Former Toronto Mets RHP Landon Leach (Pickering, Ont.) earned CBN Player of the Week honors with class-A Augusta.

May 3, 2022

By George Farelli

Canadian Baseball Network

Landon Leach was the 37th player in North America selected in the 2017 draft.

Leach (Pickering, Ont.) was the top Canuck selected as the Toronto Mets right-hander was selected 23 picks ahead of Great Lake Canadians INF Adam Hall (London, Ont.).

Veteran Minnesota Twins scout Walt Burrows (Brentwood Bay, BC) and the Twins gave Leach a $1.4 million signing bonus.

Leach missed all of 2019 with an injury and due to COVID-19 there wasn’t a minor-league season in 2020, so his progress was noticeably hindered. Last year, he combined to go 1-3 with a 6.06 ERA in 12 games -- making nine starts -- as he fanned 33 in 35 2/3 innings.

The Twins decided to go in a different direction in February this season, but Alex Anthopoulos (Montreal, Que.) general manager of the World champ-EEEN Atlanta Braves decided to give Leach another chance, signing him as a free agent and assigning him to the class-A Augusta GreenJackets.

On April 29, he made an excellent start for Augusta in a 6-4 win over the Delmarva Shorebirds, pitching 5 2/3 innings. He allowed six hits and two earned runs, while striking out three to secure his first win of the season.

For his efforts Leach earned Canadian Baseball Network Player of the Week honours for Week IV.

In four starts he is 1-1 with a 2.75 ERA, walking seven and striking out 19 in 19 2/3 innings.

Could his success be tied to former Ontario Blue Jays pitching coach Mike Steed (Burlington, Ont.) who now holds the same position with Augusta.

Best Offense

Player/Class/Team AB R H HR RBIs .AVG

Charles Leblanc AAA Jacksonville 23 3 10 2 5 .435

Denzel Clarke A Stockton 18 5 7 1 2 .389

Matt Lloyd AA Chattanooga 17 4 5 1 4 .294

Dasan Brown A Dunedin 18 4 5 2 4 .278

(Minimum 10 ABs)

Best Pitching

Landon Leach RHP - Low A Augusta Greenjackets