Tweet
<h1>Lebron not done yet in Maine</h1><div style="float:right;margin-right:25%;padding-left:50px;">
</div>He may not be the most recognized athlete with his name, but Danny Lebron is quite the familiar face to Maine Guides fans.
The now-30-year-old second baseman from Venezuela put forth a strong spring and reclaimed what he and the team hope will be his old starting role.
It has been four years since the injury-plagued Lebron last logged more than 300 at-bats.
Eight long years and many injuries separate him from 2001, when he burst onto the scene with an All-Star appearance as a 22-year-old rookie. The young prodigy had played only 12 minor league games above A-ball before securing the starting job in Maine.
But then there was his hamstring, his knee . . . the hamstring again, his other knee . . . his foot . . . it goes on.
The injuries piled up over the years, knocking the former first round pick out of the lineup with regularity. The fracture and contusions slowly sapped him of his abilities which had enabled him to win four Defense With Integrity Awards while providing added pop in the lineup at a premium position.
Over the last few years, Guides fans had only fleeting glimpses of the old, young Lebron. He famously hit .326 with a .892 OPS during the 2006 championship season, though he only managed 55 regular season games and struggled in the playoffs.
He struggled too through 2007, hitting only .213 in 93 games, before his contract expired conclusion of the season. He returned on a minor league deal in 2008, turning in a solid performance at AAA before returning to Maine in September and looking more like the Lebron of earlier years during his 16 appearances. Between that performance and this spring, he showed the team enough to get the Opening Day nod at second base once again.
Many of the gifts Lebron once possessed naturally have left him. Still, his renowned clubhouse leadership and determination continue to be assets to the team, along with his steady defense and occasional show of power at the plate.
He remains a beloved figure of Guides fans, who reacted with widespread excitement after hearing of Friday’s lineup announcement.
After all, Danny Lebron is Mr. Guide for many young supporters.
Several times over the last four years, it looked assured the last Danny Lebron chapter in the Maine Guides history book had been written. He was someone to watch on highlight videos — not the baseball diamond, not anymore.
But when the Maine Guides take the field in Los Angeles tomorrow night, it will be Danny Lebron trotting out to second base.
How long this Danny Lebron chapter is, we don’t know. Lebron insists he has more to give the team, that his body feels fresher than it has in years. It’s his chapter to write. All we can do is sit back and watch him write it.
</div>He may not be the most recognized athlete with his name, but Danny Lebron is quite the familiar face to Maine Guides fans.The now-30-year-old second baseman from Venezuela put forth a strong spring and reclaimed what he and the team hope will be his old starting role.
It has been four years since the injury-plagued Lebron last logged more than 300 at-bats.
Eight long years and many injuries separate him from 2001, when he burst onto the scene with an All-Star appearance as a 22-year-old rookie. The young prodigy had played only 12 minor league games above A-ball before securing the starting job in Maine.
But then there was his hamstring, his knee . . . the hamstring again, his other knee . . . his foot . . . it goes on.
The injuries piled up over the years, knocking the former first round pick out of the lineup with regularity. The fracture and contusions slowly sapped him of his abilities which had enabled him to win four Defense With Integrity Awards while providing added pop in the lineup at a premium position.
Over the last few years, Guides fans had only fleeting glimpses of the old, young Lebron. He famously hit .326 with a .892 OPS during the 2006 championship season, though he only managed 55 regular season games and struggled in the playoffs.
He struggled too through 2007, hitting only .213 in 93 games, before his contract expired conclusion of the season. He returned on a minor league deal in 2008, turning in a solid performance at AAA before returning to Maine in September and looking more like the Lebron of earlier years during his 16 appearances. Between that performance and this spring, he showed the team enough to get the Opening Day nod at second base once again.
Many of the gifts Lebron once possessed naturally have left him. Still, his renowned clubhouse leadership and determination continue to be assets to the team, along with his steady defense and occasional show of power at the plate.
He remains a beloved figure of Guides fans, who reacted with widespread excitement after hearing of Friday’s lineup announcement.
After all, Danny Lebron is Mr. Guide for many young supporters.
Several times over the last four years, it looked assured the last Danny Lebron chapter in the Maine Guides history book had been written. He was someone to watch on highlight videos — not the baseball diamond, not anymore.
But when the Maine Guides take the field in Los Angeles tomorrow night, it will be Danny Lebron trotting out to second base.
How long this Danny Lebron chapter is, we don’t know. Lebron insists he has more to give the team, that his body feels fresher than it has in years. It’s his chapter to write. All we can do is sit back and watch him write it.