Kevin Lenik

Kevin Lenik
Lenik with the Storm Chasers in 2018
Kansas City Royals
Pitcher
Born: (1991-08-01) August 1, 1991
Mission Hills, Los Angeles, California
Bats: Right Throws: Right

Kevin Jeffrey Lenik (born August 1, 1991) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Kansas City Royals organization.

Amateur career

Lenik attended Bishop Alemany High School in Mission Hills, Los Angeles, California. He played for the school's baseball as a freshman, but quit the team after the season. He focused on American football, playing tight end.[1]

As his academic grades were too low to play football for a National Collegiate Athletic Association school, Lenik decided to return to baseball. He enrolled at the College of the Canyons, a junior college, and played for the school's baseball team. He transferred to Hawaii Pacific University for his junior year, and then California State University, Dominguez Hills for his senior year. He played as an outfielder, not trying to pitch until the end of his senior year. Not chosen in the 2015 Major League Baseball draft, Lenik trained with Tom House and pitched in the California Winter League.[1][2]

Professional career

Lenik attended an open tryout with the Texas Rangers in 2016, who signed him to a minor league contract. He played for the Spokane Indians of the Class A-Short Season Northwest League for the 2016 season.[1] He appeared in 17 games for Spokane,[2] and was named the Northwest League Pitcher of the Week for July 25–31. The Rangers released Lenik during spring training in 2017.[2]

Lenik signed with the Windy City ThunderBolts of the Frontier League, an independent baseball league. He had a 1-0 win-loss record and a 3.48 earned run average (ERA) in 11 relief appearances for Windy City.[3] His fastball reached 98 miles per hour (158 km/h). He signed with the Kansas City Royals, who assigned him to the Burlington Royals of the Rookie-level Appalachian League in late June. He made two appearances for Burlington, and five for the Lexington Legends of the Class A Midwest League. The Royals promoted Lenik to the Omaha Storm Chasers of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League in late July.[2] With Omaha, Lenik had a 1.88 ERA in 12 appearances, with 24 strikeouts in 24 innings pitched.[4] He returned to Omaha in 2018.[5]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Horton, Josh (August 11, 2016). "Spokane Indians pitcher Kevin Lenik received big break after years-long detour". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "New Storm Chasers reliever Kevin Lenik's rapid rise comes up short of victory against Fresno | Storm Chasers". omaha.com. July 31, 2017. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
  3. ↑ "Kevin Lenik is second ThunderBolt in two days to join MLB organization - Daily Southtown". Chicagotribune.com. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
  4. ↑ Flanagan, Jeffrey (January 20, 2016). "Kevin Lenik could be on Royals' radar in 2018 | MLB.com". M.royals.mlb.com. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
  5. ↑ https://www.milb.com/milb/news/kansas-city-royals-kevin-lenik-followed-unlikely-path-to-triple-a-omaha/c-283383464
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