Blake was selected in the second comp round of the 2022 MLB draft – the 76th pick overall.
After a very impressive stint in Rome to close out the 2024 season, there were high expectations for Blake, especially since he was more than a full year removed from Tommy John surgery. The biggest goals I had for Blake this season would be to pitch a full season and show sustained control and speed on his fastball and cutter throughout the season. With an erratic curveball and average turnover, his ability to locate the two previous pitches would be a big sign of a successful season.
It’s safe to call Blake’s season a success. He maintained a 3.13 ERA over 14 starts for the Columbus Clingstones while striking out eight batters per nine. The walking rate increased slightly, to 3.63 walks per nine, but his cutter really shined. He was able to throw it to either side of the plate and as a result was able to drop his off-speed stuff to cause weak contact. He was rewarded with a promotion to Triple-A Gwinnett, where, already at a career high in innings, he naturally started to slow down a bit. His velocity dropped as he got deeper into games and as a result, his walk rate increased, before he was eventually moved to the bullpen to slow the number of innings he collected.
He dealt with some shoulder issues later in the season that also affected the results, but he was able to finish the season as healthy as a pitcher could and regained that speed, finishing the season with great promise.
Blake’s cutter. It looked phenomenal at times. Blake was able to locate it against lefties and righties on both sides of the plate and caused extremely weak contact with it. Then he was able to flash his four-seams in the top third really well to generate scents.
His arm slowing down a bit toward the end of the season brought up a bit of a discussion about reliever risk. With 103 innings pitched, you definitely wanted him to keep the velocity a little better throughout the season if he wanted to be a starter.
I think the expectation for Blake is to play in the big leagues next year. Blake is Rule 5 eligible, so the Braves must make a decision on whether to add him to the 40-man roster or risk losing him in the draft. The Braves also have to decide whether to move him to the bullpen full-time, giving him a chance to potentially start the season in Atlanta, or if they want to build on the career high in innings and keep him as a starter. Whatever the route, Blake is expected to end up in the Majors in 2026.
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