Leblanc homers off Wick, 45th time Canadian has homered off Canadian

Miami Marlins infielder Charles Leblanc (Laval, Que.) homered off Chicago Cubs right-hander Rowan Wick (North Vancovuer, B.C.) in the Marlins’ 10-3 win. Photo: Wilfredo Lee, Associated Press

September 20, 2022



By Neil Munro

Canadian Baseball Network

When Miami Marlins first baseman Charles Leblanc (Laval, Que.) homered off Chicago Cubs reliever Rowan Wick (North Vancouver, B.C.) in the eighth inning of the Marlins’ 10-3 win last night, it represented the 45th time that a Canadian has homered off another Canadian in the big leagues.

It was the first time that a Canuck has taken a fellow Canuck deep since Toronto Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Montreal, Que.) did so against Boston Red Sox right-hander Nick Pivetta (Victoria, B.C.) on June 12, 2021.

It was also the first time this has happened in the National League since Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto (Etobicoke, Ont.) homered off Colorado Rockies reliever John Axford (Port Dover, Ont.) on July 24, 2015.

Here’s a complete list of Canadian batters with home runs off Canadian pitchers in the big leagues:

BatterTeamLeagueYearPitcherTeam
Pop SmithColuAA1883Bob EmslieBalt
Pop SmithColuAA1884Tip O'NeillS.L.
Bill PhillipsBrklAA1885Bill MountjoyCinc
Jeff HeathClevAL1940Joe KrakauskasWash
Jeff HeathClevAL1941Phil MarchildonPhil
Jeff HeathClevAL1942Dick FowlerPhil
Frank ColmanN.Y.AL1946Phil MarchildonPhil
Goody RosenN.Y.NL1946Ed BahrPitts
Sherry RobertsonWashAL1946Phil MarchildonPhil
Jeff HeathClevAL1947Phil MarchildonPhil
Sherry RobertsonWashAL1948Phil MarchildonPhil
Tim HarknessL.A.NL1962Ray DaviaultN.Y.
Tim HarknessN.Y.NL1963Ron TaylorS.L.
Larry WalkerColorNL1997Jason DicksonAnah
Larry WalkerColorNL1999Ryan DempsterFlor
Matt StairsOaklAL1999Paul SpoljaricToron
Larry WalkerColorNL2001Ryan DempsterFlor
Larry WalkerColorNL2001Eric GagneL.A.
Matt StairsMilwNL2002Ryan DempsterCinc
Matt StairsPittsNL2003Ryan DempsterCinc
Matt StairsPittsNL2003Ryan DempsterCinc
Jason BayPittsNL2005Jeff FrancisColor
Jason BayPittsNL2006Jeff FrancisColor
Justin MorneauMinnAL2006Erik BedardBalt
Matt StairsDetrAL2006Ryan BraunK.C.
Joey VottoCincNL2007Ryan DempsterChic
Justin MorneauMinnAL2007Erik BedardBalt
Russell MartinL.A.NL2007Shawn HillWash
Jason BayPit-BosBL2008Eric GagneL.A.
Justin MorneauMinnAL2008Jeff FrancisColor
Jason BayBostAL2009Scott RichmondToron
Joey VottoCincNL2009Rich HardenChic
George KottarasMilwNL2010Blake HawksworthS.L.
Joey VottoCincNL2010Ryan DempsterChic
Russell MartinN.Y.AL2011Rich HardenOakl
George KottarasMilwNL2012Ryan DempsterChic
Joey VottoCincNL2012Scott DiamondMinn
Justin MorneauMinnAL2012Ryan DempsterTexas
Russell MartinN.Y.AL2012Jesse CrainChic
Brett LawrieToroAL2013Ryan DempsterBost
Joey VottoCincNL2013Jim HendersonMilw
Joey VottoCincNL2015John AxfordColor
Michael SaundersToroAL2016James PaxtonSeat
Vlad Guerrero Jr.ToroAL2021Nick PivettaBost
Charles LeblancMiamNL2022Rowan WickChic