Wade LeBlanc Makes MLB Debut Wednesday vs. Dodgers
9/2/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Sept. 2, 2008
Los Angeles, Calif. -
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Former University of Alabama All-American and 2004 National Freshman of the Year, Wade LeBlanc, will make his Major League Baseball debut Wednesday night when he starts on the mound for the San Diego Padres against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Dodger Stadium.
LeBlanc is the 60th former Alabama player to reach the Major Leagues. He is the third former Crimson Tide player to make his Major League debut this season, joining former teammates David Robertson (New York Yankees) and Tommy Hunter (Texas Rangers).
All three pitched for the Crimson Tide during the 2006 SEC Championship season, forming one of the best pitching staffs in
school history. The trio posted a combined 25-8 (.758) with 11 saves as Alabama won its 25th overall conference baseball championship and league-leading 14th SEC Championship.
LeBlanc was a 11-9 (.550) with a 5.32 ERA for the Triple A Portland (Oregon) Beavers in 26 appearances with 25 starts in the Pacific Coast League this season. He worked 138 2/3 innings and allowed 85 runs and 136 hits with 139 strikeouts and 42 walks. LeBlanc really caught fire down the stretch, going 4-2 (.667) with a 2.66 ERA for the Beavers in his last seven starts. He closed the season with an impressive 39 strikeouts and only three walks in his 38 innings on the mound. He threw back-to-back shutouts against the Albuquerque (N.M.) Isotopes and Nashville (Tenn.) Sounds earlier this month.
In two-and-half years of pro ball, LeBlanc has forged a 29-18 (.617) record and has recorded 285 strikeouts in his last two full seasons at the Double A and Triple A level.
In three years at Alabama, LeBlanc went 24-10 (.706) with a 2.95 ERA in 48 games, which included 46 starts for the Tide. He worked a 330 innings and allowed 128 runs and 264 hits with 334 strikeouts and 97 walks. He set Alabama career records for innings pitched (330) and strikeouts (334) during his time in Tuscaloosa. In 2006, LeBlanc dominated the SEC with an 11-1 (.917) record and 2.29 ERA for the Tide. He set UA single-season records for innings pitched (129 1/3) and strikeouts (128) en route to first-team All-American honors as a junior.
In addition to LeBlanc, former Tide outfielder/catcher Paul Phillips was promoted to the Major Leagues by the Chicago White Sox on Monday. Phillips hit .269 with two home runs and 17 RBI with the Triple A Charlotte (N.C.) Knights in the International League this season. Phillips, the cousin of former Tide All-American Andy Phillips, has previous MLB experience with the Kansas City Royals, where he hit .258 with one home run and 16 RBI in 58 career games from 2004-07.
In all, seven Alabama have played in the Major Leagues this season, which is believed to be the most in school history. The Tide's list of 2008 Major Leaguers includes Lance Cormier (Baltimore Orioles), Hunter (Texas Rangers), LeBlanc (San Diego), Andy Phillips (Cincinnati Reds and New York Mets), Paul Phillips (Chicago White Sox), Robertson (New York Yankees) and Taylor Tankersley (Florida Marlins).
Alabama head coach Jim Wells has now sent 10 former players to the Major Leagues with today's addition of LeBlanc. Wells' other Major League players includes Jeremy Brown, Cormier, Hunter, LeBlanc, Dustan Mohr, Andy Phillips, Paul Phillips, Robertson, Tankersley and Tim Young.
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