| Blake Townsend | |
|---|---|
| Texas Rangers | |
| Relief pitcher | |
| Born:5 April 2001 Traralgon, Australia | |
Bats: Left Throws: Left | |
| Stats at Baseball Reference |
Blake Andrew Townsend (born 5 April 2001) is an Australian professional baseball pitcher in the Texas Rangers organization.
Townsend signed with the Seattle Mariners as an international free agent on 19 June 2018. [1] He made his professional debut in 2019 with the rookie-level Arizona League Mariners. Townsend did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. [2]
Townsend returned to action in 2021 with the rookie-level Arizona Complex League Mariners and High-A Everett AquaSox,posting an 0-1 record and 4.11 ERA with 26 strikeouts over five games (three starts). [3] He split the 2022 campaign between the ACL Mariners,the Single-A Modesto Nuts,Everett,and the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers. In 20 appearances for the four affiliates,Townsend accumulated a 2-2 record and 4.60 ERA with 37 strikeouts across 29+1⁄3 innings pitched. [4]
In 2023, Townsend made 35 appearances out of the bullpen for Modesto, registering a 4-3 record and 3.38 ERA with 55 strikeouts and one save across 48 innings of work. [5] He began the 2024 season with Everett, recording a 2.45 ERA with 30 strikeouts in 28 appearances. Townsend was released by the Mariners organization on 5 August 2024. [6]
On 21 August 2024, Townsend signed a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. [7] He made five appearances down the stretch for the Double-A Altoona Curve, posting a 1-0 record and 2.00 ERA with six strikeouts over nine innings of work. Townsend elected free agency following the season on 4 November. [8]
On 12 February 2025, Townsend re-signed with the Pirates organization on a new minor league contract. He made 34 appearances (12 starts) split between the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians, Altoona, and the High-A Greensboro Grasshoppers, accumulating an 8-4 record and 1.76 ERA with 81 strikeouts and one save over 92 innings of work. Townsend elected free agency following the season on 6 November. [9]
On 23 January 2026, Townsend signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers. [10]
Townsend represented the Australia national baseball team in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, [11] pitching in Australia's game against Japan. [12]
