L.P. Pelletier wins Murray Zuk Award, as top hitter in indy ranks
Trois-Rivieres Aigles standout L.P. Pelletier (Montreal, Que.) has won the 2022 Canadian Baseball Network’s Murray Zuk Award as the top offensive player in the foreign or independent ranks. Photo: Trois-Rivières Aigles
December 17, 2022
By Mark Colley
Carleton University
L.P. Pelletier’s journey is not one you’ll find on the back of a typical baseball card.
The 26-year-old outfielder was drafted twice, signing with the Houston Astros the second time around in 2016.
But after only 24 games in Rookie ball, disaster hit. Pelletier’s sister passed away. Stuck thousands of kilometres away in the Gulf Coast League, Pelletier (Montreal, Que. ) decided to leave his team and head home to be with his family.
“That was kind of hard for me, for my family, for my mom,” Pelletier said. “At that time, it was maybe a good decision, but when I’m thinking about it right now … Where I would be today if I don’t leave the Astros, I guess we’ll never know.”
Pelletier’s emotional and unconventional path placed him with the Trois-Rivières Aigles of the Frontier League in 2022, where he broke franchise records for batting average, doubles and runs scored. Now, he has been voted the recipient of Canadian Baseball Network’s Murray Zuk award, given to the year’s top offensive player in the foreign or independent ranks.
Pelletier hit .340 with Trois-Rivières, finishing sixth in the league. He also hit 31 doubles, second in the league, and 14 home runs. He showed his speed on the basepaths with 23 stolen bases, too.
Pelletier received five first-place votes from 11 voters to outpoint Jake Sanford (Cole Harbour, N.S.) of the Ottawa Titans 38-32. David Glaude (Quebec City, Que.) of the Quebec Capitales had one first-place vote and 16 points, while Riley Jepson (Kamloops BC) of the Great Falls Voyagers was fourth with 10 points and two first-place ballots.
It was a season even better than 2021, when Pelletier hit .328 with Équipe Québec, the combined Canadian team while the border was closed due to COVID-19 restrictions. He said he had always been an aggressive hitter who didn’t walk much, but now he’s putting together a better approach at the plate.
“Before I was more like, see the ball, hit the ball,” Pelletier said. “Now, I’m just looking for a zone, specific pitch.”
He described himself as a quiet player, leading by example but not the kind of guy to give a pre-game speech in the clubhouse. Matthew Rusch, manager at Trois-Rivières, said Pelletier is invaluable to the team.
“I don’t think what a lot of people see is his dedication off the field. If we’re ever lacking in one area, he’s quick to have a conversation about it. He wants success for the team,” Rusch said. “He cares about the team and he understands if we all do good together, everybody will do good individually.”
Rusch said he includes Pelletier in conversations about the lineup and strategies because his input is vital.
Rusch first came across Pelletier in the Quebec senior league, where Rusch was pitching and Pelletier was bouncing back after his break from baseball. He remembers struggling trying to get Pelletier out.
“I'm the type of pitcher that tries to figure out real quick what a hitter’s weakness is and then attack it,” Rusch said. “There was really no weakness. He’s one of the few guys that really caught my attention and I said, ‘Ok, he looks like a pro hitter.’”
As assistant manager with Quebec in 2021, Rusch saw first-hand Pelletier’s first season in pro ball since leaving the Astros in 2016. He said Pelletier was raw but open to being coached and improved immediately.
Pelletier said that in his first few games, he struggled with the velocity of the pitchers he faced. But one of the hardest parts of returning to baseball was seeing the players who were in double-A or triple-A and realizing he could have been there.
“That was the toughest part because I was like … they’re playing double-A, triple-A and I’m better than them, so, like I said, where would I be today?” Pelletier said. “I can’t go back in the past, so it is what it is. Today, I’m fine with that decision [to leave the Astros]. I still have a little regret about it, but I experienced some great things in my life, some bad.”
Rusch said he realized how good Pelletier was early in the 2022 season, when he went 4-for-4 with a pair of stolen bases.
“That’s when I kind of realized he’s our sparkplug,” Rusch said. “He’s our leader in the clubhouse, he’s our leader on the field.”
Right now, Pelletier is playing winter ball in Panama. He’s already signed with Trois-Rivières for 2023, which Rusch said was “priority number one” this offseason.
But Pelletier is hoping to get an offer from an affiliated club. He was in talks with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Seattle Mariners, but nothing has materialized yet. This winter, he’s attending some pro workouts for affiliated teams, Rusch said.
“I think I still have a shot. I’m getting older and older but you know, I think it’s still possible,” Pelletier said. “The dream is still on.”
Independent/Foreign Leagues
Top Offensive Player Of The Year
(Renamed the Murray Zuk award for 2021 season)
2008 — Drew Miller (Medicine Hat, Alta.) Calgary Vipers.
2009 — Pete LaForest (Hull, Que.) Quebec Capitales and Colin Moro (Calgary, Alta.) Calgary Vipers.
2010 - Drew Miller (Medicine Hat, Alta.) Calgary Vipers.
2011 – Matt Rogelstad (Port Moody, BC) Edmonton Capitals.
2012 – Sebastien Boucher (Ottawa, Ont.) Quebec Capitales.
2013 – Jonathan Malo (Laval, Que.) Quebec Capitales.
2014 - Sebastien Boucher (Ottawa, Ont.) Quebec Capitales.
2015 - Jim Adduci (Burnaby, BC) Lotte Giants, Korea.
2016 - Carter Bell, (Courtenay, BC) Joliet Slammers.
2017 - Jamie Romak (London, Ont.) SK Wyverns/triple-A El Paso.
2018 _ Jamie Romak (London, Ont.) SK Wyverns, Korea
2019 _ Jamie Romak (London, Ont.) SK Wyverns, Korea
2020 _ Jamie Romak (London, Ont.) SK Wyverns, Korea
2021 _ David Glaude (Quebec City, Que.) Équipe Québec
2022 _ L.P. Pelletier (Montreal, Que.) Trois-Rivières Aigles.