| Blake Hunt | |
| Team: | Baltimore Orioles |
| Number: | 81 |
| Position: | Catcher |
| Birth Date: | 10 November 1998 |
| Birth Place: | Costa Mesa, California, U.S. |
| Bats: | Right |
| Throws: | Right |
Blake Evan Hunt (born November 10, 1998) is an American professional baseball catcher for the Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball (MLB).
Hunt attended Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California, where he batted .394 with six home runs, 28 RBI, and nine doubles as a senior in 2017.[1]
Hunt was selected by the San Diego Padres in the second round of the 2017 Major League Baseball draft.[2] [3] He signed for $1.6 million, forgoing his commitment to play college baseball for the Pepperdine Waves baseball team.[4]
Hunt made his professional debut with the Arizona League Padres, batting .241 over thirty games. He spent the 2018 season with the Tri-City Dust Devils where he hit .271 with three home runs and 25 RBI over 56 games, and he played 2019 with the Fort Wayne TinCaps, slashing .255/.331/.381 with five home runs and 39 RBIs over 89 games.[5] He did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[6]
On December 29, 2020, the Padres traded Hunt, Francisco Mejía, Luis Patiño, and Cole Wilcox to the Tampa Bay Rays for Blake Snell.[7] He split the 2021 season between the Bowling Green Hot Rods and the Montgomery Biscuits, slashing .205/.288/.375 with nine home runs and 48 RBI in 76 games.
In 67 games split between Double–A Montgomery and the Triple–A Durham Bulls in 2023, Hunt hit a combined .256/.331/.484 with 12 home runs and 41 RBI.
On November 6, 2023, Hunt was traded to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for Tatem Levins; he was subsequently added to Seattle's 40-man roster following the trade.[8] Hunt was optioned to the Triple–A Tacoma Rainiers to begin the 2024 season.[9] In 23 games for Tacoma, he batted .293/.372/.533 with four home runs and 20 RBI.
On May 22, 2024, Hunt was traded to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for Mike Baumann and Michael Pérez.[10] On July 30, Hunt was promoted to the major leagues for the first time.[11] He did not make an appearance and was optioned back to the Triple–A Norfolk Tides the next day, becoming a phantom ballplayer.[12]