Paul Blackburn (baseball)
| Paul Blackburn | |
|---|---|
Blackburn in 2017 | |
| Oakland Athletics – No. 58 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: December 4, 1993 Antioch, California, U.S. | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| July 1, 2017, for the Oakland Athletics | |
| MLB statistics (through 2023 season) | |
| Win–loss record | 17–24 |
| Earned run average | 4.90 |
| Strikeouts | 270 |
| Teams | |
| |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Paul Cady Blackburn (born December 4, 1993) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Oakland Athletics of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2017.
Career[edit]
Chicago Cubs[edit]
Blackburn was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the first round of the 2012 Major League Baseball draft out of Heritage High School in Brentwood, California.[1] He made his professional debut that season with the Rookie Arizona League Cubs, going 2–0 with a 3.48 ERA in nine games (six starts). He played in 2013 with the Class A-Short Season Boise Hawks, going 2–3 with a 3.33 ERA in 13 games (12 starts), and in 2014 with the Class A Kane County Cougars,[2][3][4] pitching to a 9–4 record with a 3.23 ERA in 24 starts. He spent 2015 with the Class A-Advanced Myrtle Beach Pelicans where he compiled a 7–5 record with a 3.11 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP in 18 starts. Blackburn began 2016 with the Double-A Tennessee Smokies.
Seattle Mariners[edit]
On July 20, 2016, the Cubs traded Blackburn and Dan Vogelbach to the Seattle Mariners for Mike Montgomery and Jordan Pries.[5] Seattle assigned him to the Double-A Jackson Generals. In 26 total games (25 starts) between Tennessee and Jackson, he was 9–5 with a 3.27 ERA.[6]
Oakland Athletics[edit]
On November 12, 2016, Blackburn was traded to the Oakland Athletics for Danny Valencia.[7] The Athletics added him to their 40-man roster a few days later.[8] He began 2017 with the Triple-A Nashville Sounds. Through June 26, 2017, Blackburn had a 5–6 record with a 3.05 ERA and 56 strikeouts for the Sounds. He was named to the 2017 Pacific Coast League All-Star Team.[9]
Blackburn was called up to the Oakland Athletics to make his major league debut on July 1, 2017, against the Atlanta Braves.[10] He spent the remainder of the season with Oakland, going 3–1 with a 3.22 ERA in ten starts. On August 22, Blackburn was struck on the hand by a line drive off the bat of Trey Mancini during a start in Baltimore. He exited the game and would not pitch again that season.
In 2018, he began the season on the disabled list. He was activated on June 7 and reported to Oakland, compiling a 7.16 ERA in six starts. On August 28, Blackburn was placed on the disabled list with a forearm injury.[11]
In 2019, Blackburn appeared in 4 games, pitching to a 10.64 ERA with 8 strikeouts in 11.0 innings pitched. Blackburn only made one appearance in 2020, giving up 7 earned runs in 2.1 innings pitched.[12]
On February 23, 2021, Blackburn was designated for assignment after the signing of Mitch Moreland was made official.[13] On February 27, Blackburn was outrighted to the Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators and invited to Spring Training as a non-roster invitee.[14] On August 18, Blackburn was selected from Triple-A Las Vegas.[15]
In 2022, Blackburn's record with Oakland was 7–6 with a 4.28 ERA in 21 starts. Blackburn was Oakland's lone representative for the 2022 All-Star Game.
On January 13, 2023, Blackburn signed a one-year, $1.9 million contract with the Athletics, avoiding salary arbitration.[16]
References[edit]
- ^ "Heritage High's Paul Blackburn selected by Chicago Cubs in MLB Draft". mercurynews.com. 4 June 2012. Retrieved November 19, 2014.
- ^ "Adding 50 pounds beneficial for Cubs prospect". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 19, 2014.
- ^ "Boise Hawks' Blackburn continues to dominate batters". Idaho Press-Tribune. Retrieved November 19, 2014.
- ^ "Cougar Notes: Cougars pitcher Blackburn: Playoffs will cure fatigue of long season". Aurora Beacon-News. August 21, 2014. Retrieved November 19, 2014.
- ^ "MLBRosterMoves on Twitter". Retrieved November 19, 2016.
- ^ "Paul Blackburn Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved June 11, 2018.
- ^ Johns, Greg (November 12, 2016). "Mariners acquire Valencia from A's". MLB.com. Retrieved November 12, 2016.
- ^ "A's promote five minor leagues to Oakland's 40-man roster". 18 November 2016. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
- ^ "Renato Nuñez, Paul Blackburn, and Chris Smith Named Pacific Coast League All-Stars". MiLB.com. June 28, 2017. Retrieved June 30, 2017.
- ^ Espinoza, Alex (July 1, 2017). "Prospect Blackburn gets callup for spot start". MLB.com. Retrieved July 1, 2017.
- ^ "Oakland Athletics lose second pitcher in three days to injury as Brett Anderson goes on DL". 28 August 2018.
- ^ "Paul Blackburn Stats, Fantasy & News | Oakland Athletics". MLB.com.
- ^ "Athletics Designate Paul Blackburn for Assignment".
- ^ "Minor MLB Transactions: 2/27/21".
- ^ Anthony Franco (August 18, 2021). "Athletics Select Paul Blackburn". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
- ^ "2023 MLB Arbitration Tracker". MLBTradeRumors. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
External links[edit]
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet
- Paul Blackburn on Twitter
- Paul Blackburn on Instagram
- 1993 births
- Living people
- American League All-Stars
- Arizona League Cubs players
- Baseball players from Contra Costa County, California
- Boise Hawks players
- Jackson Generals (Southern League) players
- Kane County Cougars players
- Las Vegas Aviators players
- Major League Baseball pitchers
- Myrtle Beach Pelicans players
- Nashville Sounds players
- Oakland Athletics players
- Sportspeople from Antioch, California
- Stockton Ports players
- Tennessee Smokies players