IL notes: Back from Japan, LeBlanc thriving

Even though he spent last season in Japan, Wade LeBlanc said he's the same pitcher he was when he left -- yet different at the same time.

In short, the Buffalo left-hander's season with the Seibu Lions gave him some ideas on how to be a more successful starter.

"I don't think I'm a different pitcher," LeBlanc said. "That year [in Japan] has just given me a different understanding of what can be effective, what can be successful."

LeBlanc obviously has learned those lessons well, earning a spot among the International League's top pitchers to start this season. The 31-year-old southpaw is tied for the IL lead with five wins, ranks third with a 1.29 ERA and fourth with 58 strikeouts in 10 starts. Over 62 2/3 innings, he's allowed 60 hits and 14 walks.

"He doesn't throw hard, but he knows how to pitch," Bisons manager Gary Allenson said. "His 'out' pitch is his changeup, but he mixes in a cutter and a curve and spots his fastball, and he's able to keep hitters off-balance. He's kept us in every game he has pitched in."

LeBlanc, who's spent time in the Major Leagues with San Diego (2008-11), Miami (2012-13), Houston (2013), the Yankees (2014) and the Angels (2014), said he is not throwing any different pitches.

"But going [to Japan], seeing how they do things, can give you an insight on how to do things better when you come back here," he said. "If a hitter is looking for a fastball, don't throw him a fastball, throw him something else for a strike. A lot of guys try to make pitching difficult, and it doesn't have to be.

"Like hitting, pitching can be a game of failure. But it makes it tougher if you out-think yourself."

While LeBlanc said failure is a part of pitching, he's experienced very little failure recently. He shut out Toledo on four hits over 6 1/3 innings on Saturday, giving him a string of 33 innings without allowing an earned run.

Allenson said LeBlanc, who went 3-0 with a 0.70 ERA in six May starts, is having success because he's "just having fun."

"[LeBlanc] is just playing, not worrying about what it takes to get back to the big leagues," the former Major League catcher said. "He's done a good job of separating his job from worrying about what people in the Majors think about him. He's been a real professional."

But do not misunderstand: like any Triple-A pitcher, LeBlanc would like to see how his new "formula" works against big league hitters.

"I did some of these things in September of 2014 when I was with the Angels," said LeBlanc, who posted a 0.47 ERA in 19 innings that month. "And I was able to parlay that into a good financial situation for my family in Japan last year.

"It's not always going to work as well as it has to start this season. But I think it's going to work more often than not."

In brief

Youth is served: While Syracuse SS Trea Turner is one of the youngest players in the IL, he's also established himself as one of the league's best hitters. He ranks fourth with a .317 batting average and leads the league in stolen bases (16) and runs scored (37) while standing second in hits (58) and triples (five).

Feeling the breeze: Durham's pitching staff recorded a league-leading 463 strikeouts in its first 50 games, and the Bulls' average of 9.26 strikeouts per game is tops in the IL. It's easy to see why: LHP Blake Snell leads the league with his average of 12.24 strikeouts per nine innings, while Jaime Schultz is third among starters with 9.89 per nine innings. Among IL relievers, Durham RHP Ryan Garton ranks fourth with 11.51 strikeouts per nine innings.

He said it: "I know they're trying to protect me and everything, but that's one of the games where you want to keep going. Everything kind of felt in sync, felt in line, and you always want to keep going in those games. But I understand it's a process and maybe next time I'll be able to go longer." --Columbus RHP Ross Detwiler to The [Columbus] Dispatch on May 27 after allowing four hits and a walk over seven scoreless innings against Durham. Detwiler, who was on a pitch count, left after 79 pitches in the Clippers' 2-0 defeat.

He said it, part II: "There's always a little bit of excitement and extra adrenaline when you just move up and I think that's played some role in it, in having some giddy-up when I'm on the field. I'm just trying to see the ball and make hard contact, stay with the approach that I've had all year." --Norfolk OF Mike Yastrzemski to The [Norfolk] Virginian-Pilot. In his first 12 games with the Tides following a promotion from Double-A Bowie, Yastrzemski hit .356 with two homers, seven RBIs and nine runs scored.