Jays acquire Leon, who plunked Tosoni to start 2013 WBC brawl

In the third base dugout/corner ... wearing red, white and green ... Mexico ... and in the red, white and black ... Canada. Arnold Leon plunked Rene Tosoni in the ninth in the 2013 WBC and the benches cleared in a scary brawl in Phoenix.

By Bob Elliott

Who knows what happens next for the Blue Jays?

Player agent Bo McKinnis, who does not have a reputation as a sniper, said: “The Jays were a surprise. I’m surprised we did not get an offer for David Price.”

During his introduction of general manager Ross Atkins, president Mark Shapiro mentioned John Farrell’s name as if it was a compliment at the Rogers Centre. 

After the Jays recent acquisition from the Oakland A’s -- right-hander Arnold Leon -- you wonder if they maybe the Jays will bring in J.P. Arencibia (400 walks in 1,392 plate appearances with the Jays) to teach plate discipline.

What’s the big deal about Leon? Well, after Chris Robinson bunted for a base hit in the 2013 World Baseball Classic in Phoenix up 9-3 in the ninth inning, Leon threw the first two pitches at Rene Tosoni, hit him with the third and all heck broke loose.

Maybe Leon can be flown in for Saturday’s annual Baseball Canada fund raiser at the Renaissance Toronto Hotel.

The outcome of the game was decided but teams were told by organizers not to be upset due to teams running up the score since run differential settled all ties.

Plate ump Brian Gorman ejected Pete Orr, Jay Johnson and Tosoni from Canada along with Alfredo Aceves, Eduardo Arredondo, Oliver Perez and Leon.

Making his big-league debut with the A’s last year he had a 4.39 ERA with nine wallks and 19 strikeouts in 27 innings spent exclusively as a reliever. Leon has tons of starting experience in the minors, but has generally been more successful working out of the bullpen on the way to going 0-2 with a 4.35 ERA and in 310 total innings at Triple-A.

He also started six games at triple-A Nashville with a 2.95 ERA last year. In 2014, he went 10-7 with a 4.97 ERA in 27 starts for triple-A Sacramento.