{{Short description|American baseball player (born 1984)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}} {{Infobox baseball biography | name = Sam LeCure | image = Sam LeCure (cropped).jpg | width = | caption = LeCure with the Cincinnati Reds in 2011 | position = Pitcher | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1984|5|4}} | birth_place = Jefferson City, Missouri, U.S. | bats = Right | throws = Right | debutteam = Cincinnati Reds | debutleague = MLB | debutdate = May 28 | debutyear = 2010 | finalteam = Cincinnati Reds | finalleague = MLB | finaldate = October 4 | finalyear = 2015 | statleague = MLB | stat1label = Win–loss record | stat1value = 10–16 | stat2label = Earned run average | stat2value = 3.51 | stat3label = Strikeouts | stat3value = 300 | teams = *Cincinnati Reds ({{mlby|2010}}–{{mlby|2015}}) | awards = }} '''Samuel Rohrer LeCure''' (born May 4, 1984) is an American former professional baseball relief pitcher. He attended Helias High School in Jefferson City, Missouri and the University of Texas.<ref>[http://thebaseballcube.com/players/L/Sam-LeCure.shtml The Baseball Cube]</ref> He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cincinnati Reds.
==College career== With the University of Texas in 2003, in 16 games pitched including six starts, LeCure went 5–0 with a 3.74 ERA.<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 July 2003 |title=University of Texas Baseball Season Statistics |url=https://stats.texassports.com/custompages/sports/m-basebl/2002-2003/ba_03_final.html |access-date=2024-11-10 |website=www.stats.texassports.com}}</ref> The Longhorns posted an overall record of 50–20, advancing to the 2003 College World Series, where they finished in a tie for third place.<ref name="texassports.com">{{Cite web | url=http://texassports.com/sports/2014/3/26/BB_0326140341.aspx?id=508 |title = Texas Baseball in the College World Series}}</ref> In 2004, he pitched 24 games, all but one of them as a starter, and went 9–3 with a 2.34 ERA as the Longhorns went 58–15.<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 June 2004 |title=University of Texas Baseball Overall Statistics |url=https://stats.texassports.com/custompages/sports/m-basebl/2003-2004/ba_04_final.html |access-date=2024-11-10 |website=www.stats.texassports.com}}</ref> They again advanced to the College World Series, where they finished as the national runner-up to Cal State Fullerton.<ref name="texassports.com"/>
==Professional career== ===Cincinnati Reds=== ====Minor leagues==== LeCure was originally drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies out of high school in the 45th round of the 2002 Major League Baseball draft but did not sign. He was then drafted and signed by the Reds in the fourth round (122nd overall) of the 2005 Major League Baseball draft.<ref>[https://www.baseball-reference.com/draft/?query_type=name&name=Lecure BR Draft]</ref>
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{{frac|1|3}} innings, he posted 44 strikeouts.
For the Sarasota Reds in 2006, he went 7–12 with a 3.43 ERA in 27 starts. In 2007, he started one game for the Sarasota Reds and spent the rest of the season with the Double–A Chattanooga Lookouts, going a combined 8–5 with a 4.07 ERA in 22 starts.
He repeated Double–A in 2008 with Chattanooga, going 9–7 with a 3.42 ERA in 27 starts. LeCure spent the entire 2009 season pitching for Triple–A Louisville Bats, going 10–8 with a 4.46 ERA in 25 starts.<ref>[https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=lecure001sam Baseball Reference Minors]</ref> [[File:Sam LeCure 2009.jpg|210px|thumb|LeCure pitching for the Louisville Bats, Triple-A affiliates of the Cincinnati Reds, in {{baseball year|2009}}.]]
====Major leagues==== On May 26, 2010, LeCure was promoted to the major leagues for the first time, temporarily replacing an injured Homer Bailey on the roster.<ref name=callup1>{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2010_05_28_houmlb_cinmlb_1&mode=preview|title=LeCure to make big league debut vs. Astros|accessdate=May 28, 2010}}</ref> LeCure made his major league debut in a start for the Reds on Friday, May 28, against the Houston Astros.<ref name=callup1/> He pitched six innings and gave up two runs and six hits with four walks while striking out five batters as the Reds won 15–6.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CIN/CIN201005280.shtml | title=Houston Astros at Cincinnati Reds Box Score, May 28, 2010}}</ref> LeCure ended his rookie season with a 2–5 record and a 4.50 ERA and 37 strikeouts in 48 innings over 15 games (six starts).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sam LeCure 2010 pitching Stats Per Game|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/gamelog/_/id/30171/year/2010/category/pitching|access-date=June 28, 2025|website=espn.com|language=en}}</ref>
LeCure made 43 appearances for Cincinnati during the 2011 campaign, registering a 2–1 record and 3.71 ERA with 73 strikeouts across {{fraction|77|2|3}} innings pitched.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sam LeCure 2011 pitching Stats Per Game|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/gamelog/_/id/30171/year/2011/category/pitching|access-date=June 28, 2025|website=espn.com|language=en}}</ref> In 2012, he made 48 appearances for the Reds, posting a 3–3 record and 3.14 ERA with 61 strikeouts across {{fraction|57|1|3}} innings pitched.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sam LeCure 2012 pitching Stats Per Game|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/gamelog/_/id/30171/year/2012/category/pitching|access-date=June 28, 2025|website=espn.com|language=en}}</ref> That year, in three postseason games, LeCure yielded only two hits and no runs as the Reds eventually fell to the San Francisco Giants, the eventual World Series champions.
LeCure made 63 appearances for Cincinnati, compiling a 2–1 record and a career-best 2.66 ERA with 66 strikeouts over 61 innings pitched.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lecursa01.shtml | title=Sam LeCure Stats}}</ref> In 2014, LeCure pitched in 62 games out of the bullpen for the Reds, logging a 1–4 record and a 3.81 (the worst since his rookie season) with 48 strikeouts across {{fraction|56|2|3}} innings pitched.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sam LeCure 2014 pitching Stats Per Game|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/gamelog/_/id/30171/year/2014/category/pitching|access-date=June 28, 2025|website=espn.com|language=en}}</ref> The Reds would go on to finish 76–86, failing to make the playoffs.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lecursa01.shtml | title=Sam LeCure Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More }}</ref>
LeCure did not make the Reds' Opening Day roster entering the 2015 season. On April 2, 2015, he was removed from the 40-man roster and sent outright to Triple-A Louisville.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Reds Outright Sam LeCure|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/04/reds-outright-sam-lecure.html|access-date=June 28, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}}</ref> In 41 appearances for the Bats, LeCure compiled a 5–4 record and 5.25 ERA with 44 strikeouts and one save over 60 innings. On August 20, the Reds selected LeCure's contract, adding him back to their active roster.<ref>{{Cite web|title=NL Notes: Hamilton, LeCure, Adams, Seager|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/08/reds-billy-hamilton-dl-sam-lecure-cardinals-matt-adams-dodgers-corey-seager.html|access-date=June 28, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}}</ref> He pitched in 19 games for Cincinnati on the year, posting an 0–2 record and 3.15 ERA with 50 strikeouts over 20 innings of work.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sam LeCure 2015 pitching Stats Per Game|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/gamelog/_/id/30171/year/2015/category/pitching|access-date=June 28, 2025|website=espn.com|language=en}}</ref> On November 2, LeCure was again removed from the 40-man roster and sent outright to Triple-A Louisville.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Reds Decline Options Over Badenhop, Schumaker; Outright LeCure|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/11/reds-decline-options-over-badenhop-schumaker-outright-lecure.html|access-date=June 28, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}}</ref> He elected free agency on November 6.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=l_trn&lid=117|title=International League Transactions|page=November 2015|work=milb.com|accessdate=November 6, 2015}}</ref>
===Los Angeles Dodgers=== On January 12, 2016, LeCure signed a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks organization.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Diamondbacks To Sign Sam LeCure To Minors Pact|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/01/diamondbacks-to-sign-sam-lecure-to-minors-pact.html|access-date=June 28, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}}</ref> He was released prior to the start of the season on March 28.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/03/diamondbacks-release-sam-lecure-wesley-wright.html|title=Diamondbacks Release Sam LeCure, Wesley Wright|last=Todd|first=Jeff|work=mlbtraderumors.com|date=March 28, 2016|accessdate=March 28, 2016}}</ref>
LeCure signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers on April 7, 2016. In 31 appearances (12 starts) for the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers, he compiled a 5–5 record and 4.55 ERA with 73 strikeouts across 91 innings of work.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi?id=cfa3de17|title=2016 Oklahoma City Dodgers Statistics|work=Baseball Reference}}</ref> LeCure elected free agency following the season on November 7.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Minor League Free Agents 2016|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-free-agents-2016/|access-date=July 25, 2024|website=baseballamerica.com|date=November 8, 2016 |language=en}}</ref>
==Broadcasting career== In 2023 LeCure is in his sixth season as an analyst and co-host for the Cincinnati Reds Emmy Award-winning "Reds Live" pre-game and post-game shows on FanDuel Sports Network Ohio and part-time color analyst for select games on the Reds Radio Network.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/reds/fans/media-guide|title = 2021 Cincinnati Reds Media Guide | Fans|website = MLB.com}}</ref>
==Personal life== LeCure is the youngest of eight children. He also likes milk with his pop-tarts.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/big-league-stew/answer-man-sam-lecure-reds-talks-relief-pitching-191017614--mlb.html|title = Answer Man: Sam LeCure of the Reds talks relief pitching, mustaches, Aroldis Chapman, dropping out of Texas, odd jobs and the priesthood| work=Yahoo Sports | date=30 August 2013 }}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{Baseballstats| mlb=459967|espn=30171|br=l/lecursa01|fangraphs=4664|brm=lecure001sam}} *{{Twitter}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lecure, Sam}} Category:Living people Category:1984 births Category:Águilas Cibaeñas players Category:American expatriate baseball players in the Dominican Republic Category:Baseball players from Jefferson City, Missouri Category:Billings Mustangs players Category:Brainerd Blue Thunder players Category:Chattanooga Lookouts players Category:Cincinnati Reds announcers Category:Cincinnati Reds players Category:Gigantes del Cibao players Category:Louisville Bats players Category:Major League Baseball broadcasters Category:Major League Baseball pitchers Category:Oklahoma City Dodgers players Category:Sarasota Reds players Category:Surprise Rafters players Category:Texas Longhorns baseball players