MLB Debuts

On March 30, 2024, Jordan Leasure became the first player from the Appalachian League to reach the Majors since it was announced as an MLB partner in 2020 beginning with the ‘21 season. The 25-year-old right-hander made his Major League debut for the Chicago White Sox with a scoreless sixth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Guaranteed Rate Field.

Leasure secured a spot on the Chicago White Sox Opening Day roster after posting a 1.93 ERA in 10 relief appearances during 2024 Spring Training. He did not permit a run in all but one outing, racking up 11 strikeouts and a 1.18 WHIP in 9 1/3 innings. Leasure’s performance in the spring followed his breakout stint in the Arizona Fall League, where the 6-foot-3, 220-pound righty compiled a 1.08 ERA and 0.48 WHIP with 13 strikeouts in 8 1/3 innings and pitched in the AFL’s Rising Stars Game.

Leasure appeared in 33 games for the White Sox during the 2024 campaign, finishing the season 0-2 with two saves and a 6.32 ERA. The right-hander struck out 26 hitters over 31 1/3 Major League innings. Leasure’s first career save came against the Tampa Bay Rays on April 28, he retired both hitters he faced to preserve the White Sox 4-2 win. On May 10, Leasure retired all four Cleveland Guardians he faced for a four-out save in Chicago’s 6-3 victory.

Leasure pitched for the Elizabethton River Riders in 2021. A Brandon, Fla., native, Leasure came to the Appalachian League after pitching five seasons at Division-II University of Tampa. He was named the Sunshine State Conference Pitcher of the Year as a senior in 2021 before joining Elizabethton. Leasure was 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA in six relief appearances with the River Riders. He recorded 25 strikeouts against zero walks in 14 innings, finishing the summer with a 0.50 WHIP. Along the way, Leasure garnered Appy League June Pitcher of the Month honors after going 2-0 with a 0.82 ERA and 19 strikeouts.

Selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 14th round of the 2021 MLB Draft, Leasure received a quick promotion from High-A Great Lakes to Double-A Tusla the following year in his first full professional season. He was 2-2 with five saves in 44 relief appearances with Tulsa, striking out 63 batters in 49 1/3 innings.

Leasure continued to make strides in his return to Tulsa in 2023, posting a 3.09 ERA with nine saves and 56 strikeouts in 35 innings across his first 29 outings. On July 28, the White Sox acquired Leasure and two others from the Dodgers for RHPs Lance Lynn and Joe Kelly ahead of the trade deadline. Leasure first reached Triple-A when he joined the South Siders, notching two saves while making 15 appearances out of the bullpen for the Charlotte Knights.