Clayton Blackburn

Clayton Blackburn (born January 6, 1993) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. Blackburn twice made a Major League Baseball (MLB) active roster, but never appeared in a game.[1]

Clayton Blackburn
Pitcher
Born: (1993-01-06) January 6, 1993
Amarillo, Texas
Bats: Left Throws: Right

Career

Blackburn attended Edmond Santa Fe High School in Edmond, Oklahoma.[2][3]

San Francisco Giants

He was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 16th round of the 2011 Major League Baseball Draft.[4][5] He made his debut for the Arizona League Giants, finishing with a 1.08 earned run average (ERA) over ​33 1⁄3 innings pitched.

In 2012, Blackburn pitched for the Augusta Greenjackets.[6] He finished the year 8–4 with a 2.54 ERA and 143 strikeouts over ​131 1⁄3 innings. Prior to the 2013 season, he was ranked by Baseball Prospectus as the 95th best prospect in baseball.[7] He played the season with the San Jose Giants. He finished the year, 7–5 with a 3.65 ERA, 138 strikeouts over 133 innings. Blackburn was invited to spring training by the Giants in 2014.[8] He played that season with the Double-A Richmond Flying Squirrels and also pitched in two games for the Arizona League Giants. In 20 starts he went 5–7 with a 3.31 ERA and 94 strikeouts in 98 innings. After the season, he played for the Scottsdale Scorpions in the Arizona Fall League.[9]

Blackburn spent 2015 with the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats,[10] finishing 10–4 with a 2.85 ERA and 99 strikeouts in 123 innings pitched. Blackburn was invited to spring training again in 2016, but started the season in Triple-A.[11] Blackburn was called up to the Giants for the first time on May 12, 2016,[12] but he did not appear in a game before being optioned back to Triple-A on May 17.[13]

Texas Rangers

On April 16, 2017, the Giants traded Blackburn to the Texas Rangers in exchange for Frandy De La Rosa and cash considerations.[14] He was called up to the major leagues on July 31, 2017. He was sent down to the minor leagues three days later without appearing in a game,.[15]

Blackburn underwent Tommy John surgery after tearing the ulnar collateral ligament of the elbow in April 2018. He spent the entire 2018 season on the 60-day disabled list, and consequently did not appear in any games.[15] He was outrighted to Triple-A after the season but elected to become a free agent.[16]

Cincinnati Reds

On December 21, 2018, Blackburn signed a minor league deal with the Cincinnati Reds.[16] He was released on July 8, 2019, without having played during the 2019 season. On July 18, 2019, Blackburn announced his retirement from baseball.[17]

Personal

Blackburn's brother died in March 2015.[10][18]

References
  1. Mark Polishuk (July 18, 2019). "Minor MLB Transactions: 7/18/19". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved July 18, 2019.
  2. "Edmond Santa Fe's Clayton Blackburn outduels Deer Creek's Michael Fulmer". News OK. April 30, 2011. Retrieved March 31, 2014.
  3. "Squirrels' Blackburn, Fleet enjoy high school connection". Richmond.com. Retrieved August 27, 2020.
  4. Bob Przybylo. "Santa Fe's Conor Costello, Clayton Blackburn almost selected back-to-back". News OK. Retrieved March 31, 2014.
  5. Emrich, Robert. "Prospect Q&A: Blackburn's big rise | MiLB.com News | The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". Milb.com. Retrieved March 31, 2014.
  6. Byler, Billy (July 9, 2012). "GreenJackets starter Clayton Blackburn isn't bother by record". Chronicle.augusta.com. Retrieved March 31, 2014.
  7. Parks, Jason (February 25, 2013). "Prospects Will Break Your Heart". Baseballprospectus.com. Retrieved March 31, 2014.
  8. "Giants prospect Blackburn forms a link with Hudson". Csnbayarea.com. February 24, 2014. Archived from the original on April 6, 2014. Retrieved March 31, 2014.
  9. Blackburn among Giants prospects in Fall League
  10. "Oklahoma City Dodgers: Former Edmond Santa Fe standout Clayton Blackburn moves on after brother's death". Newsok.com. June 4, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2020.
  11. Baggarly, Andrew (March 20, 2016). "Giants option Clayton Blackburn but there's nothing discouraging about it; Kyle Blanks, Ricky Romero among seven other roster trims". Bay Area News Group.
  12. Shea, John (May 12, 2016). "Giants promote Clayton Blackburn, option Jarrett Parker". San Francisco Chronicle.
  13. Baggarly, Andrew (May 17, 2016). "UPDATED: Giants activate George Kontos, Sergio Romo makes progress, etc". Bay Area News Group.
  14. Services, Media. "Giants trade Clayton Blackburn to Rangers for minor league infielder". KNBR. Retrieved April 16, 2017.
  15. Adam J. Morris (April 9, 2018). "Clayton Blackburn to have Tommy John surgery". Lone Star Ball. SB Nation. Retrieved May 31, 2019.
  16. RotoWire Staff (December 21, 2018). "Reds' Clayton Blackburn: Latches on with Reds". CBS Sports. Retrieved May 31, 2019.
  17. Johnson, Dalton (July 21, 2019). "Former Giants pitching prospect Clayton Blackburn announces retirement | NBCS Bay Area". Nbcsports.com. Retrieved August 27, 2020.
  18. Baggarly, Andrew (February 20, 2016). "One year after enduring personal tragedy, Clayton Blackburn has regained control — and is poised to contribute to Giants pitching staff". Bay Area News Group.
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