IL1 Buffalo Bisons

Notebook: Wade LeBlanc's Strong Season Continues

Published on June 20, 2016 under International League (IL1)
Buffalo Bisons News Release


Wade LeBlanc has emerged as the ace of the Bisons' starting rotation, thanks to a string of dominance that has seen him become a candidate to not just the Triple-A All-Star team, but start it.

As of June 20, LeBlanc is tops in the IL in ERA and innings pitched, second in wins, and tied with teammate Drew Hutchison for third most strikeouts.

The left-hander delivered another strong outing on June 14, during which he tossed 8.0 innings, struck out a season-high 11 hitters, and allowed an unearned run in a win against Durham.

On June 19, he threw 6.0 innings, allowing three runs in a no-decision, while the Bisons eventually won the game in extra innings. LeBlanc has yet to allow more than three earned runs in any of his 14 starts.

"It's hard to find complaints, but at the same time, you'd like to walk less guys," LeBlanc said of his season so far. "I got two losses on the ledger, and you don't want to lose any games."

LeBlanc, originally drafted by the Padres in 2006, has pitched in the majors for San Diego, the Marlins, Astros, Angels and Yankees. He signed a minor league contract with the Blue Jays last Dec. 18, after spending 2015 pitching for the Saitama Seibu Lions in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball.

He awaits a call-up to the majors, as fellow Buffalo starters Scott Diamond and Drew Hutchison have both earned brief big league assignments with the Jays this season.

"Consistency has a lot to do with how effective a guy can be on the mound. Knowing that you're going to take the ball every fifth day, and where you're going to be and what you're going to be doing is a huge help. But at the same time everybody here, I think, can agree that we're all trying to get somewhere else, but you just take it one game at a time, and if they need somebody, just be ready when your names called."

The Bisons' starting staff, LeBlanc included, have all seen time in the majors during their professional careers.

"I think anybody's stuff that's at Triple-A can succeed in the big leagues. It's just whether you're able to eliminate the second deck from a major league stadium, and just focus on the glove and your job as a pitcher."

Jio Mier displays power during Lehigh Valley series

One of the most unlikely power sources during the Herd's four-game road series with the IronPigs was shortstop Jio Mier.

Mier, who came into the series without a homerun this season, hit two in three days against Lehigh Valley.

In Friday's game at Coca-Cola Park, Mier took IronPigs' starter Ben Lively deep. His last home run before that swing took place on August 20, 2015, while he was playing in the Houston Astros organization for the Corpus Christi Hooks.

Mier then came through with a big go-ahead bomb in the 10th inning on Sunday, which proved to be a game-winner in the Bisons' 5-3 victory over Lehigh Valley.

He becomes the 12th Bison to homer this season, though he will have some catching up to do if he wants to reach team-leaders Matt Dominguez and Jesus Montero, who each have seven long balls so far this year.

During a six-game stretch from June 11 to 19, Mier had hits in five contests, driving in five runs, and has risen his batting average 15 points since June 8.

Bisons' roster undergoes changes over the past week

Several transactions involving Bisons players took place recently, with some earning big league promotions, while others made the jump from Double-A to Triple-A.

Bisons' Ambidextrous reliever Pat Venditte made a brief appearance with Toronto on June 12, logging 2.0 innings in a win against Baltimore. Venditte has earned three separate big league call-ups this year, and has provided a unique level of versatility for both the Jays and Buffalo in 2016.

Starter Scott Diamond was rewarded with his first major league call-up of the season on June 13. The lefty appeared in one game with the Blue Jays before being designated for assignment the next day.

Diamond, a native of Guelph, Ontario, previously pitched with the Minnesota Twins from 2011 through 2013, before returning to the majors with his hometown team this year.

"It was absolutely a dream come true," Diamond said of his brief appearance with Toronto. "Especially growing up a Jays fan, and spending a lot of time in that stadium as a kid. It was pretty interesting to sit in the bullpen and experience it from on the field."

Diamond is part of a Bisons' staff that has seen several pitchers display major-league caliber performances.

"We have a ton of talent here, with LeBlanc and Hutchison, and the way Leroux's throwing as well. And our bullpen has just been absolutely fantastic. I feel like the Jays aren't short of arms at all, and to give me the opportunity this past week was really a blessing."

In addition to Diamond, two players who both made their MLB debuts earlier this season earned call-ups again on June 15. Left-handed reliever Chad Girodo and utility man Andy Burns were both recalled to Toronto on Wednesday.

Girodo appeared in 11 games with Toronto in April and May, and made his big league return on June 15, pitching a scoreless eighth inning against the Phillies. Burns, who went hitless in four MLB at bats in May, played in three games with the Jays last week, before returning to the Herd on June 18. He is still searching for his first big league hit.

Outfielder Darrell Ceciliani was called up to the Blue Jays on June 17. Ceciliani, who hit .217 with Buffalo in 33 games this year, saw his first MLB action of the season that day, appearing in Toronto's 13-3 win over Baltimore. He made his big league debut last season, playing in 39 games with the Mets.

Two players returned to the Bisons, making the jump from Double-A New Hampshire.

The first was John Anderson, who made a spot-start for the Herd on June 13, his first start at the Triple-A level. Anderson made his Bisons' debut last season, pitching two games in relief, and went 2-5 with the Fisher Cats this season.

Reliever Colt Hynes returned to the Bisons on June 17, after appearing in 13 games with New Hampshire. The lefty Hynes pitched earlier in the year with Buffalo, and has spent parts of two years in the majors, playing for the Padres in 2013 and the Blue Jays in 2015.

Check out the Buffalo Bisons Statistics

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International League Stories from June 20, 2016


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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