Back in the summer of 2014, Matt Leon \u201918 was finishing up his senior year at Liberty High School in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, with his baseball future very much in doubt. A skinny right-hander, Leon had his share of success at the high school level: first-team all-conference and all-area selections, two career no-hitters, and a 1.55 ERA with 85 strikeouts in 54 innings as a senior.<\/p>\n
But Leon\u2019s accomplishments had not translated into any offers from a Division I school.<\/p>\n
He sent in a deposit to attend the University of Pittsburgh, facing a future that did not involve collegiate baseball. Then, in a last-ditch effort to avoid hanging up his cleats, he emailed Seton Hall\u2019s head baseball coach, Rob Sheppard, asking for a chance to try out for the team.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe met with Matt in the summer and told him in not-so-specific words that it would be a really hard team to make,\u201d Sheppard said. \u201cEven knowing that, Matt decided to come to Seton Hall.\u201d<\/p>\n
Leon at last had the opportunity he craved, but he acknowledged that the process of making the team was one of the most difficult years of his life.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was so miserable. I was sick every week because I was so stressed out,\u201d said Leon. \u201cYou\u2019re in the dark the whole time. It was tough; it was probably one of the toughest years I\u2019ve ever had.\u201d<\/p>\n
For Sheppard, Leon\u2019s drive to keep showing up day in and day out set him apart from other players trying to make the team.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe is very persistent in what he wants, and if he has his mind on something, he\u2019s going to work really hard to achieve it,\u201d Sheppard said. \u201cHe\u2019s the kind of guy that you can\u2019t say no to because he\u2019s going to try to prove you wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n
After months of arduous training and uncertainty, Leon was finally assured a spot on the roster for the 2015 season.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was awesome; it was the best moment I\u2019ve had in recent memory,\u201d said Leon. \u201cI was able to give my dad a call on the way to class, and I remember I started tearing up a little because I was so relieved to be out of the dark and make the team.\u201d<\/p>\n
A four-year starting pitcher in high school, Leon quickly made the adjustment to the bullpen. The results were strong \u2014 opponents hit only .244 against him as a freshman, .212 as a sophomore and a minuscule .171 as a junior. His work ethic and persistence to achieve made it easy for Sheppard to make Leon the closer his senior season.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo be in the position where your team trusts you in a tie game or with a one-run lead, that\u2019s the role you dream of as a reliever,\u201d Leon said. \u201cAll the pressure is on you, and the way I look at it, it\u2019s the ultimate compliment; they\u2019re saying \u2018We trust him to get the job done.\u2019 \u201d<\/p>\n
Leon more than just got the job done last season \u2014 he posted one of the best relief seasons in Seton Hall history. With a 1.17 ERA, .205 opponent batting average, and a Seton Hall single-season record 12 saves, Leon was named a unanimous first-team All-BIG EAST selection and earned his very own social media hashtag: #LockdownLeon.<\/p>\n
Leon, who graduated from the Stillman School of Business and earned Seton Hall\u2019s Academic Merit Award for finishing school with a cumulative GPA above 3.2, ended his playing career having pitched 88 times for the Pirates, the second-most in school history, which is something he could have never imagined just four years ago.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere was a time when I didn\u2019t even really think I could play here,\u201d Leon reflected. \u201cBut I used fear as a motivator. I didn\u2019t want to sit on the bench or lose my roster spot. To see that I\u2019ve contributed this whole time is nice to look back on.\u201d<\/p>\n
Leon\u2019s persistence first landed him a spot at Seton Hall. Now it has landed him an opportunity to pitch professionally. In June, he signed a free-agent contract with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, the latest in a long line of Pirates to turn their collegiate career into a chance at the big leagues.<\/p>\n
Nick Santoriello ’20 is a writer for the Pirate Sports Network. <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Back in the summer of 2014, Matt Leon \u201918 was finishing up his senior year at Liberty High School in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, with his baseball future very much in doubt. <\/p>\n