Kyle Sleeth

Subject: Kyle Sleeth Sat Mar 29, 2008 4:45 am

Tigers first-round draft pick Kyle Sleeth retires

Right-hander Kyle Sleeth, the Tigers’ No. 1 pick in the 2003 draft, told Tigers officials Friday that he is retiring, the Erie (Pa.) Times-News reports.

Sleeth, 26, never made it to Triple-A, the highest level of the farm system. The highest he got was Double-A Erie. And it will remain unanswered how far he’d have gone if he hadn’t needed major arm surgery three years ago.

The Tigers picked Sleeth out of Wake Forest University with the third overall pick in the ’03 draft.
_________________
bow

Subject: Re: Kyle Sleeth Sat Mar 29, 2008 6:22 am

That is sad.

Subject: Re: Kyle Sleeth Sun Apr 13, 2008 7:37 am

Kyle Sleeth showed character through rough times

Kyle Sleeth made an enormous impression on the Tigers' organization.

He didn't do it with his pitching.

The highest level he reached was Double-A, two rungs below the majors. His career record there was 4-5.

Sleeth made his impression with his character. Glenn Ezell, the Tigers' director of player development, will talk to you at length about that.

"He persevered," Ezell said. "He didn't quit. He kept going."

Sleeth was the Tigers' first-round pick in 2003, the third player taken overall. He was a right-hander from Wake Forest University. With his build (6-feet-5) and arm, it seemed inevitable he would be a big-league power pitcher.

But, in 2005, Sleeth missed the entire season because of arm trouble and major surgery for it. He tried for the last two seasons to come back. He spent most of last season in the low minors, and his record there was 1-8.

In spring training this year Sleeth saw that he wasn't regaining the speed on his pitches he needed, the speed he had before the surgery. As spring training ended, he did something of character.

At 26, he nobly walked away from his sport and his pursuit of the big leagues.

When a minor leaguer discloses that he's retiring, he doesn't hold a news conference. He sits in an office with Ezell and with Jon Matlack, the Tigers' minor league pitching coordinator.

"When he told us, it was pretty emotional for several minutes," Ezell said. "Not just for Kyle, but also for Jon and me.

"With the grit and desire and the effort he put forward, I would stand by him no matter how long his comeback was," Ezell said. "He had such a long fight, and he fought like hell. He's not a quitter. It just wasn't happening.

"When he told us he was retiring, he thanked both Jon Matlack and me for being by his side the whole way. Jon and I both feel that's as high of a compliment as we can be paid."

Ezell fully expects that Sleeth will succeed in his post-baseball endeavors. Here's what he said he told Sleeth:

"Whatever you do, wherever you go, call me in six months. Don't lose my number. I want to know what you are doing.

"I know that whatever you are doing, it will be at a high level."
_________________
bow

Subject: Re: Kyle Sleeth Sun Apr 13, 2008 7:44 am

That is too bad. . . I wish him well.

Subject: Re: Kyle Sleeth Sun Apr 13, 2008 8:28 am

That is indeed too bad Frown

Hope he finds happiness in whatever he does.