2011)]

{{Netherlands 2009 World Baseball Classic roster}}
{{Netherlands roster 2010 European Baseball Championship}}
{{Netherlands roster 2011 Baseball World Cup}}
{{Netherlands 2013 World Baseball Classic roster}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Boyd, Leon}}
Category:1983 births
Category:Living people
Category:Baseball people from Vancouver
Category:Baseball players at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Category:Canadian people of Dutch descent
Category:Canadian expatriate baseball players in the United States
Category:Dunedin Blue Jays players
Category:Dutch expatriate baseball players in the United States
Category:New Hampshire Fisher Cats players
Category:Olympic baseball players for the Netherlands
Category:2007 European Baseball Championship players
Category:2009 World Baseball Classic players
Category:2010 European Baseball Championship players
Category:2013 World Baseball Classic players
Category:Corendon Kinheim players
Category:DOOR Neptunus players
Category:Treasure Valley Chukars baseball players
Category:Seminole State Trojans baseball players
Category:Armstrong State Pirates baseball players
Category:Naturalised citizens of the Netherlands
Category:World Baseball Classic players of the Netherlands

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Leon Boyd](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leon_Boyd) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leon_Boyd?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.