Venezuelan right-handed pitcher Erick Leal signed with the New York Yankees for the final two weeks of the 2024 season, Robinson Alvarez Viña of Sona Madera in Venezuela reported on September 12.
Fuente: a la espera de más detalles, Erick Leal regresará bajo el control de una organización de MLB. Tiene un acuerdo con los Yankees.
— Robinson Alvarez Viña 👑 (@RobyK7ng) September 12, 2024
Erick Aguirre of Deportrece in Mexico City reported on September 13 that Leal’s contract is a minor league contract, and he will report to 2025 during spring training.
Fuentes: Puedo confirmar el reporte de @RobyK7ng y los Yankees de Nueva York firmaron contrato con Erick Leal.
El acuerdo es de Ligas Menores y el diestro reportará al Early Camp de 2025. El venezolano regresa al béisbol organizado de Estados Unidos como campeón de la LMB. pic.twitter.com/hzJhUsxx5e
— Erick Aguirre (@erick_aguirreh) September 13, 2024
Ignacio Serrano and César Sequera Ramos of El Emergente in Venezuela reported on September 13 that the Leones del Caracas of the Liga Venezolana de Beisbol Profesional are waiting on the news if the Yankees organization will give him permission to play in the Winter League.
Reportan firma de Erick Leal con los Yanquis.
Los #Leones esperan por noticias para confirmar los planes del renovado as venezolano este año con el #Caracas.
Lo cuenta @CesarSequera11 en esta nota: https://t.co/wzkQexLtEu#MLB
— Ignacio Serrano (@IgnacioSerrano) September 13, 2024
Leal, 29, was born in Valencia, Venezuela, and has not played with a Major League Baseball organization since the 2019 regular season, when he split time between High-A Myrtle Beach and Double-A Tennessee in the Chicago Cubs farm system.
Leal helped the Diablos Rojos del México win the 2024 Serie del Rey by sweeping the Sultanes de Monterrey to end the Liga Mexicana de Beisbol regular season.
He started in 15 games and made 16 appearances in the 2024 LMB regular season, posting an 8-1 record with a 2.91 ERA. He pitched 80.1 innings, allowing 69 hits, 26 earned runs, six home runs, 24 walks, 95 strikeouts, and a 1.158 WHIP.
Leal played with the Navegantes del Magallanes in the 2023-24 LVBP regular season and started in eight games with ten appearances. He went 0-3 with a 5.08 ERA, throwing 33.2 innings, allowing 42 hits, 19 earned runs, two home runs, nine walks, 30 strikeouts, and a 1.515 WHIP.
Leal played with the Rieleros de Aguascalientes in the LMB during the 2023 regular season until he was traded to the Diablos Rojos del Mexico on August 1, 2023.
He started in 10 games with the Rieleros de Aguascalientes and went 2-3 with a 4.56 ERA, throwing 47.1 innings, allowing 46 hits, 24 earned runs, three home runs, 16 walks, 49 strikeouts, and a 1.310 WHIP before heading to Mexico City.
With the Diablos Rojos del Mexico, Leal only started in one game and allowed five earned runs, seven hits, three walks, and seven strikeouts while throwing four innings.
Leal played for the 2022-23 LVBP champion Leones del Caracas at the 2023 Caribbean Series in Caracas, Venezuela, and started in two games, posting a 0-1 record with a 0.84 ERA, throwing 10.2 innings, allowing 11 hits, one earned run, three walks, and seven strikeouts. Leones del Caracas lost in the 2023 Caribbean Series championship game to the 2022-23 LIDOM champion Tigres del Licey 4-1 at Estadio Monumental Simon Bolivar.
In his 12 seasons in the minor leagues, LMB, and LVBP, Leal has a lifetime record at 81-48 with a 3.55 ERA in 242 appearances and 203 starts, three complete games, one shutout, two saves, throwing 1,072.1 innings, allowing 1,033 hits, 423 earned runs, 81 home runs, 303 walks, 954 strikeouts, and a 1.246 WHIP.
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WBN MLB: https://worldbaseball.com/league/mlb/
Photo Credit: Erick Leal #49 of Diablos Rojos pitches the ball. (Photo by Eyepix Group/Eyepix Group/LightRocket via Getty Images)
