There Is More To Leroux Than Just A Great Fielder
March 19, 2020
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There Is More To Leroux Than Just A Great Fielder
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There Is More To Leroux Than Just A Great Fielder
“I started playing at three-years-old,” Leroux reflected. “My dad taught me how to play. He took me to the Dominican and they’re always practicing there every day. It’s different from the U.S. and Canada. We have more live hitting while in the Dominican they practice more. In the U.S. and Canada it's more about playing games, but they’re getting in more reps there.”
No matter the country, the desire to play baseball at the next level is strong for the ninth-ranked 2021 in Canada.
“My dad has put in a lot of time and effort in trying to help me get better every day,” Lemieux said. “My goal is to one day commit and whatever goes on from there. I want to try and get drafted.”
While only 5-6 and 142 pounds, Leroux understands the challenges ahead but knows what he can bring to any college program.
“For me it doesn’t matter if you’re 6-3 or 5-6,” Leroux explained. “I can field the ball.”
Chris Kemlo, PBR Director of Scouting in Canada, noticed that immediately.
“Brando is someone we saw early at our EBLO Showcase and right away it was evident that he was advanced for his age on the defensive side of the ball,” Kemlo noted. “I remember saying he is one of the few guys that I would pay to watch take ground balls, he was that smooth and you could see the confidence he had in himself at shortstop.”
There is more about Leroux that stands out to Kemlo.
“There is no shortage of passion and love for the game from Brando,” Kemlo pointed out. “I'm excited he has this current opportunity with Team Canada and he is only going to get stronger in his game and the offensive side will keep trending up.”
It is an area that the switch-hitting Leroux has been working hard at to improve.
“There’s a field nearby and every day my dad and I go and practice,” Leroux said. “Even in the winter we go there every day. I just want to get better with my velo off the bat and getting more pop. I’m also working in the gym trying to get better.”
“On the offensive side, he shows some sneaky pop you don’t expect from his frame which is nice to see,” Kemlo said. “But I think he knows what type of player he has to be and will be more focused on putting the ball in play, putting together tough at-bats and being someone who can create runs and wreak havoc on the bases.”
For a little more than a year now, the fourth-rated junior shortstop in Canada has been participating in PBR events.
“I didn’t know how it worked at first but I went to my first showcase and I’ve kept going and going,” related Leroux, who at his most recent event the New Year Open in February had an exit velo of 90. “I started slow with PBR but then I got my numbers up there. I’m working hard to improve on my 60.”
There is more Leroux is trying to develop.
“I’m working on my body size,” noted Leroux, who last summer at the Future Game Frenzy in Toronto was ranked in the category Best in the Infield. “I’m working on putting on more weight. I was 135 in December and now I’m 142.”
With college looks just beginning, Leroux remains patient.
“There’s still another year to go, I’m just trying to work hard, practice hard and get better and better,” Leroux said. “To get there I need to put on more build, work on improving my 60 and get more arm strength.”