Luke McLeod: 4A Cover Player

Luke McLeod is a 6-1 205 RHP/UTL for the 19-4A Hardin-Jefferson Hawks. He has signed with Oklahoma University.

High School Career
As a Junior, McLeod was 7-2 with 84 Ks in 66.2 IP and a 1.47 ERA. At the plate, he hit .462 with 14 2Bs, 3 3Bs, 3 HRs, 20 RBIs, 16 Runs, 19 SBs, a .573 OBP and a .825 SLG. He was named the 20-4A Co-MVP. He was named to the Texas Sports Writers Association 4A All-State Team as a 1st Team Outfielder and a 2nd Team Pitcher.

In his sophomore season, McLeod had 7 wins with 71 Ks and a 1.43 ERA. At the plate, he hit .380 with 6 2Bs, 4 3Bs, 3 HRs, 21 RBIs and 18 Runs. He was named the 19-4A Co-Offensive Player of the Year.

As a freshman, McLeod hit .455 with 2 2B, 1 3B, 7 Runs, 4 RBIs and a .575 SLG.

Other Baseball Recognition
2024 Texas Scouts Association All-Star Game
2024 Beaumont Enterprise Gold Player of the Year
2022 15U State Championship Most Outstanding Hitter

Personal
Parents: Roy and Stephanie McLeod
Age: 18
Siblings: 2 older brothers who have also played college baseball
Current favorite group/singer – Don Toliver
Favorite Restaurant – Elsie’s Pie and Plate in Baton Rouge
Go to Fast Food – Chipotle
Last movie you saw – Four Christmases
What do you like to do outside baseball – Work out, hang out with friends, talk baseball with my dad and brothers
Favorite MLB Team – Yankees
Favorite MLB Player Fernando Tatis, Jr

Interview
Last year in the playoffs your coach is flipping for one game playoffs. What kind of pressure do you feel when you know your coach is doing that and putting the game on your shoulders?

It’s something I’ve dealt with for the past couple years. Come play off time, we need to keep the keep the runs low. So, I just have to trust my defense and hopefully we get a couple runs across. But it’s no big deal,

So you you guys beat Spring Hill in Game 1 and then lost the next two. Talk about being close to getting to the state tournament?

It was heartbreaking in those last two games. We just couldn’t get that big hit. We had plenty of opportunities with runners on bases. We just couldn’t get it done. And it was heartbreaking seeing them go all the way to state and knowing we could have been there.

What do you like about this year’s Hardin-Jefferson team?

I think we’re going to have a pretty good offensive team this year. I think we should be able to score some runs a little better than we did last year. And everybody knows each other on this team. Everybody’s been around each other the past couple years. We have a pretty good vibe.

What are the challenges for Hardin Jefferson this year?

The challenge will be whether we can play solid defense and have solid pitching throughout the season and the playoffs and let our offense work. If we can do that, I think we can be really good.

Why Oklahoma?

I love the coaches – Head Coach Skip Johnson and the recruiting coordinator, Coach Butler. I love both of them. And OU just felt like home.