Lebby has ‘ definitely opened up some eyes’
Infielder makes game look easy, even if name’s hard to say
DUNEDIN, FLA .• Following Toronto’ s 4-2 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday at sun-splashed Spectrum Field, Toronto Blue Jays manager John Gibbons was asked about the pre- season play of infielder Jason Leblebijian.
The problem: The reporter totally butchered the pronunciation of Leblebijian’s name.
“Isn’t he Irish?” Gibbons said with a laugh. Gibbons and most of the players refer to Leblebijian as Lebby.
No matter how you pronounce it, Leblebijian has been one of the bright spots at spring training. In eight games and 19 at- bats ( the most of any Blue Jay so far), the Illinois native has gone six for 19 with a home run, two doubles, two walks and two stolen bases. He’s also played well at third base.
Though he’s not expected to break camp with the big team, the Jays are giving the 26- year- old a long look.
“The organization’s always liked him,” Gibbons said. “He came over in the past and played the last couple of innings in spring training, and he had a real nice first half (with the triple- A Buffalo Bisons) and then he cooled off at the end of the year. But there’s something in there.
“He’s versatile — he can play a lot of different places, primarily been going third and first, but you can put him other places too. And he gives you a good at- bat. He’s a big, strong kid ( 6- foot- 2, 205 pounds). Yeah, he’s definitely opened up some eyes.”
Leblebijian had a solid first half in Buffalo, hitting .276 with 43 RBIs, and was the only Bison named to the Triple-A all-star game.
He cooled off in the second half, eventually slashing a .258 average, .323 OBP and .405 slugging percentage with 11 home runs, 60 RBIs and 56 runs in 2017, his first campaign in Buffalo.
He played at five different positions and hit from eight different spots in the lineup in 120 games. He was voted the most inspirational player by his teammates.
Despite his play, he didn’t receive a call from the big team in September, but Gibbons said this could be the season he finally gets his first taste of the majors. On Feb. 26 at Charlotte Sports Park, left-handed pitcher Ryan Borucki had a masterful outing against the Tampa Bay Rays, not giving up a hit or run in two innings, walking one and striking out one.
A few days later at Dunedin Stadium against the Minnesota Twins, the 23-year-old pitched 1 1/3 innings, giving up five hits ( one a home run) and five runs while walking one.
Gibbons later told Borucki, one of the organization’s most promising young pitchers, not to sweat his second appearance.
“It’s the same thing I told (Sean) Reid- Foley: You’re getting ready for the season. I know you want to impress us here, you’re one of our top (prospects), but it’s still spring training for a reason and sometimes an outing like that can do you some good,” Gibbons said.
“He’s got a great arm, he’s going to be good, but you still got to pitch. Nobody throws hard enough if they’re not locating the ball and falling behind, so that’s not going to hurt him.”
Borucki pitched 150 1/ 3 innings in three levels in the minors last year and recorded a 2.93 ERA with 157 strikeouts. Several baseball websites suggested before the Jays went out and signed veteran lefty Jaime Garcia that Borucki could be the club’s fifth starter this season.
Barring an injury, he’ ll likely play the entire year in Buffalo.
Gibbons said fans can expect to see Josh Donaldson and Justin Smoak get more DH appearances this season in an effort to keep them fresh. He also figures new infielder Yangervis Solarte will see time at designated hitter.
“That’s one of the reasons we got him, because he can hit,” Gibbons said. “We have to figure out how to get him in the lineup as much as possible.”
Smoak had a breakout season last year, playing in a career- high 158 games, but admitted that late in the year he felt pretty banged up.
Gibbons said he had to run Smoak out most every day last year because the Jays were fighting for months to get back into the playoff race. For now, Kendrys Morales is the club’s everyday DH.
The Jays designated Ezequiel Carrera for assignment last weekend to make room on the 40- man roster for recently signed reliever Seung- hwan Oh. He is back in camp after passing through waivers and being outrighted to Buffalo, though his future is up in the air as it appears as though Toronto’s four outfielders are set — Kevin Pillar, Randal Grichuk, Curtis Granderson and Steve Pearce.