Jared Lakind

Jared Talor Lakind (born March 9, 1992) is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization.

In high school, Lakind played first base, outfield, and pitcher, and in his senior year in 2010 was named the Texas District 15-5A Most Valuable Player, Sun Player of the Year, and a Rawlings-Perfect Game 1st Team All-American. Drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 23rd round of the 2010 Major League Baseball draft, he signed for $400,000—far above the maximum of $150,000 that Major League Baseball recommended for all players drafted after the 5th round.

In 2013 Lakind was converted to a relief pitcher, and in 2015 he pitched for both the GCL Pirates and the West Virginia Power, and was a combined 3–1 with a 1.69 ERA in 20 games. In 2016, he pitched for the Altoona Curve of the Class AA Eastern League, set a team record for consecutive scoreless innings pitched in a single season at 25.1, and was named to the Eastern League All Star Team. For the season, he was 5–1 with 7 saves, and had a 2.59 ERA in 47 games. Lakind pitched for Israel at the 2017 World Baseball Classic qualifier in September 2016.

Early life

Lakind was born in Cypress, Texas, and is Jewish.^[1][2][3][4] His father, Larry Lakind, played baseball and football at Montclair State in New Jersey, and his grandfather, Alvin Lakind, played professional baseball in 1953 for the Amarillo Gold Sox in the West Texas-New Mexico League.^[5][6] His older sister, Harriet, played high school and college basketball.^[5] He began playing t-ball at 4 years of age.^[5]

High school

Lakind played first base, outfield, and pitcher while at Cypress Woods High School.^[7][8] In 2009, as a junior he was named a Perfect Game Underclass 1st Team All American, was a member of the 2009 Texas Rangers Area Code Team, and was a member of the 2009 Aflac All American Team.^[9][10] Lakind pitched in the Aflac All-American High School Baseball Classic.^[7]

In 2010, as a senior he hit .404/.523/.764, with 5 home runs and 23 RBIs. On the mound he had an 8–0 record, a 1.88 ERA, and 91 strikeouts in 63.1 innings pitched, and pitched the first no-hitter in school history.^{[11][12][13][7]} At the time he threw both a 4-seam and 2-seam fastball that touched 90–91 mph, a curveball with a late break (77–79 mph), and a change-up (81–83 mph).^[8]

He was named the District 15-5A Most Valuable Player, and Sun Player of the Year.^[11][5] He was also named a 2010 Rawlings-Perfect Game 1st Team All-American, Texas – All-Region 1st Team, and Rivals.com named him the # 60 high school baseball prospect in the nation (writing "With ability to either stay at first base or develop into a pitcher, Lakind has drawn comparisons all over the map. Most frequently he has been discussed as a 20-home run-type first baseman.").^[9][14]

Minor leagues

Lakind, who had a letter of intent to play for the University of Arkansas, was drafted by the Pirates as a first baseman in the 23rd round of the 2010 Major League Baseball draft, and signed in August 2010 for a signing bonus of $400,000—far above the maximum of $150,000 that Major League Baseball recommended for all players drafted after the 5th round.^{[15][16][2][17][18]} He began his professional career in 2010 and 2011 as a first baseman with the GCL Pirates of the Rookie Gulf Coast League.^[19] In 2012 he played first base for the State College Spikes of the Class A- New York-Penn League.^[19]

In 2013 Lakind was converted to a relief pitcher and pitched in 17 games for the Jamestown Jammers of the New York-Penn League.^[20][19] In 2014 he pitched for both Jamestown and for the West Virginia Power of the Class A South Atlantic League, and for the two teams combined was 0–1 with a 3.57 ERA in 25 games.^[19]

In 2015, he pitched for both the GCL Pirates and the West Virginia Power, and was a combined 3–1 with a 1.69 ERA in 20 games.^[19] He missed half the season, due to surgery to remove a cyst from the sciatic nerve in his left leg.^[3][21][22] That year his fastball was noted as having good deception, which made it look faster to batters.^[17]

In 2016, the Pirates skipped him over Class A+ Bradenton and had Lakind pitch for the Altoona Curve of the Class AA Eastern League.^[19] He set a team record for consecutive scoreless frames pitched in a single season at 25.1 innings from May 5 – June 23.^[23][17] Lakind was named to the Eastern League All Star Team as a member of the bullpen.^[24] For the season, he was 5–1 with 7 saves and had a 2.59 ERA in 47 games and a career-high 66 innings, and had 8.5 K/9.^[25][17][19] He throws his fastball in the low-90s, and has a good breaking ball.^[25]

In October 2016 the Pirates re-signed Lakind, which kept him from becoming a minor league free agent, but he will be eligible for the Rule 5 draft in December 2016.^[26]

Team Israel

Lakind pitched for Israel at the 2017 World Baseball Classic qualifier in September 2016.^[27] To demonstrate to Team Israel that he was Jewish, Lakind's family sent the team a photo of the tombstone of Lakind's grandmother, with a Star of David carved onto it.^[28] Lakind's only appearance in the tournament was during the second game, against Brazil.^[29] He threw 31 pitches over 1 inning, while walking 2 and striking out 2, and picking up the hold.^[30]

External links

• Career statistics and player information from Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)

• Twitter

References