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IL1 Buffalo Bisons

LeBlanc Travels from San Diego to Seibu to the Bump in Buffalo

May 8, 2016 - International League (IL1)
Buffalo Bisons News Release


Some players take the road less travelled, others take a plane.

One year ago, Wade LeBlanc did the latter to spend a season pitching for the Seibu Lions of the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) league in Japan. Deciding to play half a world away wasn't easy for LeBlanc, then 30 years old, but he felt that the timing was right for both his career and his family.

"That was an opportunity for me and my family to, number one, experience something that we otherwise would never get to do. And number two, set ourselves up financially to be able to relax somewhat and enjoy baseball as a game again, as opposed to it being a life or death job every time I stepped out on to the field," said LeBlanc, who won his final start of 2014 with the Los Angeles Angels.

"[The Lions] really pushed. So you want to be where you're wanted, and they made that clear."

Eight months after his return, the father of two reflects fondly on his time immersed in Japanese culture.

"My favourite part was just the experience as a whole. Just being able to look back at pictures and have our two sons be able to grow up and say that they've lived in Japan is something cool that not a lot people get to say they did."

Now back in America for the 2016 season, LeBlanc is off to a terrific start with the Buffalo Bisons. The native of Lake Charles, LA. is 3-1 through his first six starts and leads the team with 35 strikeouts -- a punch-out total that, he admits, has been influenced after watching other pitchers throw in the NPB.

"The biggest thing for me is the ability to throw any pitch for a strike. Those guys over there are throwing full count, base-loaded split-fingers, or curveballs, or anything. They will throw anything at any time and it doesn't matter what situation they're in," said LeBlanc.

"You learn how to do that and you learn the importance of how much it can throw off a hitter's timing."

Batters have been off-balance all season long when facing the University of Alabama product. LeBlanc has yet to surrender more than three runs in a game.

When pressed about what has been working so well for him through his first handful of starts with the Herd, the lanky lefty humbly points to those around him.

"Number one, our two catchers, Tony Sanchez and A.J. Jimenez, have done an amazing job behind the plate, essentially carrying the pitching staff. Secondly, our defense has been incredible. It makes it easier as a pitcher to settle down, go out there and be aggressive. It makes a huge difference."

LeBlanc also notes that the biggest difference between his comrades in the minors, when compared to those that pitch in the majors, can be narrowed down to one factor.

"Consistency. I think day-to-day consistency is the only thing that separates any player you watch in Triple-A from any player you watch in the big leagues. The guys that are in the big leagues and that go up and stay there, those are the guys that can be the most consistent. Everybody's going to have a bad game in baseball, it's a game of failure," pontificated LeBlanc before expanding further on his point.

"Anytime a guy can go 2.1 innings and give up eight runs, then not let it fester and carry into his next outing, that's a guy that's able to get up there and be able to make an impact and become an everyday, established major-leaguer. I think that's the only difference between guys up there and guys down here."

Some may think that, having started 71 games in the big show, putting in the work needed every day to pitch in the minors could turn into an unpleasant grind for LeBlanc. But to the soft-spoken starter, there's much more to pitch for than that.

"I know it might sound cheesy to some people, it might sound cliché to some people, but to me this is a gift that I have been given by God. If I'm not out here every day striving to make it better, to increase the talent that I've been given, to try to do something to encourage somebody else or to use this as a platform, then it's a waste of a gift," says LeBlanc while pointing across the whole of the stadium.

"And any time you're doing that, you're doing an injustice to God, to your teammates, to your family, to everybody. That's what really inspires me."

Now, a full decade since being drafted by the Padres in the second round, LeBlanc says he's still learning everyday what it takes to be a successful starter.

When asked to offer his best piece of advice for young pitchers trying to work their way to the majors, No. 49's answer begins with a wry smile, then ends with a laugh.

"Don't give the hitters too much credit."

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International League Stories from May 8, 2016


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