‘Every opportunity on the mound is a great one’

Landen Bourassa didn’t need two months in Mexico to appreciate Manitoba. The Alberta product, who now lives here full-time, was already a big fan.

But a “unique” experience this summer certainly didn’t hurt.

The veteran Winnipeg Goldeyes pitcher took a professional detour to pursue an intriguing opportunity. Now he’s back on familiar soil, ready to help the Fish make a run at an American Association championship.

“It definitely was bittersweet to be leaving everybody here and leaving home, but you do things to be challenged. And that was a really good challenge,” Bourassa told the Free Press this week at Blue Cross Park.

“I’m just really fortunate they welcomed me back here and made sure there was a roster spot available.”

That was never in doubt. The 29-year-old righty is the ace of their staff and one of the top hurlers in the league, with 35 wins over the past six seasons. Just as losing him left a big hole on the roster, his return now provides a major boost.

Bourassa admits his time away didn’t go exactly as planned. He struggled to find a fit in the hitter-friendly Mexican League, with stat lines he’s not really accustomed to.

After signing with Puebla at the beginning of June, he made five appearances on the mound — four of them starts — and gave up 14 runs in 13 2/3 innings. That led to an unexpected trade to a team more than 1,500 kilometres away in Chihuahua.

“Definitely a first time for everything,” said Bourassa. “I definitely wasn’t the best pitcher on the team, so I understand the moves they wanted to make, especially since they were in the middle of a playoff push.”

“I definitely wasn’t the best pitcher on the team, so I understand the moves they wanted to make.”

His time in Chihuahua only went slightly better as he made two starts and three relief appearances, giving up nine earned runs over 12 2/3 innings.

Add it all up and that’s a 7.86 earned run average in Mexico — a far cry from the 4.13 mark he has over his Goldeyes career.

“The way I look at it is every opportunity on the mound is a great one. I’m really happy with how it turned out — good or bad,” said Bourassa.

“You just kind of roll with it. It was good to get challenged and a good experience. It’s cool to be involved in an environment that’s that competitive and cut-throat in a sense. Ultimately moves have to be made. They’re doing what they think is best for the team and I respect that.”

Bourassa was excited to experience a new culture and fan base, one that turns games into a “party atmosphere” with drums and noisemakers. But he also came to realize just how good he has it back in Winnipeg, where owner Sam Katz, general manager Andrew Collier and manager Logan Watkins have built a terrific culture.

“I kept joking when I talked to Logan that I have to come back and give him and Andrew and Sam a big hug and let them know how much I appreciate how smoothly things are run around here,” said Bourassa.

“For better or worse it’s not always like that with every other team and every other league. I’m just really fortunate to be able to be back here because things are very professional here and very well done. It just really makes you appreciate some of the comforts of home.”

Since Chihuahua didn’t make the playoffs, his time in Mexico came to an end, which paved the way for an immediate return north.

“It was a priority of mine to be here and finish the season, especially being in a playoff run, if I could. Just kind of worked out that way,” said Bourassa.

He joined a Goldeyes team that was fresh off a franchise record 13-game winning streak and took the ball on Wednesday night against the Sioux Falls Explorers. It was vintage Bourassa — two earned runs over five innings with six strikeouts as the Goldeyes rolled to an 11-4 victory.

Winnipeg entered play on Friday night against the Sioux City Explorers sitting in first place in the West Division, thanks to a 16-2 surge over the past 18 games. That had the club at 43-33 overall with 24 regular-season games remaining.

“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t checking the box score every single day while in Mexico. I’ve got so many friends that are a part of this team and want to keep tabs on them,” said Bourassa.

“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t checking the box score every single day while in Mexico.”

“It’s really exciting and just so much fun to see everybody playing up to their potential. The cool thing when you’re on a streak like that, if one guy is not getting it done, somebody else is. There’s a lot of guys stepping up. It doesn’t matter if we get down early, there’s guys who are going to come through and get big base hits or throw meaningful innings.”

Winnipeg’s starting rotation has been a work-in-progress during Bourassa’s absence, but his return helps solidify a staff that includes solid pieces such as Luke Boyd, Ryo Kohigashi and Kevin Vaupel. The latter two began the year in the bullpen but have been converted to starters.

“Everyone here is a professional and they’re all capable of really great things. It’s just been fun to see how guys have embraced different roles,” said Bourassa

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“A lot of guys have really stepped up to the plate in that sense and done a really good job of that. And they might sacrifice their own numbers in a sense, but they understand it’s for the good of the team and I think we’re really starting to see the labour on how that’s played out.”

With the Mexico experience now checked off his personal bucket list, there’s another item Bourassa would like to deal with in short order — winning a championship. That’s something the Goldeyes haven’t done since 2017, when Bourassa was pitching for Lethbridge in the Western Canadian Baseball League.

“Ultimately it comes down to how you’re playing in the moment. Step one is securing a spot in the playoffs, then win that first series and the next one and the next one,” he said.

“I like this group and how everyone has really come together as a unit in the locker room, and I think it really shows on the field. It’s fun to see some of the guys realizing their potential and guys performing at a real high level. It’s fun to watch, it really is.”

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Mike McIntyre
Reporter

Mike McIntyre is a sports reporter whose primary role is covering the Winnipeg Jets. After graduating from the Creative Communications program at Red River College in 1995, he spent two years gaining experience at the Winnipeg Sun before joining the Free Press in 1997, where he served on the crime and justice beat until 2016. Read more about Mike.

Every piece of reporting Mike produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.