Former ASU star pitcher Mike Leake has been named the Cincinnati Reds’ fifth starter, skipping the minor leagues entirely and jumping straight to the major leagues.
Leake was drafted No. 8 overall in the 2009 MLB Draft after going 16-1 with a 1.71 ERA for the Sun Devils. He was named the National Player of the Year by the American Baseball Coaches Association and was a finalist for the Golden Spikes Award.
Leake is the only the 21st player in major league history to skip the minor leagues altogether and the first pitcher to do it since Ariel Prieto in 1995.
— Kyle Glaser
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