- Matthew LeCroy
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Matthew LeCroy Designated hitter / Catcher Born: December 13, 1975
Belton, South CarolinaBatted: Right Threw: Right MLB debut April 3, 2000 for the Minnesota Twins Last MLB appearance September 30, 2007 for the Minnesota Twins Career statistics Batting average .260 Home runs 60 Runs batted in 218 Teams Medal record Competitor for 
United StatesMen's Baseball Summer Olympics Bronze 1996 Atlanta Team Pan American Games Silver 1999 Winnipeg Team Matthew Hanks LeCroy (born December 13, 1975 in Belton, South Carolina) is a former Major League Baseball catcher, first baseman, and designated hitter. During his time in the major leagues, LeCroy had the distinction of being the active player with the most plate appearances without a stolen base in his career.
LeCroy is a 1994 graduate of Belton-Honea Path High School in Honea Path, South Carolina and has attended Clemson University, pursuing a degree in elementary education.
LeCroy had a few good years of success with the Minnesota Twins in the early 2000s. He was always a threat to hit a home run, and has hit 60 in his career of limited at bats. He was dropped by the Twins in 2006, and signed a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals.
Though battling bone spurs in his throwing knee, LeCroy was asked to fill in during a May 25, 2006, game against the Houston Astros at a time when Washington's starting catcher, Brian Schneider and backup Wiki Gonzalez, were out with injuries. He was replaced with Robert Fick in the middle of the seventh inning after the Astros stole six bases and LeCroy committed two catching errors. After the game, manager Frank Robinson shed tears during the press conference regarding his removal of Matt in the middle of the seventh inning, which is usually considered embarrassing. LeCroy would then be designated for assignment July 18, and then played for the New Orleans Zephyrs, Washington's Triple-A team.
LeCroy was signed to a minor league deal by the Twins in 2007 after turning down a Washington Nationals' offer to manage one of their minor-league teams. LeCroy started the 2007 season as designated hitter playing for the Rochester Red Wings in the International League.[1] He had his contract purchased by the major league club on September 9, 2007, when fourth catcher José Morales went down with an injury, and finished the season with the Twins.
As a member of the Twins, he became one of the few major leaguers to pinch hit a walk-off grand slam.
LeCroy was outrighted to the minor leagues on October 11, 2007. However, he refused the assignment and became a free agent. On February 15, 2008, LeCroy signed a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training with the Oakland Athletics. On March 16, 2008, LeCroy was reassigned to minor league camp. He asked the Athletics to grant his release, which they did. LeCroy then signed with the Lancaster Barnstormers of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball in April 2008.[2]
In November 2008, LeCroy was hired by the Nationals to manage the team's Class A affiliate, the Hagerstown Suns.
LeCroy and his wife Holly have three children, adopted daughter Isabella (2004), daughter Maggie (2006), and adopted son Noah (2008).
References
External links
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube
Categories:- 1975 births
- Living people
- Minnesota Twins players
- Washington Nationals players
- Baseball players from South Carolina
- Major League Baseball catchers
- Major League Baseball first basemen
- Minor league baseball managers
- Fort Wayne Wizards players
- Fort Myers Miracle players
- Salt Lake Buzz players
- New Britain Rock Cats players
- Edmonton Trappers players
- New Orleans Zephyrs players
- Rochester Red Wings players
- Lancaster Barnstormers players
- Clemson Tigers baseball players
- Olympic medalists in baseball
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