Ballplayers from My Hometown - Anthony Lerew

2006 UD #44 Anthony Lerew

With the 2012 season in the books and I would like to take a look at the handful of baseball players that have roots in my hometown.  I grew up in a small town in south central Pennsylvania.. As far as I know nobody from my high school had ever emerged to the professional level for a team sport prior to my tenure there. 

That has changed relatively recently.  In 2012 there were at least four players from my School in baseball's professional ranks.  1 in Korea, 2 in the minors, and 1 at the major league level.  Today I would like to embark on a mini series looking at the 2012 season of NHS grads. 

First up is Anthony Lerew, who we have looked at a few times in the past here at Phungo.  Lerew has spent the last several years on the edge of the Majors after a few years as a mid-level prospect in the Braves organization.

Kia Tigers Player Page - Anthony Lerew

2012 found Lerew pitching in Korea for the Kia Tigers.  I don't know any Korean so there is some guess work involved here, but if I have my columns correct Lerew had an 11-13 season and pitched to an ERA of 3.83.  He logged just over 170 innnings in 32 starts.  The Tigers play in the Korean Baseball Organization, in 2012 they appear to have compiled a 62-65-6 record (I am assuming six ties - looks like all teams schedule 133 games).  This placed them 5th in the 8 team KBO.

Lerew last saw major league action stateside in 2010 as a member of the Kansas City Royals.  

His sole MLB victory came as a member of the Royals at the expense of the Chicago White Sox in 2010. Lerew outdueled Mark Buehrle giving up 3 hits and 1 run (HR Carlos Quentin) over 6 innings.

 

Additional career highlights would include striking out future Hall of Famer Ivan Rodriguez and likely HoF Alex Rodriquez. 


One final highlight is a no-hitter which Lerew tossed in the Venezuelan League. 

Anthony Lerew Update

Just got some news on Phungo Phavorite Anthony Lerew.

Lerew is a graduate of the high school that I attended way back in the middle 80s.  Fortunately for him, his tenure there is significantly more recent then my own.   

The Harrisburg Patriot News recently ran this feature on Lerew who is not currently in Major League baseball, but continures applying his trade in Asia.  Lerew who spent the 2011 season in Japan will be pitching in the Korean League this summer. 

2005 Authentic Memorabilia Anthony Lerew

In the last 30 years things have changed quite a bit in the little town I grew up in - but a lot of things remain - and I can tell you, Korea and Japan are places kids from the rurals spots of South Central PA don't often think they will ever get a chance to see.   

In related news my school has a growing baseball program and last year they saw a player get drafted by those stinkin Mets.  Joe Tuschak was taken in the 6th round of the 2011 draft and Team Phungo has resigned themselves to the fact that there is at least one Met they will be cheering for in the coming years.

Prevoius Phungo Posts on Anthony Lerew

Lerew Throws No-Hitter in Mexican League

Lerew Returns to Majors with the Royals

Lerew Makes Major League Debut with Braves

Anthony Lerew Tosses No-Hitter

2004 Bowman #221 Anthony Lerew

On Sunday Anthony Lerew tossed a No-Hitter in the Venezuelan Winter League.  Lerew is a Phungo Favorite as he is from my hometown and we attended the same the same high school.    

Lerew pitched well in the minors this season, but has struggled in his major league call ups with both Atlanta previously and Kansas City this season.  I believe he is still contracted to the Royals organization and hope that he gets another crack at the major league level.

Lerew starts for Royals v Red Sox

2004 Bowman #221 Anthony Lerew

I am sure this news will barely blip most places outside of KC, but Anthony Lerew is starting a major league game for the first time in two years tonight. I just wanted to note it here as Lerew is the only player from my high school that has ever played in a major league game.

Lerew was at one time a prospect in the Braves organization, but has been plagued by injuries. Hopefully he can get his career back on track as a Royal.

So in addition to cheering for the Phils tonight, I will also be pulling for the Kansas City Royals.

Spot The Sig! - Solved - Jeff Francouer

I have to confess, this weeks STS was a bit loaded. I put it up and pretty much expected Dayf to get it. In the spirit of Thanksgiving I wanted to send out a Thanks to Dayf who back in July added Phungo to his blog roll and for the first time I was getting outside readers. It may only be a couple readers a day, but it is always appreciated. So Dayf, thank you, and congratulations, and for correctly guessing the sig the Cardboard Junkie team hits a laser down the right field line good for a triple.

Now on to the autograph.

In September of 2005 Jeff Francoeur was a highly touted prospect in his rookie year for the Atlanta Braves. I was shocked when Francouer came over to sign for a small group of autograph seekers prior to the game. As I remember he was pretty affable and made small talk with fans while signing programs, cards, and balls for maybe two dozen people.

2008 Topps #381 Jeff Francoeur

Francouer’s Spot The Sig! auto is somewhat similar to his facsimile signature, at least the first name is. After what I think is the end of the Fs in JEFF he sort of scribbled through his last name. On his card you can see he basically prints the F in his last name – there is definitely no sign of that on the ticket he signed for me.

Oh and speaking of the ticket, which now is unblemished, you can clearly see

Section 111, Row 19, Seat 10

The closest guesses for section and seat number were both by Dayf with 113 and 8 respectively. Night Owl came up with 14 for the closest row number. Each team will be awarded stolen bases and walks accordingly.

2004 Bowman #221 Anthony Lerew

The odd thing is the real reason I was near the Braves dugout that day was to get an autograph from much lesser Braves Prospect, Anthony Lerew. Lerew had recently made his major league debut. This made him the first person from the small Central PA high school I attended to make it into the Majors or play any professional sport.

Anthony Lerew’s career is yet to take off. He was a top 10 prospect for Atlanta back 04 or 05 but has not had any real success at the Major league level. He had Tommy John Surgery in 2007 and put up unspectacular numbers for a couple of Braves affiliates this past season while recovering. Anthony Lerew is currently on the Braves 40 man roster – I hope he gets another crack at the majors.

Okay back to the STS standings. Currently we have completed 2 rounds and Cardboard Junkie is on the scoreboard!

Following the triple they got two bonus questions - the runner on 3rd scores on a wild pitch for the first answer and a walk is awarded for the 2nd answer.

The Night Owl team also gets their first runner on via a walk for getting a bonus question.

At the end of 2 rounds of Spot the Sig! here is the game situation

Cardboard Junkie representing the Braves has a Run across and a Chipper on first.

Stats on the Back and the Stinkin Mets and a man on second.

Cardboard Addiction and the Fenway Faithful has a man on first.

Night Owl Cards representing the Dodgers has young phenom Matt Kemp on first.

If you want to get involved in the Spot the Sig! game click here for background on the contest and some ground rules. The next sig will likely go up Sunday night. I see a trip to card show on Sunday but will try and get a posting up around 10pm.