Ben Leeper

Ben Leeper
Cleburne Railroaders
Pitcher
Born: (1997-06-15) June 15, 1997
Bedford, Texas, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right

Benjamin Kyle Leeper (born June 15, 1997) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Cleburne Railroaders of the American Association of Professional Baseball.

Amateur career

Leeper attended Carroll Senior High School in Southlake, Texas.[1] In 2014, as a junior, he went 11–1 with a 0.90 ERA and 106 strikeouts.[2] He underwent Tommy John surgery during his senior year.[3] After graduating, he enrolled at Oklahoma State University where he played college baseball.

Leeper made two appearances as a freshman in 2016 before an arm injury that required a second Tommy John surgery, forcing him to miss all of the 2017 season as well.[4] He returned to play in 2018, pitching 27+2⁄3 innings in which he compiled a 12.69 ERA.[5] In 2019, he moved into the closer role and pitched to a 4–4 record, a 4.31 ERA, and seven saves with 43 strikeouts over 31+1⁄3 innings.[6][7] That summer, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[8] He made six appearances in 2020 before the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[9]

Professional career

Chicago Cubs

Unselected in the 2020 Major League Baseball draft, Leeper signed with the Chicago Cubs as an undrafted free agent on July 21, 2020.[10] Leeper made his professional debut in 2021 with the Tennessee Smokies of the Double-A South and was promoted to the Iowa Cubs of the Triple-A East in early June.[11] He was shut down in mid-August after pitching the most innings he had thrown since his junior year of high school.[12] Over 35 relief innings pitched between the two teams, Leeper went 4–3 with a 1.29 ERA and 53 strikeouts.[13] He was a non-roster invitee to spring training in 2022.[14] He returned to Iowa for the 2022 season.[15] Over 42 relief appearances, he went 3–3 with a 4.50 ERA and 57 strikeouts over 46 innings.[16]

On April 4, 2023, Leeper announced that he had undergone Tommy John surgery for the third time, and would miss the entire 2023 season as a result.[17] He returned action in 2024, making 13 rehab appearances split between the rookie-level Arizona Complex League Cubs, High-A South Bend Cubs, and Double-A Tennessee. Leeper made eight appearances for the Doubpe-A Knoxville Smokies in 2025, recording a 2.16 ERA with 10 strikeouts across 8+1⁄3 innings pitched. Leeper was released by the Cubs organization on August 8, 2025.[18]

Cleburne Railroaders

On April 21, 2026, Leeper signed with the Cleburne Railroaders of the American Association of Professional Baseball.[19]

References

  1. ↑ "Dragons figure out Spielman to advance". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. May 5, 2014.
  2. ↑ "All-area baseball: Kyler Murray, Kent Myers, among dual sport stars on first-team". Dallas News. June 18, 2014.
  3. ↑ Hallie Hart (April 10, 2018). "Leeper throws career-high 6 strikeouts in loss to Wichita State". Ocolly.com.
  4. ↑ Hadley, Robert (May 24, 2019). "After injuries sidelined him for two seasons, Texan Ben Leeper returns to the pitcher's mound for Oklahoma State". Texas Scorecard.
  5. ↑ "Ben Leeper is flourishing in his new role". GoPokes.com.
  6. ↑ Hart, Hallie (February 11, 2020). "'Unfinished business': Leeper enters fifth year with sights set on Omaha". ocolly.com.
  7. ↑ Gillispie, Jimmy (April 11, 2019). "Leeper thriving as Cowboy closer". Stillwater News Press.
  8. ↑ "Ben Leeper - Profile". pointstreak.com. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  9. ↑ "Prospect Profile: How Did Ben Leeper Go From Undrafted FA to AAA Already?". June 8, 2021.
  10. ↑ "OSU baseball: Ben Leeper signs with Cubs, other seniors return to Cowboys". Oklahoman.com. June 14, 2020.
  11. ↑ Birch, Tommy. "'I felt like I had nothing left': How Iowa Cubs pitcher Ben Leeper defied odds after 2 Tommy John surgeries". Des Moines Register.
  12. ↑ "2021 Season in Review: Iowa Cubs". CubsHQ.com. October 6, 2021. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
  13. ↑ "Cubs Prospect Focus: Ben Leeper". CubsHQ.com. December 30, 2021. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
  14. ↑ "Cubs announce 15 non-roster invitees for Spring Training 2022". March 13, 2022.
  15. ↑ "Breaking down the 2022 Iowa Cubs opening day roster". The Des Moines Register.
  16. ↑ "Ben Leeper Stats, Fantasy & News".
  17. ↑ "Cubs Pitching Prospect Ben Leeper's Season Is Over". bleachernation.com. April 4, 2023. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  18. ↑ https://www.milb.com/transactions/2025-08-08
  19. ↑ "2026 Transactions". aabaseball.com. Retrieved May 4, 2026.
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