Mike Leake, aka "Maddux Jr."

Mike Leake, AKA "Maddux Jr."

      Mike Leake is off to an amazing first half of the season and it's time to take a look into what makes Mike Leake a pitcher to be feared. Drafted by the Cincinnati Reds out of Arizona State University in the first round of the 2009 draft, the Reds knew what they were getting when they chose Leake with the eighth overall pick. A control pitcher with no over powering pitch, but the ability to locate all of his pitches anywhere he wants to.

   Sound familiar?? We think that Mike Leake has all the tools to have a career like one of the all time greats (arguably one of the bests ever) Greg Maddux. Like Leake, Maddux was never able to over power hitters with heat, but he was able to move the ball around the plate and deceive hitters with all of his junk pitches. Maddux was and is no doubt the best pitcher ever to be able to locate pitches and put them right where the catcher wanted the ball. Although Leake is not as consistent as Maddux was, Leake transfered straight out of college to the Majors without pitching a single pitch in the Minor League. Few pitchers have been able to say this and stick around as long as Leake has without being sent down. So needless to say he has some time to improve on his consistency.

    Of course comparing Leake to Maddux right now would be insane but we believe that Leake has all the tools and definitely has the offense to get him the wins to obtain a successful career. Leake as stated is off to an amazing start this year posting a 9-4 record with a stunning 2.79 ERA. What team would not want those numbers with their 5th starter?

   Enough rambling, since we are comparing Leake with Maddux we chose to take a look at their first three years in the MLB and see just how close they were to each other.

Mike Leake- 3 yrs. Totals:

28-22 Record with an average ERA of 4.22. 

Averaging 2.5 Walks/9 innings and 6 Strikeouts/9 innings.

Giving up an average of 23 HR's a year.

Greg Maddux- 3 yrs. Total: (We will not count his first year as he only started three games)

43-34 Record with an average ERA of 3.91.

Averaging 3.4 walks/9 innings and 5.33 strikeouts/9 innings.

Giving up and average of 14 hR's a year.

  While Leake is no Maddux yet, give him some time and if he keeps pitching like he is this year then the Reds are looking at a future ace of the team.