Rockies agree with undrafted FA Leisenring 

DENVER -- On Sunday morning, one minute after teams were eligible to negotiate with non-drafted free agents, University of South Carolina Aiken switch-hitting catcher Luke Leisenring heard the familiar and comforting voice of Rockies director of scouting operations Marc Gustafson.

For a Colorado kid who was 7 when the Rockies went to the 2007 World Series, spent his youth idolizing and imitating shortstop Troy Tulowitzki and played three fall seasons for Gustafson with the Rockies Scout Team, it wasn’t long until Leisenring, 20, knew where he wanted to begin his pro future.

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Leisenring was the first player reported by Baseball America to agree to join the Rockies. Colorado has not yet announced the agreement, which is pending a physical.

“I mean, the phone lines opened at 9 [ET] and he called me at 9:01 -- right then and there,” Leisenring said. “It’s kind of an easy decision when that kind of stuff happens.”

The Rockies have been a big part of Leisenring’s life. He played for the Rockies Scout Team from 2015-17. During the ’17 fall season, Leisenring leaned on the advice Gustafson and assistant director of scouting operations Sterling Monfort and entered college for the spring semester rather than stay in high school.

Leisenring made 20 appearances (six starts) at catcher for Arizona State University but felt out of place. His brother, Levi Leisenring, was already at USC Aiken. The connection was Chad Jacobsen, a former Rockies Minor League player who had played his college ball at USC Aiken. Jacobsen lives locally and trains players.

The Rockies didn’t pursue Leisenring strictly out of familiarity.

Leisrnring is 6-foot-4 and around 205 pounds, with pull power from both sides. As a sophomore in 2019, he batted .297 with six home runs, 11 doubles, two triples and 29 RBIs. In 20 games of the abbreviated '20 season, he batted .348, led the team with four home runs, drove in 12 runs and scored 20.

While he has athletic ability that would allow for a position change if necessary (his father, Troy, was a catcher and a football player at the University of Northern Colorado, and his mother, Leanna, participated in track and field at the University of Colorado), the receiving skills and arm play nicely behind the plate.

Leisenring wore Tulowitzki’s No. 2 on his team uniforms -- and joined the Coors Field crowds in the “Tulo” chant. He changed positions his freshman year at Ralston Valley High School.

“I wasn't going to make varsity as a freshman at shortstop, but if I switched to catching, I had a chance,” Leisenring said. “All the action -- you’re always in the play, you’ve always got to pay attention, everything is directed toward you, and you’re directing everything field-wise. I just love the position.”

With the coronavirus pandemic having truncated the amateur season, this year’s Draft was shortened to five rounds, and non-drafted free agents had their bonuses capped at $20,000. Leisenring felt it prudent to agree with the Rockies rather than return to USC Aiken.

“Going back for my senior year, it would have been my fourth year in college, and I would have been a little bit older,” Leisenring said. “Vice versa, coming out this year, I’m a little bit younger than everybody else -- I’m only 20. Most juniors are 21. And then the Rockies, I’m really comfortable with them. I’ve known the guys for a really long time, and they’ve done a lot for me.”