[stevem810]

The year was 1960 and Le Diamant selected Antoine LeRoux as the first pick in the rookie draft. For all intents and purposes, he was a clear #1 pick by anyone's standards. Scouts raved about his stuff. No one had better.

Immediately placed into the rotation at Single A Basse Pointe Le Roux seemed to confirm his status as the best young pitcher in baseball. He started 22 games, won 8 and lost 2, posted a 2.40 ERA (2.01 FIP), and fanned 182 in 161 innings pitched.

In spite of a whopping 6 injuries the next year he was still posting good numbers. The ERA and WHIP rose, but, most experts passed it off as injury recovery related.

When the injuries carried through to the next year, then the next, and so on, Antoine's future became murky. However, a bounce back year of sorts while playing for the AA Parrots renewed hope that he was back on track. It was short lived.

He sat out all of 1964, and came back in 1965 determined to flip the switch back. LeRoux appeared to be on track, pitching remarkably well for a player so beset with injuries.

Until, yet another 4 injuries including a tired arm leading up to a torn labrum. Another shoulder injury in 1966 sent him to the D.L., then to the surgeon, as in being lost for another season.

Now, 1967, it was rumored that team officials had released LeRoux just last week, in spite of being just 22 years old. Reports circulated that ownership made the final call and wanted him left in the system.

It's been years since LeRoux had any semblance of control. It doesn't appear to be improving. But, he's a ground ball pitcher that can still light up the radar at 101 MPH. Not too many teams are willing to risk a turnaround by such a live young arm, as unlikely as it may be.

Presently, he has a 3.68 ERA working out of the pen for the AAA Le Marin Waveriders.