Anthony Lerew
Encyclopedia
Anthony Allen Lerew is a Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher
in the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
organization.
in the 11th round of the 2001 Major League Baseball Draft
. After four seasons in the Braves' minor league system, he debuted on Sept. 4, , in a home game against the Cincinnati Reds
. In the 2005 season, Lerew recorded no wins
, no losses, 5 strikeout
s, and a 5.62 ERA
in 7 games, all of which were relief
outings.
On Feb. 23, , the Braves signed Lerew to a one-year deal. A month later, on Febr. 23, he was optioned to the Triple-A Richmond Braves
. With Richmond, Lerew compiled a 3-5 record with a 7.48 ERA and 69 strikeouts in 16 games, 15 of which he started
.
The Braves called up Lerew from Richmond on Sept. 1, 2006. He made his '06 debut the next day, making a relief appearance in the fifth inning. Lerew pitched 2 innings, allowing 5 runs
and striking out 1 batter. He was sent back down to the Richmond Braves on September 4, having appeared in only 1 game.
On May 8, , Lerew made his first big-league start for Atlanta when he was called up from Richmond yet again, this time to replace Mark Redman
in a game against the San Diego Padres
. He was later sent down to Richmond again.
On June 20, 2007, Lerew underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery
and was placed on the 60-day disabled list
. He recovered from surgery in Southern Florida, at the Braves extended spring training
site. Once recovered, he spent the rest of pitching for the Gulf Coast Braves and with Triple-A Richmond.
On March 5, , Lerew was outrighted to Triple-A Gwinnett to make room on the roster for Tom Glavine
, and was released 5 days later. On March 18, Lerew signed with the Kansas City Royals
.
Lerew spent the 2009 minor league season with the Double-A Northwest Arkansas Naturals
. He was called up to the Royals as a September callup, making his Royals debut on Sept. 24, 2009.
On June 16, 2010, Lerew was called up from the Triple-A Omaha Royals
to the Kansas City Royals to replace Luke Hochevar
, who went on the DL with a sprained elbow. He earned his first career major league win on June 28 of that year over the Chicago White Sox
.
in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League
, Lerew pitched the 16th no-hitter in league history against Leones del Caracas
on Nov. 21, 2010.
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
in the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
The are a Japanese baseball team based in Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture. The team was bought on January 28, 2005 by the SoftBank Corporation.The team was formerly known as the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks. In 1988, Daiei bought the team from Osaka's Nankai Electric Railway Co., and its headquarters were...
organization.
Career
Lerew, a graduate of Northern York High School in Dillsburg, Pa., was drafted by the Atlanta BravesAtlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
in the 11th round of the 2001 Major League Baseball Draft
2001 Major League Baseball Draft
-First Round Selections:-Supplemental First Round Selections:-Background:The Minnesota Twins selected St. Paul, MN native Joe Mauer with the number one pick in the 2001 draft. The 18-year-old Mauer, a catcher from Cretin-Derham Hall High School in St. Paul, became the seventh Minnesotan to be...
. After four seasons in the Braves' minor league system, he debuted on Sept. 4, , in a home game against the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
. In the 2005 season, Lerew recorded no wins
Win (baseball)
In professional baseball, there are two types of decisions: a win and a loss . In each game, one pitcher on the winning team is awarded a win and one pitcher on the losing team is given a loss in their respective statistics. These pitchers are collectively known as the pitchers of record. Only...
, no losses, 5 strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s, and a 5.62 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
in 7 games, all of which were relief
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
outings.
On Feb. 23, , the Braves signed Lerew to a one-year deal. A month later, on Febr. 23, he was optioned to the Triple-A Richmond Braves
Richmond Braves
The Richmond Braves were the Triple-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves and played in the International League. Colloquially referred to as the R-Braves, they were based in Richmond, Virginia, where they played from 1966, when the Milwaukee Braves moved to Atlanta where their AAA team, the Crackers,...
. With Richmond, Lerew compiled a 3-5 record with a 7.48 ERA and 69 strikeouts in 16 games, 15 of which he started
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
.
The Braves called up Lerew from Richmond on Sept. 1, 2006. He made his '06 debut the next day, making a relief appearance in the fifth inning. Lerew pitched 2 innings, allowing 5 runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
and striking out 1 batter. He was sent back down to the Richmond Braves on September 4, having appeared in only 1 game.
On May 8, , Lerew made his first big-league start for Atlanta when he was called up from Richmond yet again, this time to replace Mark Redman
Mark Redman
Mark Allen Redman is a retired Major League Baseball left-handed starting pitcher.-Early career:...
in a game against the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
. He was later sent down to Richmond again.
On June 20, 2007, Lerew underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery
Tommy John surgery
Tommy John surgery, known in medical practice as ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, is a surgical procedure in which a ligament in the medial elbow is replaced with a tendon from elsewhere in the body...
and was placed on the 60-day disabled list
Disabled list
In Major League Baseball, the disabled list is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players.-General guidelines:...
. He recovered from surgery in Southern Florida, at the Braves extended spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
site. Once recovered, he spent the rest of pitching for the Gulf Coast Braves and with Triple-A Richmond.
On March 5, , Lerew was outrighted to Triple-A Gwinnett to make room on the roster for Tom Glavine
Tom Glavine
Thomas Michael Glavine is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher.With 164 victories during the 1990s, Glavine was the second winningest pitcher in the National League, second only to teammate Greg Maddux's 176...
, and was released 5 days later. On March 18, Lerew signed with the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
.
Lerew spent the 2009 minor league season with the Double-A Northwest Arkansas Naturals
Northwest Arkansas Naturals
The Northwest Arkansas Naturals are a Minor League Baseball team based in Springdale, Arkansas. The team is member of the Texas League, and serves as the Double-A affiliate to the Kansas City Royals. They relocated to Springdale from Wichita, Kansas in 2008. They were previously known as the...
. He was called up to the Royals as a September callup, making his Royals debut on Sept. 24, 2009.
On June 16, 2010, Lerew was called up from the Triple-A Omaha Royals
Omaha Royals
The Omaha Storm Chasers are a United States minor league baseball team currently based in the Omaha suburb of Papillion, Nebraska. The team is the Triple-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals major league club and has been a member of the expanded Pacific Coast League since 1998. From 1969 to 1997,...
to the Kansas City Royals to replace Luke Hochevar
Luke Hochevar
Luke Anthony Hochevar is an American professional baseball starting pitcher for the Kansas City Royals organization of Major League Baseball. He is an alumnus of the University of Tennessee.He throws and bats right-handed.-High school:...
, who went on the DL with a sprained elbow. He earned his first career major league win on June 28 of that year over the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
.
No-hitter
Pitching for Navegantes del MagallanesNavegantes del Magallanes
The Navegantes del Magallanes are a baseball team in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League. Based in Valencia, the Navegantes have won ten LVBP championships and two Caribbean World Series.-Pitchers:...
in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League
Venezuelan Professional Baseball League
The Venezuelan Professional Baseball League or Liga Venezolana de Béisbol Profesional is the highest level baseball league in Venezuela.-Brief history:Baseball exploded in Venezuela in 1941, following the world championship in Havana....
, Lerew pitched the 16th no-hitter in league history against Leones del Caracas
Leones del Caracas
The Leones del Caracas is a Venezuelan baseball team that plays in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League. Since its inception, the team has played in the Estadio Universitario in Caracas...
on Nov. 21, 2010.