Outfielder Marc-Antoine Lebreux, of the Bisons de Saint-Eustache, is the first choice of the Saint-Jérôme Cardinals in the 2021 draft of the Quebec Major Baseball League (LBMQ).
As a second selection, the VP baseball, François Rousseau, selected catcher Olivier Mayrand, of the Pirates of Laval. The Cardinals followed suit with the shortstop of the Gatineau Tyrants, Rémy Patry, as 3e choice. The player of 1is goal Samuel Anderson, of the Repentigny Royals, became the 4e junior player to be drafted by Saint-Jérôme this fall. Finally, third baseman Jonathan Lamarche, of the Gatineau Tyrans, saw his senior rights become the property of the Jérômiens as 5e choice.
“Lebreux is a left-handed hitter, hitting for an average of .400. He also hit 9 home runs two years ago at Saint-Eustache. He has already participated in the University World Series, with Omaha. He has the physique for the job, at 6’01 ” and 185 pounds. Our plan remains to be competitive by developing young people in 2022, and then to become dominant for the 2023 season ”, commented François Rousseau.
For his part, the first choice Marc-Antoine Lebreux claims to have learned well in the elite Major Junior, in four seasons at Saint-Eustache.
“I progressed with the Bisons. I rely on my speed to evolve in the center field. It allows me to cover quite wide. I also have an above average arm on defense. On offense, I’m also an average hitter, with several doubles. I also sometimes get out of them (circuits). With my speed, I was often used as a second hitter in the lineup, often heading to the trails. With my aggressiveness to the plate, I can also strike in the middle of the offensive order ”, said the 22-year-old.
Lebreux will be in a land of knowledge, at the next Cardinals’ camp. The Savoie, Cyr, Desmarais and Latreille have all known or faced him in elite Quebec junior baseball.
“I am not afraid of the caliber step to climb. I’ve played heavy caliber at Seminole State College, Oklahoma, and the University of Virginia. The development of Quebec players is improving better supervised and the results bear witness to this. We have several players from here in American affiliate and college baseball ”, followed the product of the Academy of Baseball of Canada (ABC).
Lebreux intends to make its place in 2022 with the formation of Parc Melançon. “I am very excited to join the LBMQ and the Cardinals. Yes, we will be a rebuilding team. That
won’t stop me from wanting to win every game. I am a competitor in life, but I also want to have fun. I also like the idea of a new ball park with synthetic turf. This will be good for drainage, with the varying temperatures we experience in the Laurentides », added the one who is a coach in the sports-study baseball program at Saint-Gabriel school in Sainte-Thérèse.
Return from Désormeaux
In addition, the Cardinals will trust a new head coach for the 2022 season. Former Royal LePage Plus player-coach, Jean-Luc Désormeaux, will take over the helm of the Jérôme team as she takes on its 5e season, since the club changed hands. It will initiate a 20e campaign, in various roles, in the senior.
After a short stint by Gilles Lanthier at the head of the Cardinals, François Rousseau, DG, had taken over during the last 3 and a half campaigns. François Rousseau will now focus on administrative tasks, his role as GM of the team and preparer of local games.
“I am very proud of this team and I believe that this change will bring a positive wind to this young team. I chatted for a long time with Jean-Luc and I know that he will love the role of mentor with the young people of this team ”, predicted Rousseau.
