Showing he's ready for a promotion, C.R. Kernels pitcher Randy LeBlanc gets 1st pro shutout

CEDAR RAPIDS — He pitched well last season for the Cedar Rapids Kernels and has been the Midwest League's version of Jake Arrieta the first month of this season.

That would mean virtually impossible to score upon, if you're not versed with the Cy Young Award winner from the Chicago Cubs.

It's fair to say there isn't a thing Randy LeBlanc has left to prove at this level of the minor leagues. He should be moving onward and upward.

Finding room for him to move onward and upward, though, is another story.

'I think he's ready. I think he has shown that he's ready,' Kernels pitching coach J.P. Martinez said, after LeBlanc's first professional complete-game shutout, 9-0, Wednesday afternoon over Kane County at Veterans Memorial Stadium. 'That doesn't mean that he'll go. He's not in control of that. But what me and him have talked about loosely is just until that time comes, work on the stuff that he needs to work on.'

For the 24-year-old right-hander from Tulane University, that's improving his slider, which was plenty good Wednesday. It and his always nasty sinker limited Kane County to three hits in a 97-pitch masterpiece that allowed the Kernels (18-14) to win the rubber game of this three-game series.

LeBlanc (which he pronounces without the 'c') hasn't been scored upon in his last three starts, a span of 22 innings. His earned run average in six starts this season is now 0.90.

That's, umm, not too bad, promotion worthy, for sure. But high-Class A Fort Myers already has six starting pitchers who are throwing the ball in varying degrees of well.

It's a great dilemna to have for the parent Minnesota Twins, but a tough one for LeBlanc.

'As well as the guys above me are throwing, there's nothing I can do about it,' he said. 'We're just here grinding, trying to get outs. Every time I go out there, it's trying to get as many outs as I can. I'm just focusing on that.'

Kane County's first 12 batters were retired in order. LeBlanc got a grounder to second to pitch out of a bases-loaded situation in the sixth and a double-play grounder to end the eighth.

'It was good to stretch him out,' Kernels Manager Jake Mauer said. 'His velocity dropped there the last couple of innings, but he grinded it out.'

Martinez presented LeBlanc with an inscribed game ball in the clubhouse following the game.

'Really it's locating fastballs and getting groundballs early in the count,' LeBlanc said. '(My slider has been) big time, especially my last two starts. My trouble has been just burying it with two strikes. I've been able to do that the last two outings. Just made a couple of adjustments in my bullpen, but that's definitely been a big thing for me. Hopefully I can keep it going.'

The Kernels gave their star pitcher plenty of offensive support via eight runs the first five innings and 14 hits overall. Rafael Valera had three hits and two RBIs, LaMonte Wade two hits and three RBIs.

Wade's batting average is a cool .357, with Mauer saying he's probably ready for a promotion. Cedar Rapids plays four games at Wisconsin, has Monday off, then begins a seven-game homestand Tuesday night against Beloit.

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