Lee Gronkiewicz

{{Infobox baseball biography

| image =

| name = Lee Gronkiewicz

| position = Relief pitcher

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1978|8|21}}

| birth_place = Los Angeles, California

| bats = Right

| throws = Right

|debutleague = MLB

| debutdate = June 19

| debutyear = 2007

| debutteam = Toronto Blue Jays

|finalleague = MLB

| finaldate = June 19

| finalyear = 2007

| finalteam = Toronto Blue Jays

|statleague = MLB

| stat1label = Win–loss record

| stat1value = 0–0

| stat2label = Earned run average

| stat2value = 2.25

| stat3label = Strikeouts

| stat3value = 2

| teams =

Toronto Blue Jays ({{mlby|2007}})

|medaltemplates=

{{MedalCountry|{{flagu|United States}}}}

}}

Lee Matthew Gronkiewicz (born August 21, 1978) is an American former Major League Baseball relief pitcher who played for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2007. He is the current{{as of?|date=March 2023}} head coach of the Columbia Blowfish and is also involved with USA baseball on the college national team selection committee.

College career

A native of Los Angeles, California, Gronkiewicz attended Lancaster High School in South Carolina. He started his college baseball career at Spartanburg Methodist College, and then transferred to the University of South Carolina. In 1999, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Falmouth Commodores of the Cape Cod Baseball League.{{cite web|author= |url=http://capecodbaseball.org.ismmedia.com/ISM3/std-content/repos/Top/2012website/archives/Current%20Year/All_Time_MLB_CCBL_Alumni.pdf |title=Major League Baseball Players From the Cape Cod League |publisher=capecodbaseball.org |date= |accessdate=September 25, 2019}} In {{Baseball year|2001}}, he set a school record in saves{{cite news |last1=Strelow |first1=Paul |title=From joker to ace |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/114763501/from-joker-to-ace/ |access-date=17 December 2022 |work=Spartanburg Herald-Journal |date=14 June 2002 |page=2C}} and was selected to the All-SEC team and was a First-team All-American. He led the country in saves that year and had a 1.42 earned run average.

Minor league career

Gronkiewicz signed with the Cleveland Indians in {{Baseball year|2001}} as an amateur free agent. In 2003, he was recognized as the best relief pitcher in the minor leagues and given the minor leagues' Rolaids Relief Award.{{cite news |last1=Gault |first1=Earl |title=Ex-Bruin Gronkiewicz wins minor league's Rolaids Relief Award |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/114763727/ex-bruin-gronkiewicz-wins-minor/ |access-date=17 December 2022 |work=Spartanburg Herald-Journal |date=5 December 2003 |page=4C}} He spent four years in Cleveland's minor league system before he was acquired by the Toronto Blue Jays in the {{Baseball year|2004}} Rule 5 draft. In seven minor-league seasons, Gronkiewicz has a career 18–16 record, pitching almost entirely in relief with just one start for the {{Baseball year|2007}} Syracuse Sky Chiefs, putting up a 2.48 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP along the way. He struck out nearly four times as many batters as he walked (421 strikeouts and 111 walks through 2007).

Major league career

Gronkiewicz' major league debut (and only major league appearance to date) was on June 19, {{mlby|2007}}, when the Blue Jays hosted the Los Angeles Dodgers. He allowed one run—a home run to Dodgers catcher Russell Martin—on two hits, walking two and striking out two, over four innings of work. He was on the Major League roster for about a week before being demoted.{{cite news |last1=Shanesy |first1=Todd |title=Down on the farm: One major-league appearance not enough for Gronkiewicz |url=https://www.goupstate.com/story/opinion/columns/2008/06/28/down-on-the-farm-one-major-league-appearance-not-enough-for-gronkiewicz/29454808007/ |access-date=17 December 2022 |work=Spartanburg Herald Journal |date=June 28, 2008}}

In November 2007, he signed as a free agent with the Boston Red Sox.[http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/prospects/?p=669 Baseball America – Minor League Transactions]

In April {{Baseball year|2008}}, after a stellar month in Triple-A where he allowed 1 run in 11 innings, he was placed on the DL with elbow soreness. It was later determined to be damage to his UCL and he underwent Tommy John surgery, ending his season.[http://www.soxprospects.com/injuries/index.htm soxprospects.com – Injury and Inactive Report] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080828013523/http://www.soxprospects.com/injuries/index.htm |date=2008-08-28 }} He became a free agent at the end of the season.