Leon Boyd

Football player infobox
playername = Leon Boyd
fullname = Leon Boyd
height =


nickname =
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1983|8|30
cityofbirth = Vancouver
countryofbirth = Canada
currentclub = Neptunus
number = 44
position = Pitcher, right handed
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years =
clubs =
caps(goals) =
nationalyears = 2006-
nationalteam = Netherlands
nationalcaps(goals) =
pcupdate = August 5, 2008
ntupdate = August 5, 2008

Leon Boyd (born August 30, 1983 in Vancouver) is a Canadian born Dutch baseball player who currently plays for Neptunus and the Dutch national team. His fastball can hit 92 mph, but sits around 88. [http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Leon_Boyd BR Bullpen: Leon Boyd] , baseball-reference.com, ret: Aug 5, 2008] Since March 8, 2008 Boyd is married with the Canadian softball player Jeana Short. [ [http://www.jeanaandleon.com/ Jeana and Leon, March 8, 2008] , jeanaandleaon.com, ret: Aug 5, 2008]

Boyd's father Sean Boyd played ice hockey in the Netherlands from 1971-1974 and met Leon's mother there. While Leon was born in Vancouver, Canada, his Dutch ties would enable him to pitch in the Hoofdklasse. He received his Dutch passport in December 2005 (because his mother was born and raised in Holland), but was not pursued by any Dutch clubs after trying to contact some just after his college career was over. As a result he went on to play baseball in Belgium the following summer. Playing in Belgium for the Hoboken Pioneers, Boyd dominated, going 11-1 with a 0.84 ERA and 156 strikeouts in just 96 innings. Also, Boyd hit .421 with 2 home runs in 38 at bats for the eventual national runner up.

Boyd was scouted by and in contract talks with several Dutch Hoofdklasse teams for the 2007 season. Also, the Dutch national team picked him up to join the Netherlands for the 2006 Intercontinental Cup, where he was 0-2 with a 2.63 ERA, but led the team in innings. Against the Cuban national team, he allowed four hits and one run in 1 2/3 IP of relief after replacing Rob Cordemans, taking the loss in a 3-2 defeat. Three days later, he allowed just one run in six innings to the Japanese national team but again lost as the Dutch got shut out. Against the Australian national team, he struck out 7 and allowed one run in six innings in a no-decision as the Netherlands won 4-3.

Boyd debuted in Hoofdklasse in 2007, going 9-0 with a 1.22 ERA, allowing 42 hits and no homers in 66 2/3 IP while striking out 61. He was 0-2 with a 2.64 ERA in the playoffs, though, as Neptunus was upset by the Pioniers in round one. Boyd tied Vaughan Harris and Diego Markwell for second in Hoofdklasse in wins. He tied former major leaguer Eddie Oropesa for sixth in strikeouts (61). He was first in WHIP (7.97, .52 ahead of Dave Draijer) and third in ERA behind relievers Duko Jansen and Chris Ryan. He was a finalist for the Pitcher of the Year Award, but lost out to David Bergman in part due to missing a month of the season with a back muscle strain.

In the 2007 World Port Tournament, Boyd earned the World Port Tournament Best Pitcher award, allowing only five hits in 15 IP and won twice, including a masterful complete game shutout of the Chinese Taipei National team facing only 28 batters. He was 2-0 with a 0.93 ERA in the 2007 European Baseball Championship, helping the Netherlands win Gold. He was with the team for the 2007 Baseball World Cup, going 1-1 with a 2.55 ERA and a team-high 14 strikeouts for the 4th-place squad. He had a solid game but received a no-decision against the Australian national team when closer Michiel van Kampen couldn't hold a 3-2 lead in the 9th. He had another fine appearance allowing one run in six innings in a crucial win over the South Korean national team and matched Tadashi Settsu (the eventual pitcher of the tournament) with five scoreless frames in the Bronze Medal game before allowing 2 runs in the 6th, and being shutout 5-0 by the Japanese.

On June 12, 2008, Boyd threw a no-hitter against the Amsterdam Pirates. He allowed two runs, one unearned, thanks to 3 walks, 2 hit batsmen and 3 errors by his team. Shortly thereafter, Boyd had a 4.50 ERA in the 2008 European Baseball Cup in Regensburg. He was knocked out early in a win against the host Buchbinder Legionäre and did not get a decision in the Cup. Boyd was selected by coach Robert Eenhoorn in the team that represents the Netherlands at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. [ [http://www.knbsb.nl/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1392&Itemid=174 Dutch Olympic Baseball squad 2008] , knbsb.nl, ret: Aug 5, 2008]

External links

* [http://www.honkbalsite.com/nederlandsteam/leonboyd.html Boyd's profile at honkbalsite.com] nl
* [http://www.sport1.nl//Honkbal/Spelers/136702/Leon-Boyd.html Boyd's Sport-1 profile] nl
* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Leon_Boyd Leon Boyd @ Baseball Reference]

References