Blake Weiman

Blake Gerald Weiman (born November 5, 1995) is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Chicago Cubs organization.

Blake Weiman
Weiman with the Tacoma Rainiers in 2023
Chicago Cubs
Pitcher
Born: (1995-11-05) November 5, 1995 (age 28) Littleton, Colorado
Bats: Right Throws: Left

Amateur career

Weiman attended Columbine High School in Columbine, Colorado. He signed to play college baseball at the University of Kansas.^[1] During his high school career, he played in three Colorado Rockies Futures games.^[2] In 2014, as a senior, he went 7–0 with a 1.40 ERA and was named to the All-Colorado baseball team.^[3] Undrafted out of high school in the 2014 Major League Baseball draft, he enrolled at Kansas.

In 2015, as a freshman at Kansas, Weiman appeared in 21 games (seven starts), going 2–7 with a 6.75 ERA.^[4] As a sophomore in 2016, he became a full-time starter, appearing in 17 games in which he went 2–7 with a 6.82 ERA.^[5] In 2017, in Weiman's junior season, he moved to the bullpen where he greatly improved, pitching to a 5–1 record with a 2.80 ERA, striking out 55 batters in 45 relief innings pitched. After his junior year, he was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the eighth round of the 2017 Major League Baseball draft.^[6][7]

Professional career

Pittsburgh Pirates

Weiman signed with Pittsburgh and made his professional debut with the West Virginia Black Bears of the Low–A New York–Penn League, going 4–3 with a 3.78 ERA in 21 relief appearances.^[8] He began the 2018 season with the West Virginia Power of the Single–A South Atlantic League and was promoted to the Bradenton Marauders of the High–A Florida State League and the Altoona Curve of the Double–A Eastern League during the year. In 67 relief innings pitched between the three clubs, he went 4–1 with a 2.42 ERA and 77 strikeouts.^[9] After the season, he played for the Surprise Saguaros of the Arizona Fall League and was named to the Fall Stars Game.^[10][11] Weiman was a non-roster invitee to 2019 spring training.^[12] He returned to Altoona to begin 2019 and was promoted to the Indianapolis Indians of the Triple–A International League in June after pitching to a 1.86 ERA over 19+1⁄3 relief innings.^[13][14] Over eight relief appearances with Indianapolis, Weiman went 0–1 with a 4.63 ERA. He missed nearly all of the last two months of the season due to injury.^[15]

Weiman did not play a minor league game in 2020 since the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.^[16] For the 2021 season, he returned to Indianapolis.^[17] He missed playing time in August due to injury.^[18] Over 35 relief appearances, Weiman went 5–0 with a 4.76 ERA and 45 strikeouts over 45+1⁄3 innings.^[19] He returned to the Indians to begin the 2022 season.^[20] On June 27, 2022, he was released.^[21]

Seattle Mariners

On July 6, 2022, the Seattle Mariners signed Weiman to a minor league contract and assigned him to the Double-A Arkansas Travelers.^[22] Over 33 relief appearances between the Indians and Travelers, he went 3-1 with a 4.47 ERA, 42 strikeouts, and six walks over 44+1⁄3 innings.^[23] On December 5, Weiman re-signed with the Mariners on a minor league deal. Weiman spent the 2023 season with the Triple–A Tacoma Rainiers, making 44 appearances out of the bullpen and recording a 5.17 ERA with 53 strikeouts across 54.0 innings of work. Weiman elected free agency following the season on November 6.^[24]

Chicago Cubs

On February 2, 2024, Weiman signed a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs.^[25]

References

1. "SIGNING DAY: Columbine High School". USA TODAY High School Sports. November 14, 2013. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
2. "Colorado Rockies Futures Game roster selected". Arvada Press. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
3. "2014 All-Colorado baseball team". The Denver Post. June 16, 2014. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
4. "KU baseball's Blake Weiman fares well in start against Northern Colorado". Kansan. 24 February 2016. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
5. "Sixth annual Rock Chalk Choice Awards held at the Lied Center". Kansan. 12 September 2017. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
6. "Three former Colorado high school players selected on Day Two of 2017 MLB Draft". The Denver Post. June 13, 2017. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
7. "Weiman selected by Pirates". Columbine Courier. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
8. "Trio of drafted Kansas baseball players flourishing in minor leagues". Kansan. 14 November 2017. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
9. "Blake Weiman Stats, Highlights, Bio – MiLB.com Stats – The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
10. "Pittsburgh Pirates Arizona Fall League Preview". Prospects 1500. September 12, 2018. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
11. "Pirates' Weiman comes 'a long way' in AFL". DK Pittsburgh Sports. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
12. "Pirates announce non-roster invites". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
13. "Pirates option Mitch Keller to Class AAA Indianapolis in first round of roster moves". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
14. Berry, Adam (June 18, 2019). "Pirates activate Chris Stratton from IL". MLB.com. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
15. "Pittsburgh Pirates: Opportunity for a Left-Handed Reliever Prospect in 2021". January 4, 2021.
16. "2020 Minor League Baseball season canceled". MLB.com.
17. May 1, 2021 (2021-02-17). "Pirates 2021 minor-league preview: Lots of sizzle in lower levels of the farm system – The Athletic". Theathletic.com. Retrieved 2021-05-04.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
18. Wilbur Miller (2021-09-17). "Pirates' Minor League Injured Lists – Pirates Prospects". Piratesprospects.com. Retrieved 2021-12-13.
19. "Pirates announce non-roster invitees". MLB.com.
20. "Pirates No. 1 Prospect, Oneil Cruz, Headlines Indy's Opening Day Roster".
21. "Minor Moves: Pirates Release a Pair of Left-Handed Pitchers".
22. "Wednesday's Transactions". Porterville Recorder. Associated Press.
23. "Blake Weiman Stats, Fantasy & News".
24. "2023 MiLB Free Agents". baseballamerica.com. 8 November 2023. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
25. "Chicago Cubs Seem to Have Signed Lefty Blake Weiman to a Minor League Deal". bleachernation.com. 29 January 2024. Retrieved February 3, 2024.

External links

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference (Minors)