Blake Beavan

Last updated

Blake Beavan
Blake Beavan on April 15, 2012.jpg
Beavan with the Seattle Mariners
Starting Pitcher
Born: (1989-01-17) January 17, 1989 (age 35)
Irving, Texas, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
July 3, 2011, for the Seattle Mariners
Last MLB appearance
April 15, 2014, for the Seattle Mariners
Men's baseball
Representing Flag of the United States.svg  United States
World Youth Baseball Championship
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2005 Mexico Team

Blake William Beavan (born January 17, 1989) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. A first-round draft pick in the 2007 MLB Draft by the Texas Rangers, Beavan was traded to the Seattle Mariners in 2010 in a package of prospects for Cliff Lee. In 2011, he made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut with the Mariners.

Contents

Early life

Beavan began playing baseball at the age of 5 in the Irving Boys Baseball Association. [1]

Career

Amateur career

Beavan attended Irving High School in Irving, Texas. He was voted the district's freshman of the year in 2004. [2] In 2006, his junior season, he led Irving to the playoffs for the first time since 1999. He had the lowest earned run average (ERA), 0.36, in Class 5A. [3] That year, he played for the United States junior national baseball team and competed in the 2006 World Junior Baseball Championship. He also won Baseball America 's 2006 Youth Player of the Year award, as the United States won the silver medal. [4]

In 2007, his senior season in high school, Beavan compiled a 9–2 win–loss record, a 0.19 ERA, and 139 strikeouts in 73 innings pitched, [1] allowing only two earned runs in 11 starts. [5] He threw a perfect game in March 2007. [6] In recognition of his achievements, Beavan was named 2007 Texas high school player of the year. [7] Beavan committed to attend Navarro College, a junior college in Corsicana, Texas, where he intended to play college baseball. [8]

Texas Rangers

Heading into the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft, Beavan was considered a top prospect, with the ability to throw his fastball at 94 miles per hour (151 km/h) consistently, and as fast as 98 miles per hour (158 km/h). [9] The Texas Rangers selected Beavan in the first round, with the 17th overall selection. He was one of three high school pitchers chosen by the Rangers in the first round of the draft. [10] Beavan signed with the Rangers, foregoing college, for a signing bonus of $1.5 million. [11] In his first professional season, Beavan had a 10–6 record and a 2.37 ERA in 23 games started for the Clinton LumberKings of the Class-A Midwest League. [1] By 2009, Beavan pitched for the Bakersfield Blaze of the Class-A Advanced California League. [12] He was promoted to the Frisco RoughRiders of the Class-AA Texas League in June 2009. [13]

In 2010, Beavan had a 10–5 record and a 2.78 ERA in 17 games started at for Frisco, where he was named the Rangers' Minor League Pitcher of the Month for May. [14] He received a promotion to the Oklahoma City RedHawks of the Class-AAA Pacific Coast League (PCL).

Seattle Mariners

Soon after the promotion, on July 9, 2010, Beavan was traded to the Seattle Mariners along with Justin Smoak and fellow prospects Matt Lawson and Josh Lueke for Cliff Lee and Mark Lowe. [15] The Mariners assigned Beavan to the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx of the Class-AA Southern League. [16]

Beavan started the 2011 season with the Tacoma Rainers of the Class-AAA PCL. He pitched to a 5–3 record and a 4.45 ERA with Tacoma. On July 2, 2011, the Mariners announced that Beavan would be making his Major League debut on July 3 against the San Diego Padres. [17] The Seattle Mariners beat the Padres 3–1 with Beavan going 7 innings and giving up 1 earned run on 3 hits. [18]

Beavan entered the 2012 season in contention for a spot in the Mariners' starting rotation. [19] He won a spot in the rotation for Opening Day. Beavan threw a quality start opposing Philip Humber during Humber's perfect game on April 21, 2012. [7]

On August 2, 2014, the Mariners outrighted Beavan off of the 40-man roster. [20]

Arizona Diamondbacks

On December 4, 2014, the Arizona Diamondbacks signed Beavan to a minor league deal. [21] He was released on July 13, 2015.

Bridgeport Bluefish

On May 18, 2016, Beavan signed with the Bridgeport Bluefish of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. [22]

Pericos De Puebla

On March 10, 2017, Beavan signed with the Pericos de Puebla of the Liga Mexicana de Beisbol.

New York Mets

On May 4, 2017, Beavan signed with the New York Mets on a minor league deal and was assigned to Las Vegas 51s. In 6 starts split between Las Vegas and the Double–A Binghamton Rumble Ponies, Beavan recorded a 3.79 ERA with 24 strikeouts in 35+2⁄3 innings pitched. He elected free agency following the season on November 6. [23]

Pitching style

Beavan threw five pitches. His primary pitch was a four-seam fastball at 90–93 mph, and he had a two-seam fastball with similar velocity that was used frequently against left-handed hitters (less so against righties). His main off-speed pitch was a curveball in the mid-to-upper 70s, although he also threw a changeup to lefties and a slider to righties (each in the low 80s).

Personal life / Post playing career

Beavan is the youngest of three children. His elder brothers are 13 and 11 years older than him. Both of his brothers played college baseball, but neither played professionally. [9]

Beavan's wife, Allison, is a cyclist. The two rode together in an effort to help Beavan lose weight during the 2011–12 offseason. [19]

As of 2019, Beaven was a youth baseball coach for Dallas Tigers WEST. [24]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colby Lewis</span> American baseball player (born 1979)

Colby Preston Lewis, popularly nicknamed "Cobra", is a former American professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Detroit Tigers, Oakland Athletics, and Texas Rangers and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Félix Hernández</span> Venezuelan baseball player (born 1986)

Félix Abraham Hernández García, nicknamed "King Félix", is a Venezuelan former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Seattle Mariners from 2005 through 2019.

Jeffrey Ross Zimmerman is a Canadian former professional baseball pitcher. He pitched in Major League Baseball from 1999 to 2001 for the Texas Rangers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philip Humber</span> American baseball player (born 1982)

Philip Gregory Humber is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He pitched for the New York Mets, Minnesota Twins, Kansas City Royals, Chicago White Sox, and Houston Astros in seven seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). Although he debuted in the major leagues in 2006 and had worked mostly as a starter in the minor leagues, he did not become a regular MLB starter until 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Saunders</span> American baseball player (born 1981)

Joseph Francis Saunders is an American former professional baseball pitcher. Saunders pitched in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Arizona Diamondbacks, Baltimore Orioles, Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rafael Pérez (baseball)</span> Dominican baseball player

Rafael Jerome Pérez is a Dominican former left-handed professional baseball relief pitcher. He was signed by the Cleveland Indians as an undrafted free agent in January 2002 and played with them through 2012. He lives in Freeport, New York, on Long Island.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Young (pitcher)</span> American baseball player (born 1979)

Christopher Ryan Young is an American former professional baseball pitcher and current general manager of the Texas Rangers since 2020. He played in Major League Baseball as a right-handed pitcher from 2000 to 2017 for the Texas Rangers, San Diego Padres, New York Mets, Seattle Mariners and the Kansas City Royals. Young was a 2007 National League (NL) All-Star player as a member of the Padres, and was a member of the 2015 World Series winning Kansas City Royals team. After his playing career, he worked for the Major League Baseball front office before becoming the general manager of the Rangers in 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Lowe</span> American baseball player

Mark Christopher Lowe is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Cleveland Indians, Toronto Blue Jays, and Detroit Tigers. His fastball has been clocked as high as 101 mph. He also throws a slider and a circle changeup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dave Burba</span> American baseball player and coach (born 1966)

David Allen Burba is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played for the Seattle Mariners, San Francisco Giants, Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers, and Milwaukee Brewers of Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1990 to 2004. In his 15-year MLB career, Burba's record was 115–87, with 1,398 strikeouts, and a 4.49 ERA. He is currently the pitching coach for the Arizona Complex League Rockies. His uncle was former Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher, Ray Hathaway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neftalí Feliz</span> Dominican baseball player (born 1988)

Neftalí Feliz Antonio is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher for the Generales de Durango of the Mexican League. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers, Detroit Tigers, Pittsburgh Pirates, Milwaukee Brewers, Kansas City Royals, Philadelphia Phillies, and Los Angeles Dodgers. Feliz won the American League Rookie of the Year Award in 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aaron Poreda</span> American baseball player (born 1986)

Aaron Anderman Poreda is an American former professional baseball pitcher.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeanmar Gómez</span> Venezuelan baseball player

Jeanmar Alejandro Gómez is a Venezuelan former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cleveland Indians, Pittsburgh Pirates, Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago White Sox, and Texas Rangers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doug Fister</span> American baseball player (born 1984)

Douglas Wildes Fister is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Seattle Mariners, Detroit Tigers, Washington Nationals, Houston Astros, Boston Red Sox, and Texas Rangers from 2009 through 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Héctor Noesí</span> Dominican baseball player (born 1987)

Héctor Noesí is a Dominican former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees, Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers, Chicago White Sox, and Miami Marlins and in the KBO League for the Kia Tigers. Noesí throws and bats right-handed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Jones (baseball)</span> American baseball player

James Steven Jones is an American professional baseball pitcher and outfielder who is a free agent. He was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the fourth round of the 2009 Major League Baseball draft and made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut with them in 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Wilhelmsen (baseball)</span> American baseball player (born 1983)

Thomas Mark Wilhelmsen is an American former professional baseball relief pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers, and Arizona Diamondbacks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philip Humber's perfect game</span>

Philip Humber of the Chicago White Sox pitched a perfect game against the Seattle Mariners by retiring all 27 batters he faced on April 21, 2012, as the White Sox defeated the Mariners 4–0. It was the 21st perfect game in Major League Baseball (MLB) history and the third by a member of the White Sox. It was Humber's first career complete game, although he had come close to achieving no-hitters on several occasions at several levels of organized baseball. The game was played in Seattle and broadcast regionally by Fox Sports in the two teams' metropolitan areas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brandon Maurer</span> American baseball player (born 1990)

Brandon Eugene Maurer is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Seattle Mariners, San Diego Padres and Kansas City Royals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ryne Stanek</span> American baseball player (born 1991)

Ryne Thomas Stanek is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Tampa Bay Rays, Miami Marlins, and Houston Astros.

George Joseph Kirby is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2022.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Texas Rangers pitcher Blake Beavan makes donation to Irving Boys Baseball Association | texasrangers.com: Official Info" (Press release). Mlb.mlb.com. February 25, 2009. Retrieved May 3, 2012.
  2. ↑ "Irving, Nimitz players earn 8-5A honors". The Dallas Morning News . May 30, 2004. Retrieved May 3, 2012.
  3. ↑ MacMahon, Tim (May 1, 2006). "BASEBALL: IRVING'S BLAKE BEAVAN". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved May 3, 2012.
  4. ↑ Matthews, Alan (December 14, 2006). "High School: Youth Player Of The Year: Youth Player Of The Year: Blake Beavan". BaseballAmerica.com. Retrieved May 3, 2012.
  5. ↑ Smith, Bryan. "Beavan still searching for velocity". Milb.com. Retrieved May 3, 2012.
  6. ↑ George, Brandon (March 7, 2007). "Irving ace throws perfect game". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved May 3, 2012.
  7. 1 2 Larue, Larry (April 22, 2012). "White Sox pitcher Philip Humber throws 21st perfect game in history to stifle M's, 4–0: 27 UP, 27 DOWN: White Sox pitcher Philip Humber throws 21st perfect game in history to stifle M's, 4–0". The Olympian . Archived from the original on February 4, 2013. Retrieved April 25, 2012.
  8. ↑ Drew Davison. "Notes: Slow negotiations for Beavan | MLB.com: News". Mlb.mlb.com. Retrieved May 3, 2012.
  9. 1 2 Drew Davison. "Beavan brings competitive flair to Draft | texasrangers.com: News". Atlanta.braves.mlb.com. Retrieved May 3, 2012.[ permanent dead link ]
  10. ↑ "Teams just better do their homework". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. March 30, 2008. p. CC5. Retrieved October 13, 2012.
  11. ↑ "Rangers sign first-rounder Beavan". USA Today. August 14, 2007. Retrieved May 3, 2012.
  12. ↑ Jason GreyFantasyArchive (June 3, 2009). "Blake Beavan, Michael Main among interesting young pitchers in Texas system – Fantasy Baseball". ESPN. Retrieved May 3, 2012.
  13. ↑ "Beavan struggles in debut with Riders: Rangers' top pick in '07 rocked for six runs". The Dallas Morning News. June 16, 2009. Retrieved May 3, 2012.
  14. ↑ "RHP Blake Beavan and OF Brandon Boggs Among Winners of Club's May Minor League Awards | texasrangers.com: Official Info". Seattle.mariners.mlb.com. June 14, 2010. Retrieved May 3, 2012.
  15. ↑ T.R. Sullivan (June 29, 2010). "Rangers acquire Lee from Mariners". Mlb.mlb.com. Retrieved May 3, 2012.
  16. ↑ Mike McCall (June 18, 2010). "Mariners deal Lee to Rangers for Smoak | Mariners.com: News". Mlb.mlb.com. Retrieved May 3, 2012.
  17. ↑ "Beavan to make debut on Sunday". Seattle.mariners.mlb.com. Retrieved May 3, 2012.
  18. ↑ "MLB.com Gameday | MLB.com: Gameday". Mlb.mlb.com. July 3, 2011. Retrieved May 3, 2012.
  19. 1 2 Baker, Geoff (February 17, 2012). "Mariners Blog | Blake Beavan hoping to ride back into Mariners rotation | Seattle Times Newspaper". Seattletimes.nwsource.com. Retrieved May 3, 2012.
  20. ↑ Baer, Bill (August 2, 2014). "Mariners outright Blake Beavan, place Corey Hart on the DL, and activate James Paxton" . Retrieved May 31, 2016.
  21. ↑ "Minor Moves: Beavan, Herrera, Sitton, Kohn, Carrera, Obispo" . Retrieved May 31, 2016.
  22. ↑ "Mariners notebook: Run production spiking upward in May" . Retrieved May 31, 2016.
  23. ↑ "Minor League Free Agents 2017". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  24. ↑ "Dallas Tigers Baseball Teams | dallastigersbaseball.com" (Press release). July 5, 2019. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.