May 19, 2024

By Tyson Shushkewich

Canadian Baseball Network

Charles Leblanc has the experience and ability to drive the ball over the wall.

And he did just that last week to earn himself Canadian Baseball Network Minor League Player of the Week honours.

For the week extending from May 7 to May 12, Leblanc (Laval, Que.) went 8-for-23 (.348) with seven runs for the Los Angeles Angels’ triple-A affiliate Salt Lake Bees. Of his eight hits, four went for extra bases, including a double and three home runs. He also added seven RBIs.

The Bees were facing the Pacific Coast League leading Sacramento River Cats at home and Leblanc, 27, started the week batting sixth in the lineup and going 3-for-5 and collecting two RBIs. Besides the two singles, he drove a first-pitch four-seam fastball down in the zone off opposing pitcher Tanner Andrews over the left field wall, 374 feet to knock in two runs.

The next game saw Leblanc add another home run when he launched an inside sinker from right-hander Kai-Wei Teng over the left centre field wall at 103.4 MPH. Leblanc also added a double and scored a run to go 2-for-5 in the Bees’ 11-7 win.

With Leblanc’s power on display, the Bees moved him up to the clean-up spot in the lineup and he delivered – going 2-for-4 with three RBIs. All three came off a fourth-inning home run when opposing pitcher Clay Helvey hung a 94 MPH cutter over the plate, which Leblanc deposited to straightaway centre field, 431 feet away. Leblanc would add a walk and a single. This was the first home run of the week where it didn’t come off the first pitch he saw, as Leblanc worked the count to 2-1 before pulverizing the pitch.

A former Texas Rangers’ fourth-round pick from Pitt University, Leblanc collected one more hit to round out the week but walked in each of the remaining three contests, adding two more runs to his total.

Leblanc started each contest and helped Salt Lake take five of six.

The versatile veteran rotated around the infield playing two games each at second, third and first base.

With his three consecutive games of hitting a home run, he led all Canuck minor leaguers (from May 7 to May 12) in runs scored (seven), RBIs (seven), and total bases (18).

Leblanc, a nine-year pro, is the Canadian Baseball Minor League Player of the Week.

Former winners

May 1 to May 6 - LHP Matt Wilkinson (Ladner, BC)

May 7 to May 12 - INF Charles LeBlanc (Laval, Que.)

Top Canadian Minor League Performers - May 7 to May 12

Hitters

Pitchers