Mark Leiter Jr. #56

Mark has a 6-17 record with seven saves and 33 holds in 151 games (15 starts) across parts of three Major League seasons...he has posted a 4.57 ERA (125 ER/246.0 IP) with 256 strikeouts, compared to 92 walks, and a 1.29 WHIP...Has appeared in 154 minor league games (99 starts) over eight seasons in Philadelphia, Toronto and the Cubs’ farm systems...is 42-35 with two saves, five holds, a 3.56 ERA (253 ER/640.1 IP) and a 1.19 WHIP...Is entering his third season with the Cubs...was selected by Philadelphia in the 22nd round of the 2013 First-Year Player Draft...Graduated in 2013 from New Jersey Institute of Technology...is the second player to be drafted from NJIT (Ed Carlton, CIN, 2015) and the first to make the Major Leagues...struck out 20 batters in a game with NJIT on May 3, 2013, which, at the time, was a school record and the highest single-game total that season in all of Division I...Graduated from Toms River (N.J.) High School North...His father, Mark, pitched 11 MLB seasons with New York (A.L.) (1990), Detroit (1991-93), Los Angeles (A.L.) (1994), San Francisco (1995-96), Montreal (1996), Philadelphia (1997-98), Seattle (1999) and Milwaukee (2001)...his uncle, Al, played 19 years in the majors (1987-2005); was a two-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion; is currently an analyst for MLB Network...his cousin, Jack, was a 20th round selection by New York (A.L.) in 2019, but opted to attend Vanderbilt University, before he was again selected by the Texas Rangers second overall in 2021.

2023

Mark went 1-3 with a 3.50 ERA (25 ER/64.1 IP) in 69 games, all in relief, with the Cubs in 2023...recorded 77 strikeouts and 24 walks with a 1.12 WHIP...Recorded a career-high four saves and a career-low 3.50 ERA...Ranked second among the Cubs bullpen in strikeouts (77)...his 10.77 strikeouts per 9.0 IP ranked second among Cubs pitchers (min. 25 G)...His .128 opponent average in June ranked fourth among N.L. relievers (min. 5 G)...had a 1.64 ERA (2 ER/11.0 IP) with a 0.73 WHIP in 10 appearances during the month...Earned his first win of the season on April 18 at Oakland...tallied two strikeouts and allowed one walk in 1.0 innings...From July 17-Aug. 20, posted an ERA of 0.57 (1 ER/15.2 IP)...held batters to zero or one hit in each game during the stretch...Notched a season-high four strikeouts Aug. 3 vs. Cincinnati...In 14 games in Aug., he pitched to a 2.25 ERA (3 ER/12.0 IP) with one save, eight holds and 17 strikeouts, compared to four walks and a .186 opponent average, including a season-high nine-game scoreless stretch Aug. 3-20 (7.2 IP).

2022

Went 2-7 with three saves in 35 outings with the Cubs during the 2022 season...posted a 3.99 ERA (30 ER/67.2 IP) with 73 strikeouts and a .210 opponent average... Made six appearances with Triple-A Iowa (all starts) and went 0-3 with a 5.32 ERA, striking out 32 batters, compared to six walks, good for 13.09 strikeouts per nine innings pitched... Recorded his first career save on Aug. 16 at Washington, striking out two of the three batters he faced... Picked up his first career multi-inning save on Sept. 28 against the Phillies... On July 2 vs. Boston, became the first Cubs reliever to earn a win while tossing at least 5.1 innings and allowing one-run-or-fewer since Glendon Rusch did so on July 15, 2004... Had a 2.25 ERA (5 ER/20.0 IP) in his final 17 games of the season dating to Aug. 15, holding opponents without an earned run in 13 of those games...led Cubs relievers in that span.

2021

Spent the 2021 season with Triple-A Toledo and Double-A Erie ... in 25 games (19 starts) Mark registered a 3.77 ERA (48 ER/ 114.0 IP), going 10-8 ... he recorded 145 strikeouts and only 31 walks. 

2019

Missed the entire 2019 season following Tommy John surgery.

2018

Threw 23.1 combined innings for Philadelphia and Toronto in 2018, recording a 7.71 ERA (20 ER) and a 0-1 record with 22 strikeouts... In 23 appearances in the minors, all in relief, he registered a 3.24 ERA (12 ER/ 33.1 IP) and went 3-1. 

2017

Finished 9th among NL rookies in OPP AVG (.254) & SO/BB (2.71) and 10th in SO (84)... Began the season with Lehigh Valley (AAA)... Struck out 8 batters in 2.2 innings, 4/12 at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre... Had his contract selected on 4/18, his fi rst of 3 stints with the club... Made his ML debut on 4/28 at LAD; he and his father, Mark (1997-98), became 2nd father-son duo ever to play for the Phillies (Ruben Amaro Sr., 1960-64, and Ruben Amaro Jr., 1992-93, 96-98)... Did not allow more than 1 hit in any of his first 10 career outings (.113 AVG, 6-53)... Made his first career start, 6/23 at ARI; he and his father became the 14th father-son combo to start for the same ML team... Tossed 6.0 shutout innings (3 H, 5 SO) in his first start... His consecutive appearances on 8/5 at COL (4.1 IP) and 8/10 vs NYM (5.0 IP) were the two longest by a Phillies reliever since Tyler Cloyd (5.0 IP) on 8/24/13... His 9 SO on 8/5 were a career high, and most by any Phillies reliever since 5/3/70 at SF (Lowell Palmer, 10 SO)... Became the fi rst Phillies reliever and 9th in MLB since the current mound distance was established in 1893 to have consecutive appearances with at least 7 SO (9 on 8/5 and 7 on 8/10)... Tied a career high with 9 SO on 9/21 vs LAD, becoming the first Phillies pitcher with 9 SO in both a start and relief appearance in a season since 1959 (Gene Conley)... Had a 1.87 ERA (7 ER, 33.2 IP) in his first 9 home games and 3.06 ERA (17 ER, 50.0 IP) overall at Citizens Bank Park... Posted a 5.19 ERA (35 ER, 60.2 IP) in 11 starts and a 4.50 ERA (15 ER, 30.0 IP) in 16 relief appearances.

2016

Was on the DL to begin the season recovering from right rotator cuff surgery... Reinstated on 5/9 and assigned to Reading (AA)... Allowed 3 ER or fewer in 14 of his 17 starts... Posted a 2.39 ERA (7 ER, 26.1 IP) in 6 games (4 starts) during July... Surrendered only 2 ER (1.15 ERA) and held opponents to a .143 AVG (7-49) in 15.1 relief innings... In his fi nal 12 games (10 starts), posted a 3.19 ERA (20 ER, 57.1 IP) with 61 SO.

2015

Began the season with Clearwater (A)... Selected as a Florida State League midseason All-Star... Led the Phillies minor league system in SO for the 2nd straight year (121)... In his fi rst 11 games (5 starts), went 3-1 with a 1.48 ERA (8 ER, 48.2 IP), 49 SO, 1 SV... Promoted to Reading on 6/15... On temporary inactive list, 7/10-19... Transferred to Clearwater, 8/6, where he posted a 3.00 ERA over his final four starts (9 ER, 27.0 IP).

2014

Led the Phillies minor league system in SO (141)... T-2nd in the Florida State League in SHO (1) and T-5th in CG (1)... Began the season with Lakewood (A)... Went 3-1, 1.97 ERA (7 ER, 32.0 IP) in 5 April starts... Was named Phillies Minor League Player of the Week twice: 4/21-27 and 7/14-20... Promoted to Clearwater on 6/25... Tossed his 1st professional SHO, 7/20 vs Charlotte (9.0 IP, 5 H, 0 BB, 8 SO)... Had a professional-high 10 SO, 8/14 at Dunedin.

2013

Began pro career with Gulf Coast League Phillies (R)... Was named Phillies Minor League Pitcher of the Month for August and Phillies Minor League Pitcher of the Week, 8/19-25... Posted a 1.57 ERA (4 ER, 23.0 IP) while averaging 10.17 SO/9.0 IP in 11 games with the GCL Phillies... Shuttled between the GCL Phillies and Clearwater before being transferred to Lakewood on 8/18 for the remainder of the season... Went 3-0 with a 0.43 ERA (1 ER, 21.0 IP) in 4 starts between Lakewood and Clearwater.