CBN POW, Week XXI -- Charles Leblanc

August 31, 2023 George Farelli

Former Pitt Panthers INF Charles Leblanc (Laval, Que.) earned Canadian Baseball Network Player of the Week for Week XXI.

August 31, 2023

By George Farelli

Canadian Baseball Network

Charles Leblanc spent 48 games in the majors in 2022 with the Miami Marlins.

And zero games this season ... to date.

Did he sulk? Pout? Hang his head?

No, no, and no ... INF Leblanc (Laval, Que.) just kept hitting line drives as straight as a clothesline that a maid could hang up her washing to dry.

Leblanc led all Canuck hitters going 10-for-20 (.500) with two homers and four RBIs for the triple-A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp earning Canadian Baseball Network minor league Player of the Week award for Week XXI.

How the week that was went for Leblanc as he ...

_ Batting ninth and playing third, he was 2-for-3 with a walk in an 11-3 Jacksonville loss to the Columbus Clippers before 9,442 fans at Huntington Park. Leblanc singled to centre in the third, walked in the fifth and reached on an infield single to third in the seventh.

_ Playing second and batting ninth, he was 1-for-2 in a 4-2 win against the Clippers before 5,181 at Huntington Park. Leblanc hit his eighth double of the season in the two-run third. The drive to left plated the first run of the game and the Shrimpers were on their way.

_ Batting ninth and playing second, he was 2-for-3 knocking in a pair of runs and scoring three times in an 8-4 win over the Clippers before 5,990 fans. Leblanc hit his eighth homer of the season. The drive to left brought home former Blue Jays farmhand Jordan Groshans and provided a 2-0 third-inning lead, walked and scored in the five-run fourth and Leblanc led off the sixth with his a double to left, his ninth. RHP Cade Smith (Abbotsford, BC) worked a scoreless ninth, striking out the side.

_ Playing second and hitting ninth, he was 3-for-4 knocking in a run in a 7-6 loss to the Clippers before 7,848 at Huntington Park. Leading off the third Leblanc homered to centre field ... his ninth. He then singled to left in the seventh and doubled -- his 10th -- to centre setting up a second-and-third, one out situation. But two consecutive strikeouts ended the rally with the tying run less than 90 feet away. Leblanc was also a part of three double plays. RHP Smith pitched a scoreless eighth, striking out a pair.

_ Batting ninth and playing third, he was 1-for-3 in a 4-2 loss to the Clippers in front of 9,553. Leblanc singled to left in the sixth and walked in the eighth coming around to score. His hit came against country man Cal Quantrill (Port Hope, Ont.), who worked 7 1/3 innings allowing two runs on five hits and two walks, while fanning six. Quantrill picked up the victory and lowered his ERA to 9.00.

BEST OFFENSIVE PERFORMANCES

Name Class Team AB RUNS HITS HR RBIs Avg

Charles Leblanc AAA Jacksonville 20 6 10 2 4 .500

Tristan Peters AA Midland 23 6 9 - 4 .391

Ty Black AAA Nashville 20 3 7 1 5 .350

Abraham Toro AAA Nashville 20 3 7 1 3 .350

Jordan Nwogu AA Tennessee 21 2 7 1 3 .333

Dylan O’Rae A Augusta 22 3 7 - 3 .318

Liam Hicks AA Frisco 16 1 5 - 4 .313

Ryan Leitch A Clearwater 13 - 4 - - .308

Anthony Quirion A Jersey Shore 10 1 3 - 1 .300

Connor Panas IND Lincoln 28 5 11 3 8 .393

Riley Jepson IND Great Falls 26 6 10 - 6 .385

Jake Sanford IND Ottawa 24 4 8 1 7 .333

Matt Lloyd IND Sioux City 24 5 8 - 2 .333

Victor Cerny IND Trois Rivieres 12 3 4 - 4 .333

Noah Myers IND Evansville 28 8 9 1 4 .321

(Minimum 10 ABs)

Best Pitching Performances

Name Class Team GM WIN SAVE ERA INN K

Cal Quantrill AAA Columbus 1 1 - 2.54 7.1 6

Placed on the injured list by the Cleveland Guardians on July 6 with shoulder inflammation, Quantrill (Port Hope, Ont.) has been undergoing the rehab and recovery process ever since. He was sent out on a rehab assignment by the Guardians in early August and made four minor league starts, one with their double-A affiliate at Akron and three with their triple-A affiliate Columbus. This week on Aug. 26, in a 4-2 win by Columbus over Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, he had his best rehab start to date when he pitched 7 1/3 innings, gave up five hits and two earned runs while striking out six to earn the win. His overall record in four minor league starts while on his current rehab assignment, was 1-2 with a 7.85 ERA. Quantrill will be activated by the Guardians on Friday to start against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Name Class Team GM WIN SAVE ERA INN K

Jake Polancic IND Evansville 3 - 2 0.00 2.1 3

Polancic (Langley, BC) was drafted and signed in 2016 by the Arizona Diamondbacks and scout Doug Mathieson (Aldergrove, BC) as an 18-year-old and he was active in their minor league system for three seasons, up until his release in 2019. Since that time, he has been active in independent ball, in 2021 with the Winnipeg Goldeyes and 2022 and 2023 with the Evansville Otters. This season with the Otters has been the most successful, his performance as the team’s closer has been excellent and this week he continued that trend with three very good relief appearances. On Aug. 23, in a 7-4 win over Joliet Slammers, he threw a 1/3 of a scoreless inning, without allowing a hit earning his 16th save of the season.

On Aug. 25, in an 8-4 win over Florence Y’alls, it was one scoreless with one hit and two strikeouts, but he was not involved in the decision. And finally on Aug. 26, in a 4-3 win over Florence, he pitched one scoreless, he surrendered one hit, while striking out one to secure his 17th save of the year. The three outings this week improved his overall numbers with Evansville in 29 relief appearances, to 1-3, with 17 saves (tied for first in Frontier League) and a 1.74 ERA. He also has 44 strikeouts in 31 innings.

Name Class Team GM WIN SAVE ERA INN K

Harley Gollert IND Quebec 1 1 - 2.95 6.1 3

Gollert had a stellar year with Oral Roberts University and, as their No. 2 starter had an excellent 10-1 record with a 4.30 ERA, and was a key factor in the Golden Eagles qualifying and participating in the 2023 NCAA College World Series held in Omaha, Neb. In mid July, the 24-year-old Gollert (Toronto, Ont.) was signed as a free agent by Quebec Capitales of IND Frontier League, and following up on his collegiate performance, has now become a member of Quebec’s current starting rotation. This week on Aug. 26, the Ontario Blue Jays alum had another very good start in a 6-3 win over Sussex County Miners when he pitched 6 1/3 innings, gave up seven hits and three earned runs while striking out three, to earn his sixth consecutive win of the season. This result improved his overall record with the Capitales in nine Frontier league games, to 6-0 with a 3.00 ERA.

Previous Players of the Week

Week I _ Edouard Julien (Ancienne-Lorette, Que.) triple-A St. Paul Saints (Twins)

Week II _ Cade Smith (Abbotsford, BC) double-A Akron RuberDucks (Guardians).

Week III _ Abraham Toro (Longuiel, Que.) triple-A Nashville Sounds (Brewers)

Week IV _ Denzel Clarke (Pickering, Ont.) double-A Midland (A’s) and Trei Cruz (Toronto, Ont.) double-A Erie (Tigers)

Week V _ Wesley Moore (Surrey, BC) class-A Clearwater Threshers (Phillies).

Week VI _ Matt Coutney (Wetaskiwin, Alta.) class-A Inland Empire (Angels).

Week VII _ Damiano Palmegiani (Surrey, BC) double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Jays)

Week VIII _ Matt Coutney (Wetaskiwin, Alta.) class-A Inland Empire (Angels) annd David McCabe (Courtice, Ont.) and Augusta Greenjackets (Braves.)

Week IX _ Erik Sabrowski (Edmonton, Alta.) double-A Akron Rubber Ducks (Guardians)

Week X _ Mitch Bratt (Newmarket, Ont.) class-A Hickory Crawdads (Mets)

Week XI _ Jared Young (Prince George, BC) triple-A Iowa (Cubs).