Reds starter Mike Leake will make the Opening Day roster, according to MLB.com. Okay, a periphery pitcher makes a mediocre midwest club. Who cares?
With his inclusion on the 25-man roster, Leake, the first round pick for the Reds in last years draft, will skip over the minor leagues, a rare occurrence in baseball (especially for a pitcher). The last starting pitcher to truly make the jump was Jim Abbott in 1988.
"It's kind of surreal right now. It has to soak in a little," Leake said moments after receiving the news from manager Dusty Baker, general manager Walt Jocketty and pitching coach Bryan Price.
Leake, 22, posted a 3.00 ERA in six appearances this spring, striking out 10 to 4 walks. Teams will not have much of a scouting report on Leake, making it entirely possible for him to be a sleeper in your fantasy baseball league.