Dread him, run from him, Ty Blach arrives just the same
Welcome to the 2024 edition of Ranking the Rockies, where we take a look back at every player to log playing time 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 lowest rWAR and end up with the player with the highest.
★ ★ ★
No. 45, Ty Blach, -0.7 rWAR
When I play franchise mode in MLB The Show, I usually have one veteran depth piece stashed in Triple-A should the need arise to add them to the big-league roster. He performs adequately at the level, so I keep re-signing him because he’s cheap. Should he be needed, I add him to the roster for a brief time, accept the bad results until I can replace him, and outright him to Triple-A with the knowledge that he’ll be back if I need him.
Ty Blach is that player for the Colorado Rockies,
In his third year with the Rockies, the Colorado native turned in his worst season yet at the big-league level with the organization. After cracking Opening Day roster the past two seasons, Blach failed to do so in 2024 but it didn’t take long before he was suiting up at 20th and Blake.
Blach first joined the Rockies on April 21 after Kyle Freeland went on the injured list with a left elbow strain. He tossed a quick scoreless inning on April 22 before making his first start of 2024 on April 24. Facing the San Diego Padres at home in what was presumed to be a spot start, Blach tossed five innings, giving up four runs on five hits.
Over his next outings in relief, Blach tossed seven innings, giving up just one run with four strikeouts and a walk. Peter Lambert had initially taken over Freeland’s spot in the rotation but with his struggles and Blach’s flash of success, the Rockies decided to flip the two and give Blach the chance to start.
From May 12 to June 20, Blach made eight starts for the Rockies posting a 5.66 ERA with 24 strikeouts and nine walks. It was a mixed bag as sometimes Blach would cruise through the opposing lineup like when he threw seven innings having allowed just two runs against the Cleveland Guardians at Coors Field. Sometimes he would get knocked around for six runs in three innings like he did in San Francisco against the Giants. Sometimes, Blach would toss five innings while giving up four runs as he did on several occasions in that stretch.
There was never an issue of throwing strikes for Blach, but with a low velocity and an inclination for pitching to contact, he gave up 60 hits, including nine home runs, in those eight starts, giving opponents a slash of .343/.374/.577.
Once Freeland was back late in June, Blach returned to his post in the bullpen for the next month. From June 26 to July 26, he made six appearances, including one start, for a total of 9 1⁄3 innings where he allowed 14 runs on 20 hits. He issued six walks against five strikeouts and coughed up four home runs. The Rockies designated him for assignment on July 27 and sent him to Triple-A for the rest of the year until he made two final starts with the Rockies in September.
In those two starts, he allowed 10 runs on 11 hits in 7 2⁄3 innings combined, once again coughing up four home runs, three of which came in his final start. The Rockies again designated him for assignment and outrighted him to Triple-A where he finished the month and elected free agency at the conclusion of the season.
For those counting at home, Blach made 20 appearances with 12 starts in 2024 for the Rockies, posting a 6.94 ERA in 71 1⁄3 innings. He gave up 17 home runs while recording 36 strikeouts and 18 walks. While not always the best option, he at least ate some innings for a team that struggled to fill the rotation at points in the year.
It’s understandable why the Rockies have kept him around. In Triple-A he does display some reliability on the mound. In 12 appearances with the Isotopes, including nine starts, Blach had a 4.17 ERA in 41 innings of work. He doesn’t walk many batters and fills their desire to have a groundball pitcher.
However, it is quite apparent that Blach isn’t the highest-caliber pitcher at the big league level. In all reality, he is the “break glass in case of emergency” type of pitcher that works great as a depth piece but should be used sparingly because of the results he brings to the big leagues. Over the past two seasons, the Rockies have devoted plenty of time and effort into Blach starting on the mound, time that could have been better served for someone else.
At 33 years old, Blach isn’t getting any younger but there is a strong possibility that we will see his name again come February as he signs yet another minor league contract. Should he somehow find his way back to the team, the Rockies have to make sure he isn’t the top depth piece they turn to when injuries in the rotation come up again.
★ ★ ★
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