Acquired in the Nick Mears trade, Bradley Blalock started six games with the Rockies
You’re reading the 2024 edition of Ranking the Rockies, where we take a look back at the season had by every player to play for the Rockies in 2024. The purpose of this list is to provide a snapshot of the player in context. The “Ranking” is an organizing principle that’s drawn from Baseball Reference’s WAR (rWAR). It’s not something the staff debated. We’ll begin with the player with the least amount of rWAR and end up with the player with the most.
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No. 33, Bradley Blalock (-0.3 rWAR)
Bradley Blalock started the season in the Milwaukee Brewers organization, starting 16 games at the Double-A level and eventually being promoted for his MLB debut with the Brewers on June 20th. The 24-year old righty pitched a scoreless eighth inning in his first appearance at big league level. With the Biloxi Shuckers, the Double-A affiliate of the Brewers, Blalock pitched 75 innings in 16 starts with an 4.07 ERA while also striking out 64 batters and walked 27.
On July 27th, the Rockies traded Nick Mears to the Brewers in exchange for two starting pitchers, Bradley Blalock and Yujanyer Herrera. Blalock was added to the 40-man roster and sent to Double-A Hartford following the trade. But he was only in Hartford for a couple weeks before the Rockies promoted Blalock to the major league team on August 12th. With the Rockies, Blalock made six starts between August 12th and September 15th when he was optioned back to Triple-A.
In those six starts, Blalock had a mixed bag of results. His first two starts after promotion were his best, with only six runs allowed in 16 2⁄3 innings while also striking out 11 batters. The Rockies went 2-1 against playoff teams (DBacks, Padres, and Yankees) in those first three starts. This includes a solid 5 2⁄3 inning start against the eventual American League champions New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on August 24th, which Blalock earned his first career win.
The final three starts were less positive. Blalock gave up at least four earned runs in each start and only made it to the fifth inning once and was the losing pitcher in all three starts. Overall, Blalock struggled with his command during his time in the majors, walking 19 batters and hit another in 29 innings with the Rockies. In comparison, he only walked 29 batters in 89 2⁄3 innings at the Double-A and Triple-A levels this season, which suggests that he may not have been ready to be starting in at top level just yet. Blalock had a 1:1 strikeout to walk ratio, which is not a recipe for success at the hitter friendly confines of Coors Field.
Looking forward to next season, Bradley Blalock will look to crack into the major league roster out of camp next season. Depending on what the Rockies do over the offseason, there may be a spot or two in the rotation. Cal Quantrill and Austin Gomber are up for arbitration this offseason, and Germán Márquez and Antonio Senzatela are still working their way back from injuries dating back to 2023. With reports that the front office will look to shed payroll this offseason, a spot or two may be open in the rotation for Blalock to secure form the veterans mentioned during spring training.
Another option for Blalock would be to work out of the bullpen for the Rockies if they feel he is ready for the majors next spring. But the Rockies traded for Blalock as a starter and used him to start this season as rookie, expectations are for him to be a starter. Depending on how camp goes, Bradley Blalock will probably start the season in Triple-A and be one of the first call-ups next season when a starter is needed.
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