LeBlanc on life at home without baseball

Wade LeBlanc expected to be pitching for a new team this season rather than becoming a stay-at-home dad. He was waiting to be placed on the 40-man roster, bypassing the opt-out date last month in his contract. But he retains status as an invitee to spring training despite the camp's closure and a sports shutdown with no known date to reopen.

I've found it interesting how players are maintaining their focus on the season, with the Orioles keeping everyone connected and dispensing information through Zoom conferencing, but also reverting to offseason form with their family obligations.

For LeBlanc, there's his role as husband to Natalie and father to their two sons, but also as a teacher of sorts. Entertain and educate them.

"There's a lot more time with the kids since they're not in school," LeBlanc said. "Natalie and I are planning ways to keep them engaged. Some educational things.

"Our 7-year-old is in first grade and his school releases packets of things they can do. From what it looks like, it doesn't look like they're going to be repeating, so they're going to be moving up and there's still some things that they need to get before they can get into second grade or whatever. So there's things they can do and there's educational things online that they're doing every day, so just trying to keep them engaged in some sort of learning.

"We'll also go outside and play baseball or tennis or basketball or something to give them some sort of activities."

LeBlanc can't become a couch potato. He's got to maintain a workout schedule and keep his arm in shape.

Keep gearing toward a season that, if it begins, won't resemble anything that's happened in the past.

"Just trying to stay ready," he said.

"I'll throw a couple bullpens a week. Typically one of them will be like a three-inning type of simulated game. As simulated as it can get, I guess, in terms of throwing into a net, but kind of do what you can.

"Other than that, we're fortunate enough to have a setup in our garage with weights and everything, so just trying to stay ready, man."

LeBlanc said the workouts are similar to what he'd be doing in a typical offseason. That's where the normalcy ends - in a lot of ways.

"The change is in the throwing program," he said. "It's more intense than a regular offseason, just because we're not really in our offseason, even though it kind of feels that way."

Credit goes to the Orioles for being creative during the shutdown and taking full advantage of the technology at their disposal.

Asked about remaining connected with his new teammates, LeBlanc said, "Yeah, we have a group chat that we're all staying involved with. We keep up with Dwight (Smith Jr.) doing the 'MLB The Show.' Keeping up with that.

"It's been cool to stay in touch with guys, but it's not as cool as being around them and getting as close to them as you would during a typical spring training or early season, so hopefully we can pick that back up."

In the meantime, there's parenting and teaching and being able to satisfy his sports fix with the NFL draft.

LeBlanc pitched at the University of Alabama, which had four players go in the first round on Thursday. He's a native of Louisiana and maintains a residence there.

"I'm a Saints guy," he said.

He's also an Orioles guy now. Rolling with a baseball tide that, he hopes, eventually dumps him into a major league game.