Aaron Blair
Aaron Blair | |||||||||||||||
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Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | |||||||||||||||
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |||||||||||||||
MLB debut | |||||||||||||||
April 24, 2016, for the Atlanta Braves | |||||||||||||||
MLB statistics (through 2017 season) | |||||||||||||||
Win–loss record | 2–8 | ||||||||||||||
Earned run average | 7.89 | ||||||||||||||
Strikeouts | 49 | ||||||||||||||
Teams | |||||||||||||||
Medals
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Aaron Daniel Blair (born May 26, 1992) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. Blair was selected in the 21st round of the 2010 MLB draft by the Houston Astros. He chose to attend Marshall University, where he played for the Marshall Thundering Herd baseball team. The Arizona Diamondbacks selected Blair with the 36th pick of the 2013 MLB draft. He was traded to the Atlanta Braves by the Diamondbacks as part of a five-player deal announced December 9, 2015. Blair made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut in 2016 for the Braves.
Amateur career
A native of Las Vegas, Nevada, Blair threw a no-hitter in his sophomore year at Spring Valley High School. He was 7–0 his junior year and became a Nevada 1st Team All-State[1] player his senior year while leading all Nevada 4A pitchers with 91 strikeouts in 64 innings. He had 9 complete games out of 10 starts. He added a .449 average with 7 home runs and 43 RBIs his senior year.
Though not highly recruited coming out of high school, Blair caught the eye of
As a junior, Blair was added to the Golden Spikes Award watch list.[5] Blair was named a 1st Team Conference USA pitcher.[6] Included in his season was an 8 inning, 2 hit, 11 strikeout and no run game against the 19th ranked Houston Cougars in a 4–0 win to earn Blair Louisville Slugger National Pitcher of the Week.[7] He finished his Marshall career with 200 strikeouts in 202 innings. Blair then became the highest drafted player in Marshall University baseball history when the Arizona Diamondbacks selected him in the 1st round with the 36th pick.[8]
Professional career
Arizona Diamondbacks
The
Blair started the 2014 campaign in South Bend but was promoted to High A Advanced
Both MLB.com and Baseball America ranked Blair the Diamondbacks' third best prospect prior to the start of the 2015 season.[15] He started the year back in Mobile and made 13 starts, finishing with a record of 6–3 and an ERA of 2.70 over 83+1⁄3 innings before he was promoted to the AAA Reno Aces in June, where he continued his successful 2015 campaign.[16] Blair ended his Reno stint with a record of 7–2 and an ERA of 3.16 in the hitting-friendly Pacific Coast League. He was also named the Diamondbacks 2015 Organizational Pitcher of the Year.[17]
Atlanta Braves
On December 9, 2015, the Diamondbacks traded Blair, along with Dansby Swanson and Ender Inciarte, to the Atlanta Braves for Shelby Miller and Gabe Speier.[18] MLB.com ranked Blair the Braves' fourth-best prospect at the start of the 2016 season.[19] He was invited to spring training that year as a non-roster invitee.[20]
Blair began the season with the
Second stint with Diamondbacks
On February 12, 2020, Blair signed a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks organization. Blair did not play in a game for the Diamondbacks organization in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[33] The team released Blair on May 22, 2020.[34]
Eastern Reyes del Tigre
In July 2020, Blair signed on to play for the Eastern Reyes del Tigre of the Constellation Energy League (a makeshift 4-team independent league created as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic) for the 2020 season.[35] In 4 games, Blair logged a 6.75 ERA.
West Virginia Power
On May 14, 2021, Blair signed with the
San Francisco Giants
On July 20, 2021, Blair's contract was purchased by the San Francisco Giants organization.[37]
Wild Health Genomes
On April 12, 2022, Blair signed with the Wild Health Genomes of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.[38] Blair struggled to an 0–4 record and 13.25 ERA across 7 starts for the Genomes, striking out 11 in 17.2 innings before he was released on June 23.[39]
Personal life
Blair's parents are Janice and Craig Blair. He has an older brother, Garrett.[40]
In March 2015, Blair became engaged to Caitlyn Morrone, whom he met in college.[41] They married in January 2017 in Las Vegas.
References
- ^ "Blair Named 1st Team All State of Nevada". NevadaPreps.com. June 2, 2010. Retrieved January 30, 2014.
- ^ "#44 Aaron Blair". pointstreak.com. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
- ^ "Blair Wins Back to Back Pitcher of the Week". Capecodbaseball.org. June 25, 2012. Retrieved January 30, 2014.
- ^ Charpentier, Russ (August 17, 2012). "Blair's work keeps them playing". capecodonline.com. Retrieved January 30, 2014.
- ^ "Blair named to Watch List". Herdzone.com. February 15, 2013. Retrieved January 30, 2014.
- ^ "Blair Named 1st Team Conference USA". Herdzone.com. May 21, 2013. Retrieved January 30, 2014.
- ^ "Blair Named Louisville Slugger Pitcher of the Week". Herdzone.com. April 8, 2013. Retrieved January 30, 2014.
- ^ "Blair Selected with 36th pick by Diamondbacks". Herdzone.com. June 6, 2013. Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved January 30, 2014.
- ^ "D-backs stick with athleticism to wrap Day 1". MLB.com. June 7, 2013. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
- ^ "D-backs Select Aaron Blair & Justin Williams with 2nd & 3rd Picks in 2013 Draft". Arizona Diamondbacks. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
- ^ "Hillsboro Hops: Braden Shipley and Aaron Blair provide glimpse into Diamondbacks' future". OregonLive.com. July 12, 2013. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
- ^ Maun, Tyler (May 9, 2014). "Blair right at home in Cal League debut". MILB.com. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
- ^ "Minor League Baseball Pitchers of the Week for July 21–27 – MiLB.com News – The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
- ^ "Jake Lamb named Arizona Diamondbacks' Player of the Year". MiLB.com. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
- ^ Reiter, Cheyne (June 17, 2015). "RHP Aaron Blair promoted from Mobile to Reno". MILB.com. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
- ^ Piecoro, Nick; Killian, Tyler (June 17, 2015). "Diamondbacks pitching prospect Aaron Blair promoted to Triple-A". Arizona Republic. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
- ^ "D-Backs Name Aaron Blair organization's Pitcher of the Year".
- ^ "Shelby Miller traded to Diamondbacks". ESPN. December 9, 2015. Retrieved December 9, 2015.
- ^ Bowman, Mark (May 18, 2016). "Blair sent down by Braves; Gant recalled". MLB.com. Retrieved May 18, 2016.
- ^ Bowman, Mark (March 18, 2016). "Blair, Sims show Braves they're not far behind". MLB.com. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
- ^ Bowman, Mark (April 23, 2016). "Braves call up prospect Blair for rotation". MLB.com. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
- ^ O'Brien, David (April 23, 2016). "Braves prospect Blair to debut with start Sunday vs. Mets". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
- ^ James, Pat (June 26, 2016). "Struggling Blair optioned, Marksberry recalled". MLB.com. Retrieved June 25, 2016.
- ^ O'Brien, David (August 27, 2016). "Back from Triple-A, Braves rookie Blair set to start Sunday". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
- ^ Bowman, Mark (August 28, 2016). "Blair gets knocked around in return to Braves". MLB.com. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
- ^ Bowman, Mark (August 31, 2016). "Braves decide to remove Blair from rotation". MLB.com. Archived from the original on September 2, 2016. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
- ^ DiComo, Anthony; Knobler, Danny (September 19, 2016). "Blair, Braves stand up to Thor in New York". MLB.com. Retrieved September 19, 2016.
- ^ Knobler, Danny (September 19, 2016). "Blair's dedication, patience yield first victory". MLB.com. Retrieved September 20, 2016.
- ^ a b Aaron Blair Minor Leagues Statistics & History | Baseball-Reference.com
- ^ Bowman, Mark (April 20, 2017). "Kemp activated; Blair added for long relief". MLB.com. Retrieved April 21, 2017.
- ^ Bowman, Mark (May 31, 2018). "Acuna has pep in step, but Braves using caution". MLB.com. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
- ^ O'Brien, David (May 31, 2018). "Aaron Blair released by Braves". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved June 3, 2018.
- ^ "2020 Minor League Season Canceled". mlbtraderumors.com. June 30, 2020.
- ^ "Diamondbacks release former Herd star Blair". Herald Dispatch. June 1, 2020. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
- ^ Dunsmore, Ryan (July 9, 2020). "Skeeters set rosters for summer league". Fort Bend Herald. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
- ^ "WV Power Sign 2013 First Rounder Aaron Blair". May 14, 2021.
- ^ a b Stephens, Tim (July 20, 2021). "Giants acquire former Herd pitcher Blair from Power". Herald Dispatch. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
- ^ "Atlantic League Professional Baseball: Transactions".
- ^ "Atlantic League Professional Baseball: Transactions".
- ^ Bowman, Mark (May 5, 2016). "Mom behind Blair for every step of journey". MLB.com. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
- ^ Cotton, Steve (April 13, 2015). "Blair Hoping for Engagement in MLB". Conference USA. Archived from the original on May 7, 2016. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet
- Marshall Baseball Bio
- Aaron Blair on Twitter