:Steven Lerud

{{Infobox baseball biography

| name = Steven Lerud

| image = Steven Lerud.jpg

| caption = Lerud making his major league debut on August 30, 2012

| position = Catcher

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1984|10|13}}

| birth_place = Reno, Nevada

| bats = Left

| throws = Right

|debutleague = MLB

| debutdate = August 30

| debutyear = 2012

| debutteam = Philadelphia Phillies

| finaldate = June 17

| finalyear = 2013

| finalteam = Philadelphia Phillies

| statyear =

|statleague = MLB

| stat1label = Batting average

| stat1value = .133

| stat2label = Home runs

| stat2value = 0

| stat3label = Runs batted in

| stat3value = 0

| teams =

Philadelphia Phillies ({{mlby|2012}}–{{mlby|2013}})

}}

Steven James Lerud (born October 13, 1984) is an American former professional baseball catcher, who is currently a manager in the Chicago Cubs organization. During his playing days, he briefly played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies ({{by|2012}}–{{by|2013}}).{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lerudst01.shtml|date=2019|title=Steven Lerud Stats|publisher= Sports Reference LLC|work=baseball-reference.com|accessdate=April 2, 2019}}

Early life

Steven Lerud was born in Reno, Nevada. Lerud attended to Galena High School, in Reno, Nevada.{{cite web|title=C Steve Lerud: 111th Former 'Dad to Big Leagues|url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-37308876|publisher=Minor League Baseball|access-date=April 7, 2014|date=August 25, 2012}}

Playing career

=Pittsburgh Pirates=

Lerud was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the third round of the 2003 Major League Baseball draft.{{cite web |last1=Parks |first1=Chris |title=Lerud to return, rest of 2020 Pelicans staff announced |url=https://www.wbtw.com/sports/lerud-to-return-rest-of-2020-pelicans-staff-announced/ |website=WBTW |date=14 January 2020 |access-date=5 April 2021}} On November 9, 2009, he elected free agency.

=Baltimore Orioles=

On December 7, 2009, Lerud signed a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals. However, on March 27, 2010, Lerud was traded to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for a player to be named later.{{Cite web|title=Orioles Acquire Steven Lerud|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2010/03/orioles-acquire-steve-lerud.html|access-date=February 26, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}} In 58 appearances split between the Double-A Bowie Baysox and Triple-A Norfolk Tides, he slashed a combined .190/.316/.351 with six home runs and 16 RBI. Lerud elected free agency following the season on November 6.

Lerud re-signed with the Orioles organization on a new minor league contract on December 26, 2010. He spent the 2011 campaign with Double-A Bowie, batting .193/.269/.303 with five home runs and 30 RBI.{{Cite web|title=Where Are They Now: Steve Lerud|url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-40722566|access-date=April 1, 2025|website=milb.com|language=en}} Lerud elected free agency again on November 2, 2011.

=Philadelphia Phillies=

On December 9, 2011, Lerud signed a minor league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, who promoted him to the big leagues on August 24, 2012.{{cite news|last=Gelb|first=Matt|title=Steven Lerud is new backup catcher|url=http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/phillies_zone/Steven-Lerud-is-new-backup-catcher.html|accessdate=June 15, 2013|newspaper=The Philadelphia Inquirer|date=August 24, 2012}} He appeared in 3 MLB games during his rookie campaign, batting .200, in 10 at-bats.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lerudst01.shtml |title=Steven Lerud Statistics and History |website=Baseball-Reference.com |accessdate=March 13, 2014}} Lerud was subsequently dropped from the 40-man roster after the end of that season, but signed a 2013 minor league contract with the Phillies' organization. He appeared in 6 major league games with the Phillies in 2013, going hitless in 5 at-bats. Lerud elected free agency on October 1, 2013.

=Atlanta Braves=

He signed a minor league deal with the Atlanta Braves on November 11, 2013 and received a non-roster invitation to Major League spring training.{{cite web|url=http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140113&content_id=66537690&vkey=pr_atl&c_id=atl |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140114063913/http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140113&content_id=66537690&vkey=pr_atl&c_id=atl |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 14, 2014 |title=Braves announce Non-Roster Invitees |website=braves.com |date=January 13, 2014 |accessdate=March 12, 2014}}

=Washington Nationals=

On January 12, 2015 Lerud signed a minor league deal with the Washington Nationals he was assigned to Triple–A Syracuse Chiefs the same day. He elected free agency on November 7.

=Seattle Mariners=

On February 3, 2016, Lerud signed a minor league deal with the Seattle Mariners and received an invite to spring training.{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/transactions/?tcid=mm_mlb_news#month=2&year=2016|title=Major League Baseball Transactions|website=Major League Baseball}} He was released by the Mariners on April 7.

=San Francisco Giants=

On April 27, 2016, Lerud signed a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants organization. In 60 games for the Triple–A Sacramento River Cats, he batted .229/.385/.288 with one home run and 19 RBI. Lerud elected free agency following the season on November 7.{{Cite web|title=Minor League Free Agents 2016|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-free-agents-2016/|access-date=July 22, 2024|website=baseballamerica.com|language=en}}

=Texas Rangers=

On January 5, 2017, Lerud signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers that included an invitation to spring training. He did not appear in a game for the organization and elected free agency following the season on November 6.{{Cite web|title=Minor League Free Agents 2017|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-free-agents-2017/?amphtml|access-date=April 28, 2024|website=baseballamerica.com|language=en}}

Coaching career

On January 19, 2018, Lerud was named as manager of the Minor League Baseball (MiLB) Low–A Eugene Emeralds, a Northwest League affiliate of the Chicago Cubs.{{cite web|url=http://www.registerguard.com/rg/sports/36352873-81/former-major-leaguer-steve-lerud-named-manager-of-eugene-emeralds.html.csp|title=Ems bring in new manager, coaching staff for next season|website=registerguard.com|date=January 19, 2018|accessdate=August 13, 2018}} In 2019, Lerud was named as manager for the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, the High–A affiliate for the Cubs.