Travis Blackley
Encyclopedia
Travis Jarrod Blackley (born 4 November 1982, in Melbourne
, Australia
) is a former starting pitcher
for the Kia Tigers
of the Korean Baseball Organization
. He bats and throws left-handed
.
as an undrafted free agent
on 29 October 2000. He began his professional career with the Single-A Everett AquaSox
in . He had a 6-1 record with a 3.32 ERA
in 14 starts. He also had 90 strikeouts in 78⅔ innings and held opponents to a .211 batting average
.
Blackley played for the Single-A San Bernardino Stampede in . He had a 5-9 record with a 3.49 ERA in 21 games, 20 of which were starts. He had 152 strikeouts in 121.1 innings, his strikeouts were second among all Mariners minor leaguers.
Blackley played for the Double-A San Antonio Missions
in . His 2003 season was his most impressive of his minor league career. He led the Texas League
with 17 wins; was second in ERA (2.61), fourth in strikeouts (144) and fourth in innings pitched (162.1). His 17 wins were the most by a Texas League pitcher
since Jeff Reardon
of the Jackson Mets
in .
He participated in the Texas League Postseason All-Star game and was named to the World squad in the 2003 All-Star Futures Game
at U.S. Cellular Field
on 15 July. Blackley was also named the Mariners minor league pitcher of the year by the organization.
In , Blackley was named by Baseball America
as the #63 prospect out of 100 prospects. He was named the third best prospect in the Mariners system, behind pitchers Félix Hernández
and Clint Nageotte
, and was their top left-handed
prospect. Blackley began the season in Triple-A with the Tacoma Rainiers
. The Mariners, after trading Freddy Garcia
to the Chicago White Sox
, needed another starter and Blackley's contract was purchased on 1 July 2004. He made his major league debut on that same day against the Texas Rangers
and allowed 4 runs on 6 hits in 5⅔ innings and got the win. He became just the sixth pitcher in Mariners history to start and win on their major league debut.
After spending a month with the major league club in which he went 1-3 with a 10.04 ERA in 6 starts, Blackley was optioned back to Triple-A Tacoma on 1 August 2004. He had an 8-6 record with a 3.83 ERA in 19 games (18 starts) with Tacoma in 2004 before ending the season on the disabled list with shoulder tendinitis in his left arm.
Blackley missed the whole season while recovering from left shoulder surgery.
In March of , Blackley was slated to play in the World Baseball Classic
with team Australia
but was held back to continue rehabbing his shoulder.
Blackley spent the majority of the 2006 season with Double-A San Antonio. After going 8-11 with a 4.06 ERA in 25 starts in Double-A, Blackley was promoted to Triple A Tacoma at the end of August. He made 2 starts in Tacoma and had a 1-1 record with a 4.09 ERA.
, he was traded to the San Francisco Giants for outfielder
Jason Ellison
. Blackley was immediately optioned to Triple-A Fresno
. Blackley played the whole minor league season with the Grizzlies. He went 10-8 with a 4.66 ERA in 28 starts. He was recalled on 21 September, and on 23 September made his first major league start since 31 July 2004 against the Cincinnati Reds
. Blackley won his debut, giving up two runs in the first inning and three hits in five innings. He walked four and struck out five.
in the major league portion of the Rule 5 draft
.
Towards the end of the spring training, Blackley was placed on waivers. The Giants did not reclaim him and the Phillies outrighted him to Triple-A Lehigh Valley
. He became a free agent after the season ended.
.
for the inaugural Australian Baseball League
season, on 2 December 2010 he was activated onto the 22 man roster and made his debut for the Aces on 5 December starting against the Sydney Blue Sox
pitching a rain shortened 1 hit shutout
. Blackley previously played for the Victoria Aces
in the semi-professional Claxton Shield
.
but did not play due to an ongoing shoulder injury. He debuted for Australia in the 2007 Baseball World Cup
and pitched 0-1 with a 1.64 ERA over the tournament, his only loss coming against the Japan national baseball team
when Tadashi Settsu
threw a shutout against Australia in the quarter final, with Australia finishing 5th. He played again for Australia in the 2009 World Baseball Classic
pitching a no decision against Cuba
and a 1.59 ERA over the tournament.
and they have a son, Tristan (born 6 January 2005). They reside in Phoenix, Arizona
.
Blackley's younger brother, Adam
, formerly played in the Boston Red Sox
farm system and currently plays with him for the Aces in the ABL and the L&D Amsterdam
of the Dutch league Honkbal Hoofdklasse
.
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
) is a former starting pitcher
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
for the Kia Tigers
Kia Tigers
Kia Tigers Professional Baseball Club is a Korean professional baseball team founded in 1982. The Tigers are a member team of the Korean Baseball Organization and the most successful team in Korean baseball having won the national championship, the Korean Series, ten times, with a perfect 10-0...
of the Korean Baseball Organization
Korean Baseball Organization
Korea Professional Baseball is the highest level league of baseball in South Korea. The Korean romanization is Hanguk Peuro Yagu , a league title which mirrors Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. Korea Professional Baseball was originally founded with six teams in 1982 and currently has eight...
. He bats and throws left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
.
Seattle Mariners
Blackley was signed by the Seattle MarinersSeattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
as an undrafted free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
on 29 October 2000. He began his professional career with the Single-A Everett AquaSox
Everett AquaSox
The Everett AquaSox are a minor league baseball team in Everett, Washington, USA. They are a Short-Season A classification team in the Northwest League, of which they are the current defending champions...
in . He had a 6-1 record with a 3.32 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
in 14 starts. He also had 90 strikeouts in 78⅔ innings and held opponents to a .211 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.
Blackley played for the Single-A San Bernardino Stampede in . He had a 5-9 record with a 3.49 ERA in 21 games, 20 of which were starts. He had 152 strikeouts in 121.1 innings, his strikeouts were second among all Mariners minor leaguers.
Blackley played for the Double-A San Antonio Missions
San Antonio Missions
The San Antonio Missions are a minor league baseball team based in San Antonio, Texas. The team, which plays in the Texas League, is the Double-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres major-league club. The Missions play in Nelson W. Wolff Municipal Stadium, located in San Antonio...
in . His 2003 season was his most impressive of his minor league career. He led the Texas League
Texas League
The Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892...
with 17 wins; was second in ERA (2.61), fourth in strikeouts (144) and fourth in innings pitched (162.1). His 17 wins were the most by a Texas League pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
since Jeff Reardon
Jeff Reardon
Jeffrey James Reardon , nicknamed "The Terminator" for his intimidating presence on the mound and 98 mph fastball, is a former professional baseball relief pitcher from 1979-1994 who played for the New York Mets, Montreal Expos, Minnesota Twins, and Boston Red Sox, Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati...
of the Jackson Mets
Jackson Mets
The Jackson Mets were a professional baseball team based in Jackson, Mississippi, from 1975 through 1990. As of 2010, they are the longest-tenured club to be based in the Jackson metropolitan area...
in .
He participated in the Texas League Postseason All-Star game and was named to the World squad in the 2003 All-Star Futures Game
All-Star Futures Game
The All-Star Futures Game is an annual baseball exhibition game between a team of top minor league prospects from the United States and a team of prospects from other parts of the World...
at U.S. Cellular Field
U.S. Cellular Field
U.S. Cellular Field is a baseball ballpark in Chicago, Illinois. Owned by the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority, it is the home of the Chicago White Sox of Major League Baseball's American League. The park opened for the 1991 season, after the White Sox had spent 81 years at old Comiskey Park...
on 15 July. Blackley was also named the Mariners minor league pitcher of the year by the organization.
In , Blackley was named by Baseball America
Baseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
as the #63 prospect out of 100 prospects. He was named the third best prospect in the Mariners system, behind pitchers Félix Hernández
Félix Hernández
Félix Abraham Hernández , nicknamed "King Félix", is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Seattle Mariners....
and Clint Nageotte
Clint Nageotte
Clinton Scott Nageotte [nuh-ZHOTT] is a right-handed pitcher who is currently a free agent. Nageotte was selected by the Seattle Mariners in the 5th round of the 1999 Major League Baseball Draft, and played parts of three seasons for the Mariners, from through...
, and was their top left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
prospect. Blackley began the season in Triple-A with the Tacoma Rainiers
Tacoma Rainiers
The Tacoma Rainiers are a minor league baseball team that plays in the Pacific Coast League , and are the Triple-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners...
. The Mariners, after trading Freddy Garcia
Freddy García
Freddy Antonio García , nicknamed "The Chief", is a Venezuelan Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher who is currently a free agent...
to the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
, needed another starter and Blackley's contract was purchased on 1 July 2004. He made his major league debut on that same day against the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
and allowed 4 runs on 6 hits in 5⅔ innings and got the win. He became just the sixth pitcher in Mariners history to start and win on their major league debut.
After spending a month with the major league club in which he went 1-3 with a 10.04 ERA in 6 starts, Blackley was optioned back to Triple-A Tacoma on 1 August 2004. He had an 8-6 record with a 3.83 ERA in 19 games (18 starts) with Tacoma in 2004 before ending the season on the disabled list with shoulder tendinitis in his left arm.
Blackley missed the whole season while recovering from left shoulder surgery.
In March of , Blackley was slated to play in the World Baseball Classic
World Baseball Classic
The World Baseball Classic is an international baseball tournament sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation and created by Major League Baseball , the Major League Baseball Players Association , and other professional baseball leagues and their players associations around the world...
with team Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
but was held back to continue rehabbing his shoulder.
Blackley spent the majority of the 2006 season with Double-A San Antonio. After going 8-11 with a 4.06 ERA in 25 starts in Double-A, Blackley was promoted to Triple A Tacoma at the end of August. He made 2 starts in Tacoma and had a 1-1 record with a 4.09 ERA.
San Francisco Giants
On 1 April 2007, following the end of Spring TrainingSpring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
, he was traded to the San Francisco Giants for outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
Jason Ellison
Jason Ellison
Jason Jerome Ellison is a Major League Baseball outfielder who is currently a free agent. He attended Lewis-Clark State in Lewiston, Idaho, and made his major league debut on May 9, ....
. Blackley was immediately optioned to Triple-A Fresno
Fresno Grizzlies
The Fresno Grizzlies are a minor league baseball team based in Fresno, California. The team, which plays in the Pacific Coast League , is the Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants major league club. The Grizzlies play in Chukchansi Park , located in downtown Fresno and built in 2002...
. Blackley played the whole minor league season with the Grizzlies. He went 10-8 with a 4.66 ERA in 28 starts. He was recalled on 21 September, and on 23 September made his first major league start since 31 July 2004 against the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
. Blackley won his debut, giving up two runs in the first inning and three hits in five innings. He walked four and struck out five.
Philadelphia Phillies
After being outrighted off the San Francisco roster, on 6 December 2007, Blackley was selected by the Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
in the major league portion of the Rule 5 draft
Rule 5 draft
The Rule 5 draft is a Major League Baseball player draft that occurs each year in December, at the annual Winter Meeting of general managers. The Rule 5 draft aims to prevent teams from stockpiling too many young players on their minor league affiliate teams when other teams would be willing to...
.
Towards the end of the spring training, Blackley was placed on waivers. The Giants did not reclaim him and the Phillies outrighted him to Triple-A Lehigh Valley
Lehigh Valley IronPigs
The Lehigh Valley IronPigs are a minor league baseball team that plays in the International League. The IronPigs are the Triple-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies. The team plays their home games at Coca-Cola Park, which is located in Allentown, Pennsylvania...
. He became a free agent after the season ended.
Arizona Diamondbacks
On 19 December , Blackley signed a major league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks. On 1 April 2009, Blackley was sent outright to Reno.New York Mets
Blackley began the 2010 season with the New York Mets AAA affiliate Buffalo Bisons. He was released on 2 May.Oakland A's
On 13 May 2010, he signed with the Oakland Athletics. He is currently playing with their Triple-A affiliate, the Sacramento River CatsSacramento River Cats
The Sacramento River Cats is a minor league baseball team based in Sacramento, California. The team plays in the Pacific Coast League and is the Triple-A affiliate of Major League Baseball's Oakland Athletics....
.
Melbourne Aces
Travis was named in the 35 man roster for the Melbourne AcesMelbourne Aces
The Melbourne Aces is a professional baseball team in the Australian Baseball League based in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.On Friday, 20 August 2010 it was announced that ex-Australian Baseball player Philip Dale would take up the head coaching role at Melbourne Aces.On Tuesday, 12 October 2010,...
for the inaugural Australian Baseball League
Australian Baseball League
The Australian Baseball League was a baseball league, established in 1987 and disbanded in 1999.-Formation:Before the formation of the Australian Baseball League, the Claxton Shield, established in , was Australia's premier baseball tournament...
season, on 2 December 2010 he was activated onto the 22 man roster and made his debut for the Aces on 5 December starting against the Sydney Blue Sox
Sydney Blue Sox
The Sydney Blue Sox are a professional baseball team, and one of six foundation teams in the re-formed Australian Baseball League . The team plays their home games at Blacktown International Sportspark Sydney , one of the two venues for used for baseball at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, when it was...
pitching a rain shortened 1 hit shutout
Shutout (baseball)
In Major League Baseball, a shutout refers to the act by which a single pitcher pitches a complete game and does not allow the opposing team to score a run...
. Blackley previously played for the Victoria Aces
Victoria Aces
The Victoria Aces are an Australian baseball team who compete in the Claxton Shield Baseball Championship. One of the founding teams of the Claxton Shield in 1934, they competed until 1988. Thereafter the Claxton Shield was awarded to the winner of the Australian Baseball League until 2002...
in the semi-professional Claxton Shield
Claxton Shield
The Claxton Shield was the name of the premier baseball competition in Australia held between state-based teams, as well as the name of the trophy awarded to the champion team...
.
International career
Blackey was first selected for Australia in the 2006 World Baseball Classic2006 World Baseball Classic
---------Pool B:-------------Pool C:-------------Pool D:-------------Pool 1:-----------------Pool 2:-------------Finals:-Semifinals:-Final:-Final standings:...
but did not play due to an ongoing shoulder injury. He debuted for Australia in the 2007 Baseball World Cup
2007 Baseball World Cup
The XXXVII International Baseball Federation Baseball World Cup was held in the Republic of China from November 6 through November 18, 2007. Four stadiums hosted...
and pitched 0-1 with a 1.64 ERA over the tournament, his only loss coming against the Japan national baseball team
Japan national baseball team
The Japan national baseball team is the national baseball team representing Japan in international competitions. They are one of the more successful baseball teams in the world, having won the World Baseball Classic in 2006 and 2009...
when Tadashi Settsu
Tadashi Settsu
is a Japanese baseball player. He has been with the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks since 2009, and plays as pitcher, wearing number 50. In 2009, he was voted Most Valuable Rookie...
threw a shutout against Australia in the quarter final, with Australia finishing 5th. He played again for Australia in the 2009 World Baseball Classic
2009 World Baseball Classic
The 2009 World Baseball Classic was an international baseball competition. It is the only international baseball tournament to feature a large number of players from the major leagues of North America and Asia. It began on March 5, 2009, and finished March 23, 2009.Japan emerged victorious for the...
pitching a no decision against Cuba
Cuba national baseball team
The Cuba national baseball team is the national team of Cuba. The team is made up of amateur players from the Cuban national baseball system, as there are no professional sports leagues in Cuba...
and a 1.59 ERA over the tournament.
Personal life
Blackley is married to model Arynne Tiller of Wichita, KansasWichita, Kansas
Wichita is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kansas.As of the 2010 census, the city population was 382,368. Located in south-central Kansas on the Arkansas River, Wichita is the county seat of Sedgwick County and the principal city of the Wichita metropolitan area...
and they have a son, Tristan (born 6 January 2005). They reside in Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
.
Blackley's younger brother, Adam
Adam Blackley
Adam Blackley is a pitcher with the Amsterdam Pirates and the Melbourne Aces. He previously played in the U.S. Minor Leagues...
, formerly played in the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
farm system and currently plays with him for the Aces in the ABL and the L&D Amsterdam
Amsterdam Pirates
Amsterdam Pirates is a baseball and softball team in Amsterdam, Netherlands. It was founded as an expansion of the soccer club S.V. RAP. In the first years it was known as the RAP Pirates, but after a few years the club changed its name according to American tradition and became the Amsterdam...
of the Dutch league Honkbal Hoofdklasse
Honkbal Hoofdklasse
The Honkbal Hoofdklasse is the highest level of professional baseball in the Netherlands. It is an eight-team league that plays a 42-game schedule and is overseen by the Royal Netherlands Baseball and Softball Federation . Games are played principally on weekends...
.