[Interview] Jarod Lessar Talks Signing as a NDFA, Yankees Recruiting, and more

On the first day that teams were allowed to sign non-drafted free agents the Yankees signed right-handed pitcher Jarod Lessar out of Brigham Young University. Prior to joining BYU, Lessar pitched for two seasons at Eastern Utah Community College.

This year, Lessar pitched in just five games, four starts, before the college season was canceled. He struck out 15 batters over 16 1/3 innings. In two seasons with BYU, Lessar owns a 3-2 record with a 4.48 ERA, and 59 strikeouts over 65 innings of work. With Eastern Utah, he had a 5-6 record with a 5.37 ERA and 78 strikeouts over 87 2/3 innings.

Pinstriped Prospects: This year is a little bit different with the coronavirus cutting the college season short, and the drastic cut in the MLB Draft.  How did that change things for you?

Jarod Lessar: “You know, I hadn’t really talked to a lot of teams leading up to the season actually ending I hadn’t been reached out to anybody since the year before the previous year. It was just kind of honestly started to suck the life out of me because I was thinking, I haven’t talked to anybody, how am I supposed to try to get to the next level now, I was thinking I just lost my season. This was all before they gave us our eligibility back and then roster spots and everything like that. So my first initial instinct was man, I’ll never get to try to play pro ball never get to play baseball again. We had just come off get swept by Oklahoma State. And I was thinking that’s the last time that I would get to play baseball. I didn’t really have any I didn’t have any clue was going to go and play or if I’d ever play again. I was thankful that they gave us the year of eligibility back, and the BYU coaching staff was grateful enough to give me my roster spot back. The rest of this interview is exclusive to Pinstriped Prospects Dugout Monthly and Annual Members.  Monthly and Annual Dugout Members get complete access to scouting reports, interviews, and more all with limited advertisements on the website. Click here to sign up!