Former SF Giants relief pitcher Dominic Leone was signed to a minor league deal with the White Sox earlier this week. The 32-year-old pitched for the New York Mets, Los Angeles Angels and Seattle Mariners in 2023, after spending two seasons with the Giants. Last season, Leone had a 4.67 ERA in 54 innings pitched (51 appearances) with 54 strikeouts and 28 walks.
The White Sox came in fourth in the AL Central last season, losing a whopping 101 games, and will look at Leone as a low-risk addition to their minor league coffers. Leone was released by the Giants late in 2022, and then signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Mets ahead of 2023. In New York, he played the part of middle relief well, but was traded to the Angels at the MLB trade deadline for infielder prospect Jeremiah Jackson.
In Los Angeles, he had a 5.54 ERA with 11 strikeouts and nine walks in 13 innings pitched (11 appearances). Soon after, in August of 2023, the Mariners claimed Leone off waivers from the Angels, in an attempt to bolster their bullpen for the postseason. In Seattle, he had a 4.35 ERA with 10 strikeouts and eight walks in 10.1 innings pitched (9 games). The Mariners finished 88-74, edged out for a final American League postseason spot by the Toronto Blue Jays, who ultimately did not make it out of the Wild Card Series. At the end of the season, Leone elected free agency.
While 2023 was not his best year, 2021 showed flashes of brilliance that surely assisted the Giants in their quest to 107-wins. Originally signed as a minor-league free agent prior to 2021, he impressed in spring training and earned a spot on the big-league roster after seven Triple-A appearances.
In 2021, in 57 appearances out of the Giants' bullpen, Leone recorded a 1.51 ERA with 50 strikeouts in 53.2 innings pitched. In 2022, however, Leone's overall numbers dropped. In 55 appearances, Leone had a 4.01 ERA with 52 strikeouts across 49.1 innings. Statistically he was overall fine as middle relief, but saw serious tapering off as the season progressed. From July 21st onwards, he could not seem to get batters out, and opponents hit him .303/.405/.546.
Leone has spent 10 years in MLB, and while his overall numbers trend solid, his performance has been relatively erratic. He has a 3.82 ERA in 404 appearances with 427 strikeouts and 178 walks in 410 innings pitched. He'll look to find a way on to the White Sox's major league roster this spring.
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