Leblanc designated for assignment by Marlins

Junior National Team alum Charles Leblanc (Laval, Que.) has been designated for assignment by the Miami Marlins. Photo: Miami Marlins

January 5, 2023

By Kevin Glew

Canadian Baseball Network

The Miami Marlins designated Canadian infielder Charles Leblanc for assignment on Wednesday.

The move, first reported by Anthony Franco of MLB Trade Rumors, came as the club officially announced the signing of veteran infielder Jean Segura to a two-year contract.

The Marlins will now have seven days to trade Leblanc or attempt to pass him through waivers. The 26-year-old Canuck has three minor league option years remaining. This means that any team that claims him and includes him on their 40-man roster can freely move him between the majors and triple-A for that three-season term.

Leblanc (Laval, Que.) received his first promotion to the big leagues on July 29 when he was called up by the Marlins.

Prior to his call-up, he was batting .302 with 14 home runs and 45 RBIs in 87 games and was leading the triple-A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp with 96 hits and a .381 on-base percentage. For his efforts, he was named team MVP following the season.

With the Marlins, Leblanc played 26 games at second base, 13 at third base and eight at first base. In total, in 48 big league games, he batted .263 with four home runs, 10 doubles and 12 walks.

Originally selected in the 33rd round of the 2013 MLB draft by the Milwaukee Brewers out of high school, Leblanc did not sign and instead attended the University of Pittsburgh. He enjoyed a breakout campaign in his sophomore year, batting an Atlantic Coast Conference leading .405 with 45 runs and 46 RBIs in 49 games.

His performance inspired the Texas Rangers to choose him in the fourth round of the 2016 MLB draft. He signed with the Rangers and spent five seasons in their organization, rising as high as triple-A Round Rock in 2021.

Leblanc was chosen by the Marlins in the Rule 5 draft in December 2021.

The Junior National Team alum also suited up for Canada in the Premier12 tournament in 2019.