Where Are They Now - Leon Ludeman

[WestCoastStros]

Drafted four rounds after former Munich Red Baron teammate Gary Goodchild, Leon Ludeman was far more modest from a scouting perspective and continued to fly under the radar early despite a 15-strikeout game less than a month after joining the organization. He was billed as the #22 prospect in the UMEBA that summer, then earned the FEBL SL2 Pitcher of the Month Award before a series of nagging injuries took their toll and ended his first professional season early due to an oblique strain.
Interestingly enough, the 19-year-old began to gain some helium that offseason as reports came out that he had built arm strength while laid up. He rocketed to the #10 prospect billing before finishing third in the 2045 SABL SL1 Pitcher of the Year voting, then was named to the 2046 UMEBA All-Star Futures Game before ending the season in the GBC, where he showed surprisingly well with a 3.64 ERA over 12 starts.

He continued to progress over the next three seasons, though with middling results as his ERA and WHIP ranged between the mid-4.50s and 1.40s. Leading the league in fewest home runs allowed (0.6) in 2049, however, portended the eventual breakout many had been hoping for, but not quite expected. For several years the embodiment of the “good-not-great” moniker, Ludeman shook off that slight with a superb 2050 season that culminated in the GBC title while he led the league in strikeouts (165), innings pitched (221.1) and WAR (5.1) with a career-best 3.33 ERA.

Had he committed his future to the Hebrew Hammers, he surely would have gone into the Hall after just one more similar season; however, he understandable took a whopping $14.6M single-year contract offer from the archrival London Monarchs. While he struggled significantly with a ghastly 8.31 ERA in just 17.1 IP this spring, that would appear to be thanks to increased movement on his trio of plus-plus offerings. Assuming he can harness the full potential of each, he could be destined for a big-time contract at the BBA level next offseason.