Jon Lieber

Jonathan Ray Lieber (born April 2, 1970) is an American former professional baseball pitcher.

He graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School in Council Bluffs in 1988.

Lieber attended Iowa Western Community College in 1989 and 1990 before transferring to the University of South Alabama.

Lieber posted 12–5 records for South Alabama both of his years there, and he led the team in earned run average (ERA) and strikeouts both years.

He was selected by the Chicago Cubs in the ninth round of the 1991 Major League Baseball (MLB) draft, but he did not sign.

He was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the second round of the 1992 Major League Baseball Draft, but he was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates the following season before even throwing a pitch in the major leagues.

In 1992, he helped South Alabama win the Sun Belt Conference Championship.

Lieber received several honors following his senior season.

These included the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year award, a third-team All-America selection by the American Baseball Coaches Association, an all-region award, and an all-league award (his second).

He was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the second round of the 1992 draft, and this time, he signed.

Lieber began his professional career with the A short season Eugene Emeralds of the Northwest League.

In five starts with the Emeralds, he had a 3–0 record, a 1.16 ERA, 23 strikeouts, 2 walks, and 26 hits allowed in 31 innings pitched.

He also appeared in seven games (six starts) for the Baseball City Royals of the A-Advanced Florida State League, posting a 3–3 record, a 4.65 ERA, 19 strikeouts, eight walks, and 45 hits allowed in 31 innings pitched.

In 1993, the Royals switched their A-Advanced affiliate to the Wilmington Blue Rocks of the Carolina League.

Lieber began the season with Wilmington, posting a 9–3 record, a 2.67 ERA, 89 strikeouts, nine walks, 125 hits allowed, and 114 2⁄3 innings pitched in 17 games (16 starts).

He was promoted to the AA Memphis Chicks of the Southern League on July 11, where he posted a 2–1 record and a 6.86 ERA in four starts.

On July 31, seeking pitching help as they contended for the playoffs, the Royals traded Lieber and Dan Miceli to the Pittsburgh Pirates for their closer, Stan Belinda.

The Pirates assigned Lieber to the Southern League's Carolina Mudcats; in six starts, he had a 4–2 record, a 3.97 ERA, 28 strikeouts, 10 walks, and 39 hits allowed in 34 innings pitched.

He stands 6 ft tall and weighs 240 lb. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Pittsburgh Pirates (1994–1998), Chicago Cubs (1999–2002 and 2008), New York Yankees (2004), and Philadelphia Phillies (2005–2007).

He batted left-handed and threw right-handed, and utilized a fastball, a slider, and a changeup for his pitches.

In a 14-season career, Lieber compiled a 131–124 record with 1,553 strikeouts and a 4.27 ERA in 2,198 innings pitched.

Lieber attended the University of South Alabama, helping them win the Sun Belt Conference Championship.

He made his debut in 1994 and was named the Pirates' Opening Day starter in 1995, but it was not until 1997 that he became a full-time major league starter.

Lieber made three starts with the Mudcats in 1994, posting a 2–0 record, a 1.29 ERA, 21 strikeouts, two walks, and 13 hits allowed in 21 innings.

He also made three starts for the Buffalo Bisons of the Triple-A American Association, posting a 1–1 record, a 1.69 ERA, 21 strikeouts, one walk, and 16 hits allowed in 21 1⁄3 innings pitched.

Lieber was called up by the Pirates in May 1994 to join their starting rotation, replacing Randy Tomlin, who was moved to the bullpen.

In his first major league start on May 15, he gave up one run in six innings but took the loss as the Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Pirates 1–0.

He earned his first career win five days later, pitching eight shutout innings in a 6–0 victory over the Montreal Expos.

In 17 starts with the Pirates, Lieber had a 6–7 record, a 3.73 ERA, 71 strikeouts, 25 walks, and 116 hits allowed in 108 2⁄3 innings.

Following Lieber's rookie season, Pirates' manager Jim Leyland named Lieber the team's Opening Day starter for 1995.

Like many of the young Pirates' pitchers that year, Lieber struggled; he was optioned to the Calgary Cannons of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League on June 18 after going 2–7 with a 7.48 ERA.

He was traded to the Chicago Cubs following the 1998 season.

In 2000, he led the National League (NL) with 251 innings pitched.

He had his best season in 2001, winning 20 games while losing just six.

Lieber underwent Tommy John surgery in 2002 and missed the entire 2003 season.

In 2004, he pitched for the New York Yankees, reaching the playoffs for the only time in his career.

He signed with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2005 and tied for fifth in the NL with 17 wins.

Injuries cut into his playing time over the next three years; he finished his career as a reliever with the Cubs in 2008.

Lieber was born in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

In 2013, he was inducted into the Mobile Sports Hall of Fame.