Michael Blazek: Difference between revisions

{{short description|American baseball player (born 1989)}}

|image = Michael Blazek Brewers (cropped).JPG

|width = 300

|team = Washington Nationals

|number = 52

|birth_place = [[Las Vegas Valley|Las Vegas]], [[Nevada]], U.S.

|stat2value = 4.3650

*[[Washington Nationals]] ({{mlby|2019}}–present)

'''Michael Robert Blazek''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|b|l|eɪ|z|ɛ|k}} {{Respell|BLAY|zek}}; born March 16, 1989) is an American former [[professional baseball]] [[pitcher]]. forHe theplayed [[Washington Nationals]] ofin [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB). Blazek has also pitched in MLB for the [[St. Louis Cardinals]], [[Milwaukee Brewers]], and [[MilwaukeeWashington BrewersNationals]].

Blazek attended [[Arbor View High School]] in [[Las Vegas]]. After originally signing with the [[Nevada Wolf Pack baseball|University of Nevada]] as an infielder, Blazek later switched to sign with the [[College of Southern Nevada]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://archive.jsonline.com/sports/brewers/get-to-know-brewers-reliever-michael-blazek-b99734739z1-381331251.html/ |title=Get to Know: Brewers reliever Michael Blazek |work=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |first=Todd |last=Rosiak |date=May 30, 2016}}</ref> After throwing in front of scouts in the [[St. Louis Cardinals]] organization, including current [[Houston Astros]] general manager [[Jeff Luhnow]], Blazek was selected in the 35th round, with the 1,068th overall selection, of the [[2007 MLB Draftdraft]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/draft/y2007/drafttracker.jsp?p=0&s=30&sc=pick_number&so=ascending&st=number&ft=RD&fv=36|title=Draft Tracker|publisher=mlb|access-date=July 23, 2019}}</ref>

Blazek climbed his way through the minor leagues, originally as a starting pitcher. In 2011, Blazek made the [[Texas League]] All-Star Game after going 8–3 in the first half with a 5.31 ERA with Double-A [[Springfield Cardinals|Springfield]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ozarksfirst.com/news/five-springfield-cards-in-txl-all-star-game |title=Five Springfield Cards In TXL All-Star Game |work=KOLR |publisher=Nexstar Broadcasting}}</ref> Blazek was converted to a relief pitcher in 2012, and in 40 games with Springfield, he went 5–8 with a 4.16 ERA, striking out 83 in 80 innings.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.minorleagueball.com/2013/9/3/4689656/cardinals-brewers-complete-john-axford-trade-michael-blazek |title=Cardinals, Brewers complete Axford trade with Michael Blazek |work=Minor League Ball |first=John |last=Sickels |date=September 3, 2013}}</ref> After the season, Blazek had his contract purchased by the Cardinals, protecting from the Rule V Draft.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/cardinal-beat/cards-add-four-pitchers-to--man-roster/article_18848a00-5590-5e33-a811-9069b1124ab7.html |title=Cards add four pitchers to 40-man roster |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |first=Derrick |last=Goold |date=November 20, 2012}}</ref>

After 17 appearances and an 0.92 ERA to begin the 2013 season at Springfield, the Cardinals promoted Blazek to the major leagues for the first time.<ref>{{cite web|title=Cardinals recall rookie pitcher Michael Blazek|url=http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130526&content_id=48658970&vkey=pr_stl&c_id=stl|access-date=2017-01-07|publisher=[[St. Louis Cardinals]]}}</ref> However, Blazek did not make an appearance before being optioned to Triple-A [[Memphis Redbirds|Memphis]], making room for [[Michael Wacha]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/cardinal-beat/blazek-demoted-to-make-room-for-wacha/article_60451d66-98f9-5fee-8ded-90cb06ea6899.html |title=Blazek demoted to make room for Wacha |publisher=''[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]]'' |date=May 30, 2013}}</ref> Blazek was recalled by the Cardinals on June 22, and made his major league debut the same night in a relief appearance, throwing a scoreless inning against the [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]].<ref name=Thornburg>{{cite web |last=Thornburg |first=Chad |url=http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130622&content_id=51441826&vkey=news_stl&c_id=stl |title=Cardinals option Lyons to minors, recall Blazek |publisher=MLB.com via Cardinals official website |date=22 June 2013 |accessdateaccess-date=22 June 2013}}</ref><ref name="calledup">{{cite web |url=http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/cardinal-beat/cards-promote-blazek-send-lyons-to-memphis/article_02e852c1-6ab0-5218-9ba3-3b4b7b0cbed9.html |title=Cards promote Blazek, send Lyons to Memphis |publisher=''[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]]'' |date=June 22, 2013}}</ref> All told, Blazek was recalled to the majors and sent back down 4 times during the 2013 season by St. Louis. On September 1, he was included as the [[player to be named later]] in the trade that brought reliever [[John Axford]] from the [[Milwaukee Brewers]] two days earlier.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mlbdailydish.com/2013/9/1/4684458/brewers-acquire-michael-blazek-from-cardinals-axford-trade |title=Brewers acquire Michael Blazek from Cardinals |work=MLB Daily Dish |first=Chris |last=Cotillo |date=September 1, 2013}}</ref> With the Cardinals, Blazek made 11 appearances with a 6.97 ERA, walking 10 and striking out 10 in 10.1 innings.

On July 27, Blazek made his first career major league start, taking the injured [[Matt Garza]]'s turn in the rotation.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.brewcrewball.com/2017/7/26/16045740/michael-blazek-to-start-for-milwaukee-brewers-tomorrow-in-place-of |title=Michael Blazek to start for Milwaukee Brewers tomorrow in place of Matt Garza |work=SB Nation |first=Kyle |last=Lesniewski |date=July 26, 2017}}</ref> He gave up 8 runs in 2.1 innings against Washington while allowing 6 home runs. Of those, 5 came in the third inning, the most allowed in a single inning in major league history, and 4 were given up to consecutive batters.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/brewers-pitcher-tagged-nats-six-homers-historically-bad-start-182859306.html |title=Brewers pitcher tagged by Nats for six homers in historically bad start |work=Yahoo! Sports |first=Chris |last=Cwik |date=July 27, 2017}}</ref> He was designated for assignment on August 13, 2017, to make room for the just-acquired [[Neil Walker (baseball)|Neil Walker]] on the 40 man roster.<ref> {{cite web|url=http://m.brewers.mlb.com/news/article/248190712/travis-shaw-out-sunday-neil-walker-starts/?topicId=27118386|title=Shaw's absence gives Walker Brewers debut|publisher=mlb|author=Adam McCalvey}}</ref> He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A [[Colorado Springs Sky Sox]] on August 16. He became a free agent following the season on October 2.

On January 22, 2018, Blazek signed a minor league deal with the [[Arizona Diamondbacks]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/01/pirates-sign-ryan-lavarnway-minors.html|title=Minor MLB Transactions: 1/22/18|publisher=mlb trade rumors|author=Steve Adams|date=22 January 2018 }}</ref> He split the season between the rookie–level [[Arizona League Diamondbacks]], Double–A [[Jackson Generals]], and Triple–A [[Reno Aces]]. In 13 games split between the three affiliates, Blazek accumulated a 4.05 ERA with 18 strikeouts across {{fraction|13|1|3}} innings pitched. He elected free agency following the season on November 2,.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Minor League Free Agents 2018|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-free-agents-2018/|access-date=April 30, 2024|website=baseballamerica.com|language=en}}</ref>

On April 5, 2019, Blazek signed with the [[Lincoln Saltdogs]] of the independent [[American Association of Independent Professional Baseball|American Association]]. However, prior to the start of the season on May 11, his contract was purchased by the [[Washington Nationals]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.americanassociationbaseball.com/former-major-leaguer-blazek-sold-to-nationals-organization/|title=FORMER MAJOR LEAGUER BLAZEK SOLD TO NATIONALS ORGANIZATION|date=11 May 2019|publisher=American Association of Independent Professional Baseball}}</ref> On July 22, the Nationals selected his contract.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://curlyw.mlblogs.com/nationals-announce-roster-moves-505727c56603|title=Nationals announce roster moves|work=curlyw.mlblogs.com|author=Nationals Communications|date=July 22, 2019|accessdateaccess-date=July 22, 2019}}</ref> On July 23, 2019, Blazek made his first appearance for the Nationals, throwing two innings and giving up 1 run on 3 hits.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/gameday/rockies-vs-nationals/2019/07/23/565943?partnerId=LR_gameday#game_state=final,game_tab=box,game=565943|title=Rockies vs Nationals|publisherwork=mlb.com|access-date=July 23, 2019}}</ref> He was designated for assignment on July 31, 2019. He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A [[Fresno Grizzlies]] on August 3. Blazek elected free agency on October 1, 2019.

{{baseballstats |mlb=518468 |espn=32597 |br=b/blazemi01 |fangraphs=9654 |cube=129407 |brm=blazek001mic}}

[[Category:SportspeopleBaseball players from the Las Vegas Valley]]