Wade LeBlanc, Relief Pitcher

Date of Birth: 8/7/1984
Birthplace: Lake Charles, Louisiana
College: University of Alabama

Wade LeBlanc, relief pitcher, was first drafted in 2003 by the Tampa Bay Rays but he opted instead to attend the University of Alabama. Three years later, he was drafted by and signed with the San Diego Padres. He was a starting pitcher in the Padres' minor league system in 2006 and 2007.

LeBlanc pitched in 4 games as a starting pitcher and 1 game in relief with the Padres in 2008. He had an 8.02 ERA in 21.1 innings. He spent most of the season in the minors. The following year, he again spent most of the season in the minors, pitching 46.1 innings in 9 games as a starter with the Padres.

In 2010, his first full season in the majors, LeBlanc had career highs in games played (26), innings pitched (146.0), wins (8 to 12 losses), and strikeouts (110 to 51 walks). He had a 4.25 ERA. He spent half of the 2011 season back in the minors. He had a 4.63 ERA in 14 games as a starting pitcher with the Padres.

The Padres traded LeBlanc to the Miami Marlins on November 22, 2011. He pitched in 9 games as a starter and 16 games as a reliever with the Marlins in 2012. He finished with a career low ERA of 3.67 in 68.2 innings. He also pitched in 16 games as a starter in the minors.

The Marlins designated LeBlanc for assignment on June 3, 2013. Five days later, he was claimed off waivers by the Houston Astros. He pitched as both a starter and a reliever in 2013, finishing with a 5.40 ERA in 13 games with the Marlins and 4 games with the Astros.

LeBlanc became a free agent on October 1, 2013. A month later, on November 11th, he signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Angels. He was designated for assignment on May 31, 2014. The New York Yankees claimed him off waivers on June 3rd, but after just one game in relief with them, they designated him for assignment on June 11th. He became a free agent on June 15th and signed again with the Angels on June 17th. He finished the 2014 season with a 3.94 ERA in 10 games with the Angels and 1 game with the Yankees.

LeBlanc became a free agent again on December 2, 2014, and 10 days later, he signed to play in Japan in 2015.

LeBlanc signed a minor league contract with his sixth team, the Toronto Blue Jays, on December 18, 2015. However, he never played with them. After spending a couple of months in their minor league system, they traded him to the Seattle Mariners on June 22, 2016. He stayed with the Mariners until September 13th, when he was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates. He finished the 2016 season with 4 wins and no losses, 2 saves, 51 strikeouts to 11 walks, and a 3.77 ERA in 11 games with the Mariners and 8 games with the Pirates.

On December 3, 2016, LeBlanc signed a one-year contract with the Pirates. He finished the 2017 season with 5 wins and 2 losses, 1 save, 54 strikeouts to 17 walks, and a 4.50 ERA in 68.0 innings in 50 games.

LeBlanc became a free agent on November 3, 2017. He signed a minor league contract with the New York Yankees on January 17, 2018. He was released on March 23rd and two days later, he signed with the Seattle Mariners. He finished the 2018 season with 9 wins and 5 losses, 130 strikeouts to 40 walks, and a 3.72 ERA in 162.0 innings in 32 games.

LeBlanc spent time on the DL in 2019 with a right oblique strain. He finished the season with 6 wins and 7 losses, 92 strikeouts to 31 walks, and a 5.71 ERA in 121.1 innings in 26 games.

LeBlanc became a free agent on October 31, 2019. He signed a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles on February 1, 2020. He pitched 22.1 innings in 6 games in 2020, and he finished the season with 1 win and no losses and an 8.06 ERA.

After being assigned to the Orioles' alternate training site on April 29, 2021, LeBlanc elected free agency. He signed a minor league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers on May 4th, and he was released on May 27th. He then signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers, but he was released on June 16th. A day later, he signed with the St. Louis Cardinals. He spent time on the IL in 2021 with a a left elbow injury. He finished the season with no wins and 2 losses and a 4.41 ERA in 49.0 innings in 6 games with the Orioles and 12 games with the Cardinals.

LeBlanc became a free agent on November 3, 2021.

Career pitching statistics for LeBlanc through 2021 include:

• 258 games played
• 931.1 innings pitched
• 46-49 win-loss record
• 671 strikeouts to 283 walks
• 4.54 ERA

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Wade LeBlanc
ESPN - Wade LeBlanc