Blue Jays Sign 5 Pitchers to Minor League Deals: Former Bisons Copeland, Hernandez Included
December 18, 2015 - International League (IL1)
Buffalo Bisons News Release
Buffalo Bisons on the Mound
(Buffalo Bisons)
The Toronto Blue Jays today announced the signing of five pitchers to minor league contracts with invitations to Major League spring training; 2015 Bisons' Most Valuable Pitcher RHP SCOTT COPELAND, 2004 Bisons' International League Champion RHP ROBERTO HERNANDEZ, two-time National League All-Star RHP BRAD PENNY, LHP WADE LeBLANC and LHP PAT McCOY.
The Blue Jays also announced that they have claimed OF JUNIOR LAKE off waivers from the Baltimore Orioles.
Copeland was 11-6 with a 2.95 ERA in 21 games (20 starts) with the Bisons in 2015. His 11 wins ranked 3rd-best in the International League while his 2.95 ERA was the 8th-best mark in the circuit. Buffalo was 12-8 in his 20 starts, including 12 quality starts. Copeland worked six innings or more in 15 of his outings with the team. At the end of the season, he was named the team's Warren Spahn Most Valuable Pitcher.
Hernandez has pitched in the Major Leagues for 10 seasons with the Indians, Rays, Phillies, Dodgers and Astros and has a career 70-98 big league record with a 4.58 ERA. He was an American League All-Star for Cleveland in 2010 (13-14, 3.77 ERA) and was 4th in AL Cy Young voting after going 19-8 with a 3.06 ERA with the Tribe in 2007. Hernandez also pitched in part of three seasons with the Bisons (2004-2007) and was 9-7 with a 3.93 ERA in 20 games. The righty was 2-0 with a 2.77 ERA in two playoff starts for Buffalo during their 2004 Governors' Cup Champion season.
Penny has pitched in 14 Major League seasons with six different teams, compiling a 121-101 record and a 4.29 ERA in 349 games and 319 starts. He was a National League All-Star in back-to-back seasons with the Dodgers in 2006 (16-9, 4.33 ERA) and 2007 (16-4, 3.03 ERA). Six times the righty has posted double-digit wins in the Major Leagues. Penny was 2-1 with a 6.58 ERA in eight outings with the Marlins and 7-10 with a 5.19 ERA in 24 starts with the Charlotte Knights in 2015.
McCoy split last season between the Norfolk Tides and the Double-A Bowie Baysox. For Norfolk, the lefty was 2-3 with a 4.18 ERA in 27 relief appearances (51.2 IP). LeBlanc made eight starts for Japan's Seibu Lions in 2015 and was 2-5 with a 5.24 ERA. In seven Major League seasons, LeBlanc is 21-33 with a 4.47 ERA in 107 games and 71 starts.
Lake appeared in 29 games last season for the Chicago Cubs and Baltimore Orioles batting .200 with a home run and five RBI. He also hit .312 with 13 doubles, seven home runs and 36 RBI in 73 games between the PCL's Iowa Cubs and the Norfolk Tides.
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International League Stories from December 18, 2015
- Blue Jays Sign 5 Pitchers to Minor League Deals: Former Bisons Copeland, Hernandez Included - Buffalo Bisons
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