The Valley League has seen three former players make their major league debuts so far in the 2015 season: Scott Copeland (Staunton 2007), Adam Liberatore (Waynesboro 2007-08), and Jack Leathersich (Haymarket 2009).*
* Interesting that two of the three won VBL titles- Liberatore in ’07 and Leathersich in ’09*
The fun part is that all three pitchers have been effective- to different levels of effectiveness, sure, but still effective- in their stints with their major league clubs.
Copeland has only pitched in two games (through Wednesday, May 20) for the Toronto Blue Jays, but has not allowed a run. Overall, he’s 0-0, 0.00, and has allowed 2 hits and 2 walks in 3 innings pitched. So his WHIP is 1.333, but the point of pitching is to keep the other guys from scoring, so he’s done his job.
Liberatore was poached by new Dodgers’ president of operations Andrew Friedman, who traded for the former Tampa Bay Ray after Friedman left the Rays. Adam has been outstanding since his callup in the middle of April. Overall, he’s 0-1, 1.64 in 12 games and 11 innings pitched. He’s allowed only 5 hits and 1 walk, while
striking out 11. If Liberatore keeps pitching like this, he’ll be with the major league club all year for sure, and have an excellent chance of breaking Spring Training camp next March.
Leathersich seems to have filled in the role for the Mets that Josh Edgin (Winchester 2007) filled last year- a lefty reliever to equalize left handed batters. Jack has pitched in 5 games, but has only completed 3 innings. He’s allowed 3 hits, 0 runs, 2 walks, and struck out 2. His WHIP is high, at 1.667, but again, like Copeland, he’s not allowed a run, so he’s doing his job.
Hopefully all three will stay in the majors the rest of the year, and keep putting up solid numbers!
All Things Valley League 