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Joe Bircher, 10th Round, Houston Astros
Jason Leblebijian, 25th Round, Toronto Blue Jays
Jason Leblebijian, 25th Round, Toronto Blue Jays
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Bradley Associate AD for Communications and Operations
Twitter: @BPtheBrave -
How often does Bradley Baseball get more than one player drafted in any given year? -
It's been a relatively common occurrence over the years. We've had at least one player drafted in 29 of the last 31 years. During that span, we've had multiple players 16 times.Bradley Associate AD for Communications and Operations
Twitter: @BPtheBraveComment
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Originally posted by Bobby Parker View PostJoe Bircher, 10th Round, Houston Astros
Jason Leblebijian, 25th Round, Toronto Blue Jays
http://www.bradleybraves.com/ViewArt...CLID=205436875
This Toronto Blue Jays website has interviews with all their draft picks.
Here is the interview with Bradley shortstop Jason Leblebijian-
Q&A with 25th Round Pick Jason Leblebijian
By Simon Druker
Date: Jun 10, 2012
We talked to the Blue Jays??™ 25th round pick, Jason Leblebijian, for a Q&A session. Find out what the shortstop from Bradley University has to say about his game, his strengths and weaknesses, who he would compare his game to at the big league level, if he's looking to sign quickly, and more!
FutureJays.com: Tell us, what was going through your mind once you knew you had been taken by Toronto?
Jason Leblebijian: You can??™t even explain it. Just to know you can start your big league career, it??™s something you work for your whole life.
FutureJays.com: Had you been in contact with Toronto prior to the draft? Had they showed you an interest in you?
Leblebijian: I had talked to them a couple times but to be honest, they were not one of the teams that I thought was going to pick me right away. They called me about two minutes before the round and talked to me then so I kind of knew this was going to happen at that point.
FutureJays.com: They drafted you as a shortstop which is where you played your entire college career. Has there been any discussion of a positional switch yet or do they foresee you staying on the left side of the diamond?
Leblebijian: It??™s too early to say, we haven??™t talked about any of that stuff yet.
FutureJays.com: Defensively, are you comfortable at shortstop? Do you think you have the range and arm to play the position at the professional level?
Leblebijian: I think so. Ultimately it??™s their decision where they see me fitting into the program. As long as I get a shot to show what I can do, there??™s no doubt it my mind. I??™m going to learn so much new stuff defensively at the next level, footwork and things like that. Only time will tell so we??™ll see how it goes.
FutureJays.com: You picked up your home run totals this past season (from zero to six), describe your offensive game to us.
Leblebijian: Offensively it was a down year for me average-wise but that??™s the way it goes some times. I worked the count better [this year] and saw more pitches and really just tried to build on what I??™ve accomplished so far.
FutureJays.com: Your walk totals were up this past year as well. Was patience at the plate something you worked on heading into your junior season? What else did you work on?
Leblebijian: I worked on just driving the ball. I was more of a slap guy just hitting it to right field. The power numbers were up this year, I really just worked on, when I get my pitch, put a powerful swing on it and try to hit the gap for extra base hits.
FutureJays.com: Have the Jays told you specifically what they like about your game so far?
Leblebijian: Not really. They??™ve told me they like my athleticism and the body language at short and things like that, but we haven??™t really gotten into the fine details yet.
FutureJays.com: What is the biggest strength of your game right now?
Leblebijian: Aggressive hitting. I want to get a hit, I don??™t want to get a walk. I look at it as a positive. Defensively, I??™m solid to my left and the routine ball.
FutureJays.com: What do you want to work on most as you look at starting a pro career?
Leblebijian: Cut down on some of the strikeouts offensively and really get down the backhand defensively.
FutureJays.com: Is there a major league player you model your style of game after or say my style of play is most similar to this player?
Leblebijian: Not really. I guess my favorite player is Michael Young and just the way he goes about his business. He doesn??™t really worry about the outside media and things like that. He just plays the game with a lot of passion, no matter what position he plays, he??™s out there giving 100 percent.
FutureJays.com: Did you have a favorite team and player growing up?
Leblebijian: I guess I shouldn??™t tell Toronto this but Texas has always been my favorite team and Michael Young has been my favorite player for as long as I can remember.
FutureJays.com: Other than today, what has been the highlight of your baseball career so far?
Leblebijian: I would definitely say when we played Missouri State in the conference tournament. I hit a three-run home run. It was 3-2 with two outs and guys on first and second, we were down three. I hit a home run to tie the game and go into extras. Ultimately we lost, but at the moment it was definitely my greatest accomplishment.
FutureJays.com: You??™re junior so you have one year left at Bradley. Are you entertaining using your last year of eligibility or are you anticipating getting your pro career started this year?
Leblebijian: Obviously it??™s a once in a lifetime opportunity. But I??™m meeting with a scout tomorrow and we??™re going to talk more about the details.
FutureJays.com: Have they given you any indication as to what level you would start at if you sign?
Leblebijian: Not really. Like everyone else you go through the mini camps and they evaluate you from there. But they had said short season or maybe low A.Comment
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One more Bradley player has signed a pro contract-
Jacob Booden, a 6'9" right handed relief specialist for the Braves, was not drafted, but signed a free agent contract with the St. Louis Cardinals.
Bio from Bradley website-
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"To date, the St. Louis Cardinals organization has added at least seven non-drafted free agents since the 40-round 2012 First-Year Player Draft..
...four new signees having joined the Johnson City Cardinals of the Appalachian League......right-hander: Jacob Booden...
Booden, 21, hails from Vernon Hills, Ill. and joins the Cardinals by way of Bradley University, where he was a three-time letterman. The 6-foot-9 right-
hander finished third in school history with 65 career pitching appearances and tied for eighth with 40 career relief appearances.
His career record is 10-10 with a 5.04 ERA, but his ERA was 2.84 in 2012. Booden fanned 139, but walked 105 in 168 innings over his four years. This
season, he fanned 42 and walked 21 in 31 2/3 frames.
After starting 19 games in 2010 and 2011, Booden worked exclusively out of the bullpen as a late-inning reliever in 2012. His 28 appearances this spring
were the second-most in a single season in Braves history."Comment
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