Mike Leake

Everyone has heard of Stephen Strasburg, the highly-touted first round draft pick of the Washington Nationals, but not as many people have heard about Mike Leake, the first round pick of the Cincinnati Reds who skipped the minor leagues and earned the fifth spot in the Reds’ rotation coming out of spring training.

Like most Reds diehards, I'm treading lightly on praise right now, but it is soooooo hard to hide the enthusiasm.

Oh, and this from the Enquirer today: @ Cincienquirer   Aroldis Chapman will make his debut in Louisville Friday. Tickets are, predictably, going fast: http://bit.ly/csEHc0

Like most Reds diehards, I'm treading lightly on praise right now, but it is soooooo hard to hide the enthusiasm. Oh, and this from the Enquirer today: @Cincienquirer  Aroldis Chapman will make his debut in Louisville Friday. Tickets are, predictably, going fast: http://bit.ly/csEHc0

Who needs the Minor Leagues? Mike Leake, that is who.

He pitched the first professional game of his career yesterday at Great American Ball Park against the Chicago Cubs.

In the first inning, he had the bases loaded with no outs, yet managed to keep his cool and leave the innings unscathed. That's what I'm talking 'bout.

He showed the poise of a veteran as he worked into the seventh inning of his pro debut. He was wild as a buck but allowed minimal damage from his control problems.