By George Farelli
Canadian Baseball Network
Chris Leroux can relate to what Cal Quantrill is going through these days.

As the 2005 draft approached Leroux could only sit and watch his Winthrop University Eagles play.

And as this year’s draft approches with a June 9 start time, Quantrill could only sit and watch his Stanford Cardinal.

The Florida Marlins drafted Leroux in the seventh round despite he had not pitched since the spring trip and had undergone Tommy John surgery.

And Quantrill has not pitched since March 20, 2015. Recovering from the same surgery he has thrown a bullpen in a private session for the San Diego Padres. And perhaps someone another team.

Leroux, Montreal-born and Mississauga raised, had back-to-back scoreless outings as he lowered his ERA with the triple-A Buffalo Bisons from 3.79 to 3.20 and to 2.82. The two scoreless outings earned Canadian Baseball Network Player of the Week honors for Week VIII.

Leroux pitched seven scoreless as Buffalo beat the Columbus Clippers 2-0 at Huntington Park before 7,885 fans. He allowed five hits, only allowing runners in scoring position twice. Leroux stranded runners on first and second in the third. With two outs in the fourth, Yandy Diaz tripled but Leroux retired Joey Butler on a fly ball.

Leroux retired the next 10 consecutive following the triple. Ryan Terpera picked up the save.     
 
And on Memorial Day, Leroux start against the Clippers at Coca Cola Field before 7,428 fans. He stranded the bases loaded in the sixth, fanning Adam Moore and inducing a Collin Cowgill groundout. He allowed seven hits and four runs, all unearned.

“He wasn’t as sharp as he was five days ago against the same team,” manager Gary Allenson told MiLB.com, referring to Leroux putting up seven scoreless against the same hitters in his previosu start. “He had a much better slider five days ago, and he really didn’t use his slider that much today. His fastball command wasn’t as good either, but he gave up four unearned runs and gave us a chance, and that’s the mark of a good pitcher.”

 
BEST OFFENSIVE PERFORMANCES
Player / Class / Team    AB    R    H    HR    RBI    AVG
Tyler O’Neill - AA Jackson    26    4    11    1    12    .423
Dalton Pompey - AAA Buffalo    19    1    6    -    2    .316
Kellin Deglan - AA Frisco    10    1    3    1    2    .300
Jesse Hodges - A South Bend    19    1    5    -    3    .263

Carter Bell - IND Joliet    23    2    8    -    3    .348
Jim Adduci - FGN Lotte (KBO)    25    5    8    1    2    .320
Mike Crouse - IND New Britain    10    2    3    -    -    .300
Sebastien Boucher - IND Ottawa    21    5    6    1    1    .286
(Minimum 10 AB’s required)  

                     
 
BEST PITCHING PERFORMANCES
CHRIS LEROUX  RHP  -  AAA  BUFFALO BISONS
APP   IP   H  R  ER  BB  K  W-L  SV  WHIP  WK ERA
2   13.0  12  4   -    2   5  1-0   -   1.08    0.00
Chris Leroux made two very good starts for Buffalo this week the first of which was on May 25th in a 2-0 win over Columbus Clippers, when he pitched seven scoreless innings, gave up five base hits while striking out three Clippers hitters, to earn his third win of the season. On May 30th in a twelve inning 5-4 loss to Columbus he threw six innings, surrendered seven base hits and four unearned runs while striking out two batters, but was not involved in the final decision. The two appearances improved his International League record with the Bisons to 3-3 with an excellent 2.82 ERA.

 
SHANE DAWSON  LHP  -  AA NEW HAMPSHIRE FISHER CATS
APP   IP   H  R  ER  BB  K  W-L  SV  WHIP  WK ERA
1   6.0   4   1   1   5   4   1-0   -   1.50    1.50
Shane Dawson had an excellent start this week for New Hampshire on May 28th in a 3-1 win over Reading Fightin’ Phils when he pitched six innings, gave up four base hits and one earned run while striking out four Reading hitters, to earn his second win of the season. The win improved his Double A Eastern League record in eight starts to 2-2 with a 3.72 ERA. 

JAMESON TAILLON  RHP  -  AAA INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
APP   IP   H  R  ER  BB  K  W-L  SV  WHIP  WK ERA
1   6.0   4   1   1   -   3   1-0   -   0.67    1.50
Another great start for Jameson Taillon this week, on May 29th in an 8-2 victory over Pawtucket Red Sox he pitched six innings, gave up four base hits an one earned run while striking out three Red Sox hitters, to earn his fourth win of the season.  His ninth start for Triple A Indianapolis Indians, he improved his record to 4-2 with a miniscule 1.79 ERA.

 
ROWAN WICK  RHP  -  A  PALM BEACH CARDINALS
APP   IP   H  R  ER  BB  K  W-L  SV  WHIP  WK ERA
3   2.1   3   1   1    -   5  1-0   2   1.43    4.29
Following up on last week’s performance, Rowan Wick had another excellent week for the Cardinals with another three solid relief appearances in which he earned a win and two saves.  On May 25th in a 10-4 win over Ft. Myers Miracle he allowed a run on two hits and a walk in the bottom of the ninth. Yet six runs in the 10th off Miracle pitching gave Wick the win despite the blown save. On May 28th in a 3-2 win over Jupiter Hammerheads he tossed one scoreless inning, gave up just one base hit while striking out the side, to earn his third save of the season. Then on May 31st in a 3-1 victory over the Bradenton Marauders he struck out the only man he faced to earn his second save of the week. These three appearances improved his record with Palm Beach to 2-0, 4 Saves and a 1.31 ERA.

PLAYER MOVEMENTS AND TRANSACTIONS
LHP Ethan Elias (Entwhistle, Alta.) - Moved by Arizona Diamondbacks to Single A Hillsboro Hops from Single A Visalia Rawhide.
 
C Mike Reeves (Peterborough, Ont.) - Moved by Toronto Blue Jays to their Extended Spring Training Facility, from Single A Dunedin Blue Jays.
 
RHP Sean Ratcliffe (Ajax, Ont.) - Traded by Toronto Blue Jays from their Extended Spring Training Facility to Atlanta Braves in the deal for Relief Pitcher Jason Grilli. Not assigned yet by the Braves.
 
RHP Jesen Dygestile-Therrien (Montreal, Que.) - Placed on Disabled List by the Philadelphia Phillies at Single A Clearwater Threshers.
 
RHP Colin Kleven (Kamloops, BC) - Placed on the Disabled List by Chicago White Sox at Single A Winston-Salem Dash.
 

C Jordan Procyshen (Calgary, Alta.) - Placed on the Disabled List by Boston Red Sox at Single A Salem Red Sox.
 
 
RHP Steven Inch (Edmonton, Alta.) - Free Agent re signs with Quebec Capitales IND Can Am League.
 
RHP Dylan Rheault (Garson, Ont.) - Acquired in a trade by the Sioux City Explorers IND American Association, from Winnipeg Goldeyes IND American Association.
 
OF Trevor Gretzky (Fountain Valley, CA) - Moved to the Inactive List from the Disabled List by Quebec Capitales IND Can Am League.
 
INF Jalen Harris (Toronto, Ont.) - Activated from the Disabled List by Trois Rivieres Eagles IND Can Am League.
 
RHP Karl Gelinas (Iberville, Que.) - Released by Quebec Capitales IND Can Am League.
 

C  Simon Gravel (Montreal, Que.) - Released by the Trois Rivieres Eagles IND Can Am League.
 
RHP Guillaume Leduc (Montreal, Que.) - Released by Quebec Capitales IND Can Am League.