Reluctantly, Quebecer Charles Leblanc had to withdraw from the next World Baseball Classic.
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“It comes from me, I felt a slight discomfort in the lower body and I had to talk to the Marlins about it, explained Leblanc, Friday, in an interview granted to the Log. Then we judged [conjointement] that it was better to withdraw preemptively. It was smarter to act like that. Of course I’m a little disappointed, I was really looking forward to it. »
First and foremost, beyond major international competitions like the one scheduled for Canada in Arizona in March, Leblanc has always dreamed of playing major league baseball. The Laval resident has also achieved this goal, last season, by playing 48 games in the uniform of the Miami Marlins.
take a step back
Despite a significant batting average of .263, the Quebecer was however designated for assignment by the Florida club at the beginning of January.
His name was thus removed from the list of 40 regular players of the team, then no other formation claimed him on waivers. The 26-year-old athlete remains with the Marlins organization.
“At the time, it’s normal, you feel the need to take a step back, noted Leblanc. Honestly, I was surprised. Now the only thing I can do is keep working like I always have. »
With good energy
The path that led Leblanc to major league baseball was indeed strewn with pitfalls, so much so that it would take a lot more for the athlete to give in to discouragement. Recall that he notably worked for six years in the Texas Rangers subsidiaries, from 2016 to 2021, before ending up with the Marlins.
“I am already in Florida and I have been taking advantage of the Marlins’ facilities in Jupiter for a week and a half, informed the Quebecer. The objective is to arrive at camp with good energy and to seek a place that will open up in the formation. »
“It’s a fresh start for everyone,” added Leblanc, noting the replacement of Don Mattingly as Marlins manager by Skip Schumaker.
Keep the ball in play
Among the areas for improvement for Leblanc is his strikeout ratio, which needs to be lowered. During the past season, he was passed in the mitt 53 times in 169 appearances at bat in a Marlins uniform. We are therefore talking about a rate of 31.4%.
All in all, Leblanc is not an isolated case. Dozens of players have done worse than the Quebecer, including Cincinnati Reds shortstop Jose Barrero, with 76 strikeouts in 174 appearances, which equates to an awful 43.7%. Among the regular players, we think of Joey Gallo (39.8%) or Patrick Wisdom (34.3%), but these counterbalance by hitting a good number of homers.
“The ratio of strikeouts, it comes and goes, relativizes Leblanc, author of four long balls with the Marlins in 2022. You can have a sequence where you do not get struck out for a week and another where It can happen to you 20 times in 10 days. »
“I prefer to focus on the objective of putting into play every good shot I receive, he deepened. Last year, in several appearances where I was struck out, I could not avoid hitting foul balls. This is often what changes a presence. Instead of telling myself that I need to lower my number of strikeouts, I prefer to think about missing fewer fastballs in the zone. I have to dodge foul balls and put the ball in play.”
♦ Competition will be fierce at camp. In the infield, the Marlins acquired Jean Segura and Luis Arraez in the offseason and Joey Wendle and Jon Berti remain with the team. Prospect Jordan Groshans also pushes behind.