Clayton Blackburn, RHP. DOB: 1/6/1993. 6'4", 225 lbs.
2011 Rookie AZL: 3-1, 1.08, 33.1 IP, 0.81 BB/9, 8.10 K/9, GO/AO= 2.58.
2012 Low A: 8-4, 2.54, 131.1 IP, 1.23 BB/9, 9.80 K/9, GO/AO- 2.32.
2013 High A: 7-5. 3.65, 133.0 IP, 2.37 BB/9, 9.34 K/9, GO/AO= 1.34.
2014 AA: 5-6, 3.29, 93.0 IP, 1.94 BB/9, 8.23 K/9, GO/AO= 1.95.
Clayton Blackburn has been a favorite of Giants prospect watchers since he was drafted out of HS in Oklahoma in the 16'th round, signed immediately, then went out and put up a 30/3 K/BB in rookie ball that summer. Since then, he has continued to pound the strike zone and get a lot of ground ball outs.
So why isn't Blackburn ranked higher than #8? Because he outperforms his scouting reports, and batters do seem to consistently hit the ball hard when they can get it in the air. Personally, I don't think his stuff is that bad. I saw him pitch in Rancho Cucamonga in 2013 in a game he got hit pretty hard. His FB went 90-93 which is pretty average nowadays, but should be adequate. He also has a big, slow curveball that he can throw for strikes and a changeup that goes in the high 70's. What I didn't see was an intermediate velocity pitch to make it more difficult for hitters to identify and time the offspeed stuff. He reportedly worked on a slider or cutter in the AFL this fall.
At age 22, he could either go back to AA to work on further developing the slider/cutter or move up to AAA. The PCL is sometimes problematic for pitchers with his repertoire as sinkers tend to not sink and curves tend to not curve in a lot of PCL ballparks. I think if he can successfully develop the slider/cutter, he should be OK in MLB with his elite command and elite ability to induce ground balls. For some reason, the comp that always jumps into my head when I look at Blackburn and his stat lines is Joe Blanton. I guess if you can get a Joe Blanton career out of a 16'th round draft pick, you are doing pretty good.
Fun fact that you probably don't want to know: It was Blackburn's download that started a winning streak on Sunday's always preceded by the Flying Squirrels listening to Miley Cyrus songs during stretching and in the clubhouse before the games.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Oh, and Happy New Year, everybody!
ReplyDeleteI agree that his minor league stats are pretty close to Joe Blanton's minor league stats. However, Blanton major league line shows that his BB/K was less dominant and his HR/9 skyrocketed. He is notorious for giving up the longball. It remains to be seen how Blackburn's numbers will translate to the majors. I think if he can keep up a decent BB/K ratio and limit the longball he can be a very serviceable pitcher in the back part of the lineup. I always thought he would fit as a #3 or #4 pitcher to replace the likes of Hudson or Peavy.
ReplyDeleteI think you might expect K and BB numbers to regress a bit in the majors from minor league numbers and Blackburn does tend to give up a lot of loud hits.
DeleteStuff versus pitchability. Which has greater success in majors? Carlos Martinez from Cards versus Petit...who would you take as a starter? Crick versus Blackburn is a great discussion.
ReplyDeleteIf stuff develops, it will get you a frontline starter. If pitchabiliy plays at the higher level, it will get you a back of the rotation arm. There are always exceptions, of course, but that is the general rule.
DeleteJoe Blanton certainly works. We'll take that at the back end of the rotation any day. A fun fact about Blackburn's 2014 season is that he did not give up a home run until August 27th and that was it for the year.
ReplyDeleteCould Blackburn have been traded for Marlon Byrd? Seems he's short of Ben Lively, but you never know since there was cash involved in that deal.
Hey doc, have you seen the prospect evaluations by Kiley McDaniel at fangraphs? I bet you have. Those are pretty great. In lieu of assigning grades, for those versed in the scout rating system, this is a great way to go.
What would Blackburn's future value be? 45 with 2 for risk?
I do like McDaniel's approach.
DeleteHappy New Year to and a great 2015 for all of us.
ReplyDeleteI love that he's working on a slider and/or a cutter. Stuff like that ought to make even his past, most advanced stats obsolete.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHis delivery and stuff remind me of Harang.
ReplyDelete