Sam LeCure

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #25 prospect in 2011
  After 600 minor league innings, LeCure finally got the call to the big leagues in 2010. His reward was the opportunity to face Chris Carpenter, Matt Cain, Zack Greinke and Felix Hernandez in four of his first five starts. He didn't buckle under the pressure, but that's not surprising. At Texas, LeCure won elimination games in the Big 12 Conference tournament and College World Series as a freshman. He missed his junior season after being declared academically ineligble, and the Reds drafted him in the fourth round. Lecure's scouting report hasn't changed much since the Reds drafted him. He's a righthander without a plus pitch, but with enough savvy and command to survive. He has wrap in his delivery, but it doesn't seem to affect his command and he's been durable, making at least 20 starts in every full pro season. His fastball sits around 88-90 mph, touching 92 mph at its best. He also throws an average slider and changeup. LeCure's command allows him to have success with three average pitches. His upside is that of a fifth starter, and he faces an uphill battle to fill that role with the Reds' deep pitching staff. He's major league-ready and will be waiting in Triple-A if injuries strike in Cincinnati.
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  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #24 prospect in 2008
  LeCure was supposed to be Texas' ace in 2005, but while the Longhorns were winning the College World Series, he was stocking gas stations with beer for a local distributor. He was declared academically ineligible before the season, and an appeal citing a learning disability caused by attention deficit hyperactivity disorder was denied. The Reds looked past that setback and signed him for $260,000 as a fourth-round pick. If LeCure were ice cream, he'd be a scoop of vanilla. There's not a whole lot to get excited about but, like America's favorite ice cream flavor, he's very reliable. He throws three pitches, all of which grade out as average. His 87-91 mph fastball, his slider and his changeup are enough to keep hitters off balance, largely because he has clever pitch selection to go with solid command. More advanced hitters have given him more trouble because he lacks a true out pitch, which causes him nibble too much. A strained oblique muscle forced him to miss most of May, but his solid frame and clean delivery have allowed him to be very durable otherwise. LeCure profiles as no more than a No. 5 starter or swingman, but his makeup and feel for pitching make it likely he'll reach that low ceiling. He'll get his first exposure to Triple-A in 2008.
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  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #12 prospect in 2007
  The Reds were able to get LeCure in the fourth round because he had to sit out the 2005 season at Texas because he was academically ineligible. They've been impressed with his feel for pitching and his makeup, which led them to send LeCure straight to high Class A in his first pro season. LeCure struggled a bit at first, but once he settled down he proved unhittable at times, stringing together a stretch of three straight scoreless starts in July, spanning 16 innings. LeCure's biggest strength is his refined approach. He has a clean delivery and the ability to pound the zone. He has three solid pitches, though none stands out as a plus pitch. He sits at 90-91 mph with his fastball, throwing up occasional 92s and 93s, and he also throws an average slider and an average changeup. He commands his fastball to both sides of the plate and does a good job of busting hitters inside. He throws his slider and changeup at any point in the count. At 6-foot-1, 190 pounds, LeCure lacks physical projection, and what the Reds see in his stuff now is what they'll get. He'll head to Double-A with a chance to prove his average stuff works against more advanced hitters.
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  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #23 prospect in 2006
  After serving as the No. 2 starter on the Texas team that lost in the 2004 College World Series championship series, LeCure was slated to be the Longhorns' ace last year. But he was declared academically ineligible just before the season and missed out on Texas' national championship. The Reds kept scouting him, took him in the fourth round and signed him for $260,000. He shook off the rust of inactivity, sitting at 90-91 mph with his fastball. He touched 93 at times while showing the ability to add and subtract as needed. His slider is average as well, while his changeup projects as a potentially average pitch. He showed the ability to pound the zone at the knees and throw strikes with a clean delivery. He'll get his first taste of full-season ball in 2006. Because he has strong mound presence and polish, he could end up in high Class A before too long.