Boys athlete of the week

The Post-Gazette’s top male performer for the past seven days.

Recently: Lesko was 3 for 4 with two doubles and four RBIs in a win against Laurel Highlands last Wednesday and had two hits and two RBIs in a victory against Peters Township March 21.

Check this out: Lesko is a 6-foot-4, 210-pound junior who is one of the best comeback stories in WPIAL baseball so far this season. He had Tommy John surgery on his right arm last June, but is back playing about nine months later — and playing well. He plays first base and is hitting .643 (9 for 14) with four doubles and 10 RBIs for undefeated Thomas Jefferson ( 6- 0). Lesko also is a talented pitcher, but might not be cleared to pitch until the end of the season, or possibly June.

With Tommy John surgery, isn’t that supposed to be more than a year before a comeback? For pitching, the estimated time is about 1216 months. So I guess I’m kind of ahead of schedule. I’m feeling great. My mechanics are still good, but I’m a little bit rusty. It’s nothing that can’t be fixed. I just need to get a little more velocity back and my control.

But you probably won’t pitch in the high school season? Probably not. It’s just a safety precaution. You’re o to a great start as a hitter. Are you surprised at all, considering the surgery? Honestly, yes. But when I first came back, it was ugly. I was popping everything up and my timing was off. But it’s all working out now. How tough is rehab from

that surgery? The first month through maybe month No. 7 are the hardest. There is pain over the first three months. The pain goes away, but in your brain. you just want to get back. But you have to take it slow. My friends are texting me, saying, ‘Let’s go hit and throw.’ But you can’t do it. That’s hard.

Is there anybody who has had a big impact on you as a player?

Honestly, my dad [Jim Lesko]. He’s been my coach since I was 4 years old, up until maybe age 15. He’s always been there. Obviously, I had a few pitching coaches along the way, but all the basics started with my dad.

You have pretty good size with a good arm and you’re at a school known for football. Did you ever try football?

No. I was thinking about it in maybe seventh or eighth grade, but I knew I wanted to play baseball long term. Easter was Sunday. Any chance you got any candy?

Yeah. I got some Reese’s candy and some Sarris chocolate-covered pretzels.

Was it in an Easter basket? Yep. My parents had a basket for me, my brother and my sister.

They didn’t hide the basket, did they? Yep [laugh]. It was behind the dog’s toys.