Blake Walston Explained

Blake Walston
Team:Arizona Diamondbacks
Number:48
Position:Pitcher
Birth Date:28 June 2001
Birth Place:Wilmington, North Carolina, U.S.
Bats:Left
Throws:Left
Debutleague:MLB
Debutdate:May 1
Debutyear:2024
Debutteam:Arizona Diamondbacks
Statleague:MLB
Statyear:June 4, 2024
Stat1label:Win–loss record
Stat1value:0–0
Stat2label:Earned run average
Stat2value:2.84
Stat3label:Strikeouts
Stat3value:11
Teams:

Matthew Blake Walston (born June 28, 2001) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2024.

Career

Walston attended New Hanover High School in Wilmington, North Carolina.[1] In 2019, his senior year, he went 12–0 with a 0.20 ERA, striking out 129 batters in innings pitched.[2] He was named North Carolina's Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year.[3] Walston was also named the 2019 North Carolina High School Player of the Year by Perfect Game.[4] He committed to play college baseball at North Carolina State University.[5]

The Arizona Diamondbacks chose Walston in the first round, with the 26th overall pick, in the 2019 Major League Baseball draft.[6] [7] He signed for $2.45 million.[8] He made his professional debut with the Rookie-level Arizona League Diamondbacks before earning a promotion to the Hillsboro Hops of the Low–A Northwest League.[9] Over 11 innings between both teams, he compiled a 2.45 ERA and 17 strikeouts.[10] He did not play a minor league game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.[11] To begin the 2021 season, he was assigned to the Visalia Rawhide of the Low-A West.[12] He was promoted to Hillsboro (now members of the High-A West) in July.[13] Over 19 starts between the two teams, Walston went 4–5 with a 3.76 ERA and 117 strikeouts over innings.[14]

On November 14, 2023, the Diamondbacks added Walston to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.[15] He was optioned to the Triple–A Reno Aces to begin the 2024 season.[16] On May 1, 2024, Walston was promoted to the major leagues for the first time.[17]

Notes and References

  1. http://coastalpreps.com/baseball/blake-walston-tosses-no-hitter-to-lead-new-hanover-past-d-h-conley-in-game-1/ "Blake Walston tosses no-hitter to lead New Hanover past D.H. Conley in Game 1"
  2. https://www.maxpreps.com/news/DVoWNh9nBUWIIjKR2CGEuA/2019-mlb-draft--top-5-high-school-left-handed-pitching-prospects.htm "2019 MLB Draft: Top 5 high school left-handed pitching prospects – MaxPreps"
  3. WRAL, (23 May 2019). "New Hanover's Blake Walston named Gatorade North Carolina Baseball Player of the Year". www.highschoolot.com. Retrieved on 15 June 2019.
  4. Web site: High School Players of the Year. Perfect Game. 2020-04-01.
  5. News: ACC baseball the future for New Hanover, South Brunswick prospects. Jackson Fuller StarNews. Staff. Kinston Free Press.
  6. Staff, Jackson Fuller StarNews. "Blake Walston selected by Arizona Diamondbacks in MLB Draft". Wilmington Star News. June 3, 2019. Retrieved on June 15, 2019.
  7. https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/mlb/diamondbacks/2019/06/03/arizona-diamondbacks-draft-corbin-carroll-taken-no-16-mlb-draft/1335641001 "Diamondbacks load up on upside, pitching with seven picks on first day of MLB draft"
  8. Web site: Blake Walston signs with Arizona Diamondbacks. June 19, 2019. Fuller. Jackson. Wilmington Star News. starnewsonline.com.
  9. Web site: D-backs sign first-round picks Corbin Carroll, Blake Walston. June 20, 2019. Arizona Sports. azsports.com.
  10. Web site: 1 min read . Diamondbacks' Blake Walston: Gets taxi squad nod . CBSSports.com . 2020-06-25 . 2021-05-04.
  11. Web site: 2020 Minor League Baseball season canceled. MLB.com.
  12. Web site: D-backs prospects assigned to minor league affiliates. May 3, 2021.
  13. Web site: Diamondbacks' Blake Walston: Moves to High-A. July 9, 2021 .
  14. Web site: Alek Thomas, Seth Beer headline D-backs' MiLB Organization All-Stars. November 2021.
  15. Web site: Diamondbacks' Blake Walston: Protected from Rule 5 draft. March 19, 2024. cbssports.com. en.
  16. Web site: D-backs Option Slade Cecconi, Blake Walston and Corbin Martin. March 19, 2024. si.com. en.
  17. Web site: Diamondbacks Promote Blake Walston For MLB Debut. May 1, 2024. mlbtraderumors.com. en.

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