career thoughts

Brent Leach’s 11th season in pro ball ended last week when he was released by the Milwaukee Brewers. Injury had limited the Flowood native to six appearances for Triple-A Colorado Springs. Leach turns 33 in November and last pitched in the big leagues in 2009, when he worked in 38 games as a lefty specialist for the Los Angeles Dodgers. If his career is over, it was quite the odyssey, taking him from Brandon High to Southern Miss, Delta State and minor and major league parks all over the country. His MLB debut came in Dodger Stadium; he got the last three outs in a game won by Clayton Kershaw. Leach pitched in Japan in 2011 – after the tsunami — and spent some time in 2012 with the Double-A Mississippi Braves, pitching at Trustmark Park, not far from where he grew up. In 308 minor league games, Leach has 35 wins, 25 saves and a 3.67 ERA. He was undefeated — 2-0 — as a big leaguer. If he is ready to call it a career, he can also call it a good one.