José Ramon Leclerc was originally signed by Rangers scout Willy Espinal...He and his wife, Oclenny Blanco, have two sons: Joshuel and Liam Jose...His brother Anyelo, a right-handed pitcher, was signed by Texas on Nov. 15, 2010 and selected by Boston in the Minor League phase of the 2015 Rule 5 Draft.
2024
Was 6-5 with a 4.32 ERA and .672 opponents OPS in 64 relief appearances in his eighth season in the Majors, all of which have come with Texas...His 64 games pitched were second-most of his career and his most since 2019 (70)...Also had his most innings pitched (66.2) and strikeouts (89) since 2019 (68.2 IP, 100 SO)...His six wins were a career-high as he had just six wins in 286 career appearances entering the season...Also had career highs in losses and hits (56) and matched his career high in home runs (seven)...Had the first two balks of his career...Left Texas as the Rangers/Senators all-time leader in strikeouts by a reliever (469), ranked fourth in games pitched (350) and 10th in saves (41)...Ranked 14th in the Majors among relievers in strikeouts per nine innings (12.02) and tied for 14th in strikeouts...Held the opposition to a .227 batting average but issued 32 walks in 66.2 innings (4.32 per nine innings) for a .323 opponents on-base percentage...His opponents batting average broke down to .193 (31-for-161) with a .596 OPS against righthanded hitters compared to .291 (25-for-86) with a .803 OPS against left-handers...Issued 18 of his 32 walks to lefties for a .419 on-base percentage...Has held right-handed hitters to a .160 batting average and .533 OPS in his career...Opponents hit .181 with five of his seven home runs with the bases empty, .284 with runners on...However, his opponents average dropped to .229 with runners in scoring position...Allowed 9-of-30 (30.0%) inherited runners to score...First batters faced were 10-for-56 (.179) with seven walks and a sacrifice fly (.266 on-base percentage)...Had a 3.95 ERA, .585 opponents OPS and allowed just 2-of-14 (14.3%) inherited runners to score in 36 appearances before the All-Star Break...Then compiled a 4.91 ERA, .795 OPS and allowed 7-of-16 (43.8%) inherited runners to score in 28 outings after the break...Posted a 3.13 ERA in 30 road games, a 5.40 ERA in 34 contests at home...Surrendered five of his seven home runs at home...Has a 2.57 ERA in his career on the road compared to 3.91 at home...Compiled a 6.14 ERA in 15 interleague appearances...Had a 3.81 ERA against the American League, including a 1.86 ERA in 16 appearances against AL Central teams...Pitched mostly in the seventh inning, where he logged a 2.25 ERA in 24 innings and stranded 12-of-13 inherited runners...Posted a 9.31 ERA in 9.2 innings in the ninth inning...Held the opponents three hitter in the batting order to a .081 average...Tossed more than one inning in 17 of his 64 appearances.
2023
Went 0-2 with four saves, eight holds, and a 2.68 ERA (17 ER/57.0 IP) over 57 relief appearances across streaky 2023 campaign… went 4-for-9 (44.4%) in saves, as one of three Rangers to record a save for Texas in 2023 (also 22-Smith, 4-Chapman)…fanned 67 of 233 (28.8%) batters faced, the third-highest single-season strikeout total of his career (100-2019, 85-2018) and the most relief strikeouts among Rangers in 2023…tied his career long appearance of 2.2. IP on 6/11 at TB, in 7-3 Rangers defeat… endured stint on the Injured List from 6/24-7/5 with a right ankle sprain, which included a rehab assignment with Frisco (AA) from 7/2-5…finished the season ranked among A.L. relief leaders in opp. SLG (ninth, .292), hits allowed per 9.0 (11th, 5.84), opp. BA (T11th, .183), and ERA (13th)…had 12 G of greater than 1.0 IP, surpassing his 10 such G in 2022 for the most in his career… was significantly more effective against right-handed batters than left, permitting a .149/.241/.255/.496 slash line to righties, compared to .262/.387/.377/.764 posted against him by lefties… was stingy in scoring situations as opponents managed just a .159 BA (7-44), off of Leclerc w/ RISP (T9th in A.L., min. 40 AB), with only one XBH…was originally slated to represent his native Dominican Republic in the 2023 World Baseball Classic in March, but did not participate due to neck discomfort and a desire to be healthy for the start of regular season play...Did not permit an earned run over first nine app. of season, fanning eight in 8.2 IP…preceded a stretch in which he allowed earned runs in four of 6 G from 4/27-5/21, posting a 10.13 ERA (6 ER/5.1 IP) in span…rebounded to post 1.86 ERA (6 ER/29.0 IP) over next 27 G (beg. 5/24), posting scoreless outings in 24 of those outings…stretch included 6/24-7/5 Injured List stint (right ankle sprain)…permitted runs in 4 of next 7 G (beg. 8/30), recording 8.44 ERA (5 ER/5.1 IP) in span before closing out reg. season with eight straight scoreless app. (8.2 IP), 4 H, 2 BB, 13 SO).
POSTSEASON: Veteran right-hander appeared in 13 of TEX’s 17 postseason games (including 12 of TEX’s 13 PS wins), posting a 1-1 record, 3.29 ERA (5 ER/13.2 IP), four saves, and 14 strikeouts to six walks…13 appearances led all MLB hurlers during the postseason, T3rd-most in postseason history…his 4 postseason saves are the second-most in TEX postseason history to only Neftalí Feliz’s (7)…became the first MLB pitcher to have at least four saves in the regular season and then match or surpass that total in the postseason that year (since SV became official in 1969)…earned first career postseason win in World Series Game 1…recorded a four-out save in ALCS Game 1 at HOU, the third 4+ out save in TEX postseason history…became the first pitcher in MLB postseason history to finish each of his team’s first seven G in a single postseason (Sarah Langs)…13.2 IP in the 2023 postseason are tied for the most by a reliever in TEX single postseason (also S. Feldman in 2011).
2022
After two appearances spanning two seasons in 2020-21 due to injury, Leclerc returned from elbow surgery and posted a 2.83 ERA over 39 relief app. for TEX in 2022…ranked among staff leaders in saves (2nd, 7), relief SO (3rd, 54), relief innings (6th, 47.2) and games (T6th, 39)…from the time of his season debut on 6/18, Leclerc led staff in relief SO, ranking second with both 39 app. (43-Matt Moore) and 47.2 relief inn. (49.2-Brock Burke)...LONG ROAD: Was on 60-day IL from Opening Day-6/15 for recovery from ‘Tommy John’ ligament replacement surgery on his right elbow on 3/30/21 by Rangers Team Physician Dr. Keith Meister…first experienced soreness after his spring outing on 3/18/21 vs. CIN in Surprise…season debut on 6/18/22 at DET was first ML outing since 7/26/20 vs. COL, as he had missed most of 2020 with a torn right teres major muscle...DAY-BY-DAY: Had 5.52 ERA (9 ER/14.2 IP) over 1st 11 app. from 6/18-7/22, allowing .910 opp. OPS with 7 BB/13 SO…in final 28 G beg. 7/24: 1.64 ERA (6 ER/33.0 IP), .487 opp. OPS w/ 14 BB/41 SO…over his final 14 G from 8/28-9/29: 1.23 ERA (2 ER/14.2 IP), 9 BB/19 SO, .192/.318/.250/.568 opp. slash...BY THE NUMBERS: Went 7-for-9 in save chances, going 2-for-last-4 in save tries after converting his first five opportunities…saved five of the Rangers’ eight wins in September, and finished seven of those eight victories…his save on 8/14 vs. SEA was first for Leclerc since 7/24/20 vs. COL…pitched 2.0+ IP on eight occasions, including season-high 2.1 IP on 8/12 vs. SEA…last outing with 6+ outs was 8/30 vs. HOU…season-high 4 SO, 7/15 vs. SEA…allowed two HR on 7/13 vs. OAK, only game of his career with multiple HR allowed.
2021
Spent the entire season on the 60-day Injured List following Tommy John ligament replacement surgery on his right elbow performed by Rangers Team Physician Dr. Keith Meister on 3/30/21…first experienced soreness after his spring outing on 3/18 vs. CIN in Surprise…entering 2022, has converted seven straight save chances since last blown save on 8/20/19 vs. LAA.
2020
Missed nearly the entire 2020 season after sustaining a torn shoulder muscle, as his only appearances came in the Rangers’ 1st series of the year…converted lone save chance on Opening Day, 7/24 vs. COL in first-ever game at Globe Life Field, a 1-0 victory over Rockies (1.0 IP, 2 SO)…was 1st Ranger to record a save in the season opener since Shawn Tolleson on 4/4/16 vs. SEA…allowed run in 9th inning in final outing on 7/26 vs. COL, his most recent ML appearance…made the Opening Day roster for the 4th straight season…entering 2021, has converted 7 straight save chances since last blown save on 8/20/19 vs. LAA.
2019
Led the Texas staff in appearances (70), saves (14) and games finished (40), all career highs…ranked 4th on the club with 100 strikeouts in just 68.1 IP, the fewest innings ever for a Rangers pitcher to record 100+ strikeouts…had a 4.43 ERA (32 ER/65.0 IP) in 67 relief appearances and a 2.45 ERA (1 ER/3.2 IP) in 3 starts as the "opener"…allowed 7 HR after having permitted just 5 HR in his 1st 3 ML seasons, and had a career-high 4.33 ERA.
2018
Posted the lowest relief opp. BA in the majors (.126) and ranked among A.L. leaders in opp. OPS (2nd, .431), ERA (2nd, 1.56), WHIP (3rd, 0.85), and SO/9 (7th, 13.27)…was the 4th-lowest opponent average (.1257) by a reliever in ML history (min. 150 BF) behind only CIN's Aroldis Chapman in 2014 (.121), CAL's Andy Messersmith in 1968 (.124), and ATL's Craig Kimbrel in 2012 (.1256)…was the 3rd-lowest relief ERA in Rangers history to Neal Cotts (1.11) and Joe Nathan (1.39) in 2013…for the season, Leclerc whiffed 38.1% (85 of 223) of all batters faced…made the club's Opening Day roster for the 2nd straight season and had 3 stints with Texas: Opening Day-4/4, 4/21-26, and 4/30-end of season…had 4 total outings with Round Rock (AAA)…posted 6.2 SHO IP in 6 G with Cibao in Dominican Winter League in November and December.
SAVES:
Finished the season as the club's closer, going 12-for-12 in save opportunities from 8/4 through the end of the season…was T6th in the A.L. in saves following the All-Star break, and ranked T3rd in both A.L./MLB in saves from 8/4-end of year…ranked 2nd among Rangers (24-Kela)…had saves in 7 straight TEX wins 8/13-24, longest such span since Francisco Cordero (8, 4/9-22/05)…went 7-for-7 in save chances in August, finishing T3rd in MLB in saves for the month (SEA's Edwin Díaz-10; STL's Bud Norris-8)…saves by winning pitcher: 4-Minor, 2-Jurado/Moore, 1-Colon/Gallardo/Gearrin/Hutchison…each of last 4 saves were for Minor or Jurado (2 each). Overall, converted 12 of 16 save tries (75.0%) in 2018, with last blown save on 7/25 vs. OAK…he is 14-for-19 in save tries for his career, 1st save on 4/12/17 at LAA, when he retired Trout (K) and Pujols (F8) on 4 pitches in 8th inning.
2017
In first full ML season, posted 7th-lowest opponents avg. (.146) among qualifying A.L. relievers…ranked among staff leaders in games (4th, 47) and games finished (3rd, 15)…finished 7th on staff with 60 SO, just 2nd TEX reliever to crack 60 K's in past 2 seasons (Matt Bush - 61 SO in 2016)…opposing RH batters hit just .108 (10-93), lowest in MLB among pitchers with 80+ AB against…posted at least one strikeout in each of his first 18 outings, the longest seasonopening streak in club history by a reliever…1st career save on 4/12 at LAA, when retired Trout (K) and Pujols (F8) on 4 pitches in 8th inning…1st ML win on 6/13 at HOU…over 1st 34 outings through 8/8, had a 2.88 ERA (11 ER/34.1 IP), then had 7.15 ERA (9 ER/11.1 IP) in final 13 appearances to finish with a 3.94 ERA…on 9/2 vs. LAA, walked all 3 BF to open the 10th inning, all of which would eventually score as Leclerc took loss in 7-4 defeat…made 4 appearances the rest of the way: 4.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 7 SO, 18 BF.
INJURY/REHAB // Was on the disabled list, 5/8-6/1, with a bruised right index finger, an issue he pitched through for much of the season's first 5 weeks…was placed on the disabled list a day after issuing walks to 3 of 5 batters faced in Seattle…completed a rehab assignment with Frisco, 5/28-6/1, tossing 2.0 scoreless innings in 2 outings.
2016
Posted 1.80 ERA (3 ER/15.0 IP) across 12 relief appearances spanning 2 stints with Texas (7/5-15 and 9/4- end of season) in his first major league action…had 13 BB/15 SO with a 1.600 WHIP figure…in 1st 5 outings, allowed 4 R/3 ER in 7.1 IP with 11 BB/8 SO…in final 7 G beg. 9/8, posted 7.2 shutout innings with 2 BB/7 SO…had no holds, 5 games finished, no save chances, and allowed 4 of 6 inherited runners to score…did not pitch in a win, and club trailed in every contest when he entered…made ML debut 7/6 at BOS (2.2 IP, 0 R, 4 SO), just 2nd reliever in Texas history with 4+ K's over 2.0+ scoreless innings in a debut, joining Neftali Feliz (4 K in 2.0 IP on 8/3/09 at OAK).
2015
Recorded the 8th-most strikeouts (98) in the Texas League, while leading the league in walks (73)…also tied for the 6th-most hit batsmen (6)…held right-handed batters to a .218/.330/.376 line, while left-handed hitters batted .280/.415/.394…was 1-0, 6.75 (6 ER/8.0 IP) as a reliever and 5-8, 5.68 (60 ER/95.0 IP) as a starter…completed 6.0 innings in 3 starts, allowing zero-or-one run in all 3 outings… started season in the bullpen and made 3 relief appearances (6 ER/6.0 IP) before joining rotation on 4/25…allowed 4 runs over 1.2 innings in first start on 4/25 vs. CC and went 4-3, 3.42 (29 ER/76.1 IP) with 68 strikeouts over next 16 starts…was 0-4, 15.19 (27 ER/16.0 IP) over final 5 starts.
2014
Led all Texas farmhands and ranked 4th in the Carolina League with 14 saves…averaged career high in SO/9 (12.4)…whiffed 32% (79 of 243) of all batters faced…surrendered a season-high 7 runs on 8/17 at Salem…held RH batters to a .175 avg. (21-120) with 54 SO… opponents went 8-for-55 (.145) with RISP…was 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA (0 ER/9.2 IP) and 19 strikeouts against one walk in 7 relief appearances with Cibao in the Dominican Winter League…held DWL batters to a .065 average (2-31).
2013
Jumped to Hickory in first season stateside and led the Crawdads in relief appearances…averaged 11.7 SO/9… converted 5 of 8 save chances…held opposition to a .275 average (19-69) with RISP…limited RH batters to a .191 average (27-141), with lefties at .325 (26-80)…was 2-0 with a 1.05 ERA (3 ER/25.2 IP) over 19 outings following the break… allowed runs in just 2 of last 20 outings.
2012
Returned to the DSL Rangers and logged the 2nd-most relief innings on the staff…permitted just 6.2 hits per 9.0 innings and allowed just one home run.
2011
Pitched for the DSL Rangers in his 1st professional season and recorded a team-high 5 holds.
