SOUTH RERARD--Rene Leveret of South reward has retired from Professional Baseball. Leveret announced his retirement on Facebook Sunday.
He wrote, “With all the pain of my heart I am announcing that I am retiring from my professional baseball career. It feels like it was just yesterday when the Minnesota Twins offered me my first pro contract and ask me to call my parents that they were going to fly them in for them to sign my contract the 24th of August 2003 at the age of 17 and on the 28th of August 2003 was the day I signed that blue sheet and officially became a professional baseball player.”
Leveret spent two years in the Dominican Republic playing Rookie Ball. He played in 75 games. He had 325 plate appearances, resulting in 86 hits, 57 runs scored and 10 home runs. He had a .307 batting average and in the Summer League he was named Most Valuable Player.
I gave it my all for 13 years chasing my dreams to make it to the Major League and trust me it’s not an easy road to take. Some may get there quick but some don’t but I sure know I gave it my all.
In 2006 he moved up to playing in the United States. Leveret went on to collect a fist full of Championship rings and accolades including making the Appalachian All Star Team and later the top five top five of most productive offensive players in the history of the Quebec Cardinals when he played in the Can-Am League.
Leveret recorded his 1,000 pro hit on a ground rules double this past summer. In total Leveret played 933 pro games. He made 3,922 plate appearances and scored 488 runs and batted in 653 runs. He connected for 98 home runs and ended with a .306 average.
“I sure had a blast all these years. I travelled the world for free and I met a lot of different people that are now my close friends and today May 7, 2017 I call it a quits from playing, but I will continue coaching and helping the young ones get better.”
