Former Pirates Reliever Chris Leroux to be on Canadian Bachelor
Chris Leroux spent six relatively non-descript years bouncing between the majors and the minors. The former Pittsburgh Pirates reliever will now have another claim to fame as the star of Canada's version of The Bachelor.
For most former players, their time spent on the diamond is the pinnacle of their fame. While a few former major leaguers will go into politics or other endeavors, most enjoy their retirement and fade from view. Former Pittsburgh Pirates reliever Chris Leroux, however, is attempting to be one of those former players that remain in our consciousness, as he will be the star of The Bachelor Canada.
It would certainly be understandable if one did not remember Leroux's playing days. He spent parts of six seasons in the majors with three different franchises, splitting his time between the big leagues and AAA. Overall, he posted 6.03 ERA and a 1.702 WHiP, with 66 strikeouts and 35 walks in 71.2 innings from 2009 through 2014. Leroux also had a stint with Team Canada in this year's World Baseball Classic before retiring at the end of the tournament.
Now that he has stepped away from the mound, Leroux is focusing on his search for true love, at least until the camera shuts off. Quite a few women will vie with one another to be the subject of Leroux's affections, and to get their 15 minutes of fame on television.
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He would not be the only former athlete to make an appearance on some version of the show. Former Giants backup quarterback Jesse Palmer was on the fifth season of The Bachelor, but ended up breaking up with the woman he chose several months after filming ended.
Likewise, he would not be the only former baseball player to head over to reality television. Jose Canseco has seemingly made a second career of making a mockery of himself for money on reality shows. Barry Bonds was the subject of the short lived Bonds on Bonds in 2006. And, of course, there is David Ross on Dancing with the Stars. Grandpa Ross defied expectations, reaching the finals of the show before being eliminated.
Hopefully, Chris Leroux ends up having success on The Bachelor. It will be interesting to follow what happens when the lights go out for the final episode.
