JUPITER, Fla. — Paul Blackburn wanted solely seven pitches to retire the Miami Marlins‘ first three hitters Wednesday in his first Grapefruit League start of spring training. The one-inning outing might not have looked like much, but to the Mets and Blackburn, it was significant.
It was the first competitive outing since the right-hander underwent surgery to repair a cerebrospinal fluid leak in his mid back. It was a freak injury of sorts, one the doctors were left scratching their heads over since typically they only see a leak like that with an impact or some sort of trauma to the back. The conservative timeline for the October procedure was 4-5 months for a recovery, but Blackburn is well ahead of schedule with a start in February.
“The fact that he’s dealing with actual competitors, that’s an enormous step for him and for us,” mentioned supervisor Carlos Mendoza. “The guy that we know is going to throw strikes and he’s going to attack the zone.”
Blackburn threw seven pitches, all for strikes, so yeah, you may say he attacked the zone.
“I feel like I can move the ball and spin stuff normally,” he mentioned. “Everything feels good out there.”
Blackburn put a heavy emphasis on his sinker and sweeper over the winter. When the Mets acquired him on the commerce deadline from the A’s final summer time, pitching coach Jeremy Hefner requested how comfy he could be making some changes with each pitches and Blackburn, 31, was open to suggestions.
He began working with a brand new grip on his sinker and was getting comfy with it when he was injured in San Diego in August. Then got here the again damage and there was little he might do the remainder of the best way. When Blackburn met with the Mets in November earlier than he was in a position to begin throwing once more, Hefner revisited the adjustments.
Prior to now, his sweeper was extra of a slurve, however there wasn’t sufficient to distinguish it from his curveball. Blackburn eradicated the vertical break, flattening it out to interrupt on a horizontal airplane.
The California native now calls Idaho house within the offseason, which forces him to primarily throw inside. Blackburn grew extra comfy with each pitches because the winter progressed, however knew the actual take a look at could be throwing it outdoors to see the way it performed within the components. Because it seems, they play properly. Blackburn labored on refining his sinker and sweeper within the early days of camp.
Wednesday in opposition to the Marlins, he was exceptionally happy with the sinker. He obtained Kyle Stowers to roll over one on the primary pitch. He then threw two extra to Connor Norby, hanging him out on the third pitch with a slider. He threw two cutters to Jesus Sanchez, a left-handed hitter, after which a slider. Sanchez grounded it proper to Jeff McNeil at second base.
He achieved what he needed to, earlier than throwing about 15 extra pitches within the bullpen to rise up to twenty, which is what he’s aiming for every outing in the meanwhile.
“We kind of came in talking about using the sinker. First pitch of the game, sinker [for a] ground-out,” Blackburn mentioned. “Next two pitches were both sinkers, and we worked on my slider as well. So I kind of put them away with the slider, and I want to throw some cutters up and in to a lefty.”
Firstly of camp, the Mets have been hopeful that Blackburn could be prepared by Opening Day. There was by no means a doubt in Blackburn’s thoughts that he could be prepared. Now, with Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas each set to begin the season on the injured checklist, the Mets will want him to begin the season within the rotation.
“I’m extremely excited for this year,” Blackburn mentioned. “I’ve kind of put everything from last year behind me and I feel like I’m in a good spot.”
