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Nathan Leininger led the MAC with a 2.81 ERA, a .211 opponent average, 96.0 innings and nine wins in 2026.
Photo by: Daniel Miller/University of Toledo
Nathan Leininger Signs Free Agent Contract with Chicago White Sox
7/13/2026 10:28:00 AM | Baseball
2026 MAC Pitcher of the Year signs first professional contract
TOLEDO, Ohio – Toledo right-handed starting pitcher Nathan Leininger has signed a free agent contract with the Chicago White Sox, putting another Rocket in a Major League Baseball organization.
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Leininger was the MAC Pitcher of the Year in 2026, leading the league with a 2.81 ERA, a .211 batting average, 96.0 innings pitched and nine victories. He was second in the league with 90 strikeouts. Leininger won seven-straight starts from Feb. 28 and April 10. In addition to taking the league's top pitching honor, Leininger was also a First Team All-MAC and an ABCA First Team All-Region selection.
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The Powell, Ohio native was named MAC Pitcher of the Week after throwing 8.0 innings without an earned run allowed with 10 strikeouts at Central Michigan on March 20. To open the MAC Tournament, Leininger threw Toledo's first nine-inning complete game since 2018 in an 8-2 victory over Ball State. He was named to the MAC All-Tournament Team following the conclusion of the tournament.
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In four years at Toledo in both bullpen and starting roles, Leininger amassed a record of 16-7 with a 5.01 ERA and a .250 opponent batting average. He logged 165.1 innings and totaled 157 strikeouts to 74 walks in a Toledo uniform. He was part of pitching staffs that set the program single-season strikeout record with 514 in 2024, and again broke it with 550 in 2026.
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Leininger helped Toledo to back-to-back 30-win seasons and consecutive trips to the MAC Tournament championship game in 2025 and 2026.
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Leininger will be added to a White Sox organization which has recently picked up Rocket pitchers. 2024 graduate Grant Umberger signed with the organization. He set the single-season franchise record for low-A Kannapolis with 113 strikeouts in 102.0 innings, totaling a 9-2 record with a 2.56 ERA in 2025. He was later called up to high-A Winston-Salem in September of last year and is currently pitching there. The White Sox also picked Jackson Bergman, who pitched at Toledo from 2023-2025, in the 18th round of the MLB Draft.
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Leininger was the MAC Pitcher of the Year in 2026, leading the league with a 2.81 ERA, a .211 batting average, 96.0 innings pitched and nine victories. He was second in the league with 90 strikeouts. Leininger won seven-straight starts from Feb. 28 and April 10. In addition to taking the league's top pitching honor, Leininger was also a First Team All-MAC and an ABCA First Team All-Region selection.
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The Powell, Ohio native was named MAC Pitcher of the Week after throwing 8.0 innings without an earned run allowed with 10 strikeouts at Central Michigan on March 20. To open the MAC Tournament, Leininger threw Toledo's first nine-inning complete game since 2018 in an 8-2 victory over Ball State. He was named to the MAC All-Tournament Team following the conclusion of the tournament.
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In four years at Toledo in both bullpen and starting roles, Leininger amassed a record of 16-7 with a 5.01 ERA and a .250 opponent batting average. He logged 165.1 innings and totaled 157 strikeouts to 74 walks in a Toledo uniform. He was part of pitching staffs that set the program single-season strikeout record with 514 in 2024, and again broke it with 550 in 2026.
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Leininger helped Toledo to back-to-back 30-win seasons and consecutive trips to the MAC Tournament championship game in 2025 and 2026.
Â
Leininger will be added to a White Sox organization which has recently picked up Rocket pitchers. 2024 graduate Grant Umberger signed with the organization. He set the single-season franchise record for low-A Kannapolis with 113 strikeouts in 102.0 innings, totaling a 9-2 record with a 2.56 ERA in 2025. He was later called up to high-A Winston-Salem in September of last year and is currently pitching there. The White Sox also picked Jackson Bergman, who pitched at Toledo from 2023-2025, in the 18th round of the MLB Draft.
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