Future Friars Honored

The San Diego Padres have named their minor league players of the month on Thursday. Both players were high draft choices in left-handed pitcher Wade LeBlanc and outfielder Kellen Kulbacki. The 23 year old LeBlanc, who was a second round pick out of the University of Alabama, went 3-1 record and a 2.67 ERA (8 ER/27.0 IP) in five starts for Double-A San Antonio. He struck out 29 batters and issued only eight walks, while holding opponents to a .198 batting average (19-for-96). LeBlanc was promoted to San Antonio on July 4, posting a 7-3 record and a 3.45 ERA (22 ER/57.1 IP) in 12 games (11 starts) for the Missions.

The 21-year-old Kulbacki batted .356 (32-for-90) with five doubles, two triples, six home runs, 19 RBI and 16 runs scored in 25 games for Short-A Eugene during the month of August. The outfielder earned Northwest League Player of the week honors from August 20-26. For the 2007 season, he hit .301 (68-for-226) with 13 doubles, three triples, eight home runs, 39 RBI and 33 runs scored in 61 games with the Emeralds. Kulbacki, San Diego's first pick in the compensation round of the 2007 First-Year Player Draft (40th overall) out of James Madison University, was Co-Player of the Year in the Colonial Athletic Association and a First-Team All-American in 2007.