Behind every remarkable athlete is a foundation built on love, sacrifice, and family. For Liam O’Leary—the former Souderton High standout, St. John’s University ace pitcher, and recent Pittsburgh Pirates MLB draft pick—that foundation was built by his parents, Kevin and Jenny O’Leary.
Though both Kevin and Jenny passed away before seeing Liam selected in the Major League Baseball draft, their influence remains the driving force behind his inspiring rise from community college to professional baseball.
Kevin O’Leary: The First Coach and Best Friend
For Liam, baseball was never just a sport—it was a shared language with his father. Kevin O’Leary handed Liam a baseball virtually the day he was born and served as his very first coach, instilling a deep passion for the game that would define his life.
More than a coach, Kevin was Liam’s best friend. Before big youth tournaments, Kevin established a cherished tradition: buying Liam a Wawa breakfast sandwich and drawing a smiley face on the wrapper in ketchup to ease his nerves and show his support.
Tragically, Kevin passed away unexpectedly in 2022, during Liam’s senior year at Souderton Area High School. Heartbroken by the loss of his father and best friend, Liam briefly questioned whether he wanted to continue playing the sport that was so deeply tied to his dad’s memory. With the support of his family, Liam realized that staying on the mound was the ultimate way to stay connected to his father’s spirit.
Jenny O’Leary: Heart of the Family
Following Kevin’s passing, Liam’s mother, Jenny O’Leary, became the ultimate anchor for the family, supporting Liam and his three siblings through an unimaginable period of grief while keeping the household grounded in love and resilience.
In 2024, tragedy struck the O’Leary family a second time when Jenny passed away, leaving Liam (then 19), his older sister Shanleigh, and his two younger brothers to lean on one another and carry forward their parents’ legacy.
A Legacy Carried On Through Four Siblings
Despite losing both parents in two years, the O’Leary children formed an unbreakable bond, anchored by their shared love for their parents and each other:
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Shanleigh O’Leary: As the eldest sibling, Shanleigh stepped into a vital supporting role, encouraging Liam to keep chasing his baseball dreams after their father passed and keeping family traditions alive.
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Liam O’Leary (21): The second child and oldest son. Liam channeled his grief into relentless discipline, rising through Montgomery County Community College, Lackawanna College (where he struck out 121 batters in a single season), and St. John’s University (leading them to an NCAA Super Regional) before being drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
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Finn O’Leary (15) & Nolan O’Leary (11): Liam’s younger brothers, who deeply look up to their older brother. Both active in youth baseball, Finn and Nolan inspire Liam every time he takes the mound, with friendly sibling rivalries about one day outdoing their big brother in college sports.
From Tragedy to the Big Leagues
When Liam O’Leary heard his name called in the MLB draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates, it was the realization of a lifelong dream—one born on local youth fields with his father and nurtured at home by his mother.
While Kevin and Jenny O’Leary were not in the stands to see their son put on a professional uniform, their presence was felt in every pitch. Through the drive, humility, and competitive fire Liam displays on the mound, his parents’ legacy lives on.