IP | 124.2 |
---|---|
ERA | 3.83 |
WHIP | 1.35 |
BB/9 | 3.68 |
SO/9 | 9.24 |
- Full name Alan Joseph Blubaugh
- Born 07/04/2000 in Mansfield, OH
- Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 190 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Wisconsin-Milwaukee
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Drafted in the 7th round (223rd overall) by the Houston Astros in 2022 (signed for $172,500).
View Draft Report
For the second consecutive season, Blubaugh earned the Horizon League relief pitcher of the year award. The Wisconsin-Milwaukee righthander served as both a starter and reliever for the Panthers this spring, with 16 appearances out of the pen and seven starts. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound redshirt sophomore pitches up in the zone effectively with a 90-93 mph fastball that presents quicker than its velocity. He complements it with an excellent 80-82 mph changeup with late diving action. Blubaugh will mix in an average curveball to give the hitter a different look, as spin isn’t a big part of his game. The ability to locate all of his pitches at any time in the count separates him from most righthanded arms with a higher velocity fastball. With just 16 walks in 52.2 innings pitched, batters struggled figuring out Blubaugh’s repertoire and approach, hitting just .208 against him this spring. Blubaugh projects to be a multi-role arm at the next level.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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BA Grade/Risk: 45/High.
Track Record: Blubaugh spent three seasons at Wisconsin-Milwaukee, winning Horizon League relief pitcher of the year in both 2021 and 2022. The Astros drafted him in the seventh round in 2022, and he signed for just $172,500. In Blubaugh’s first full pro season in 2023, the Astros began to develop him as a starter. He pitched his way to Double-A by the end of the season and starred in the Arizona Fall League. Blubaugh was assigned to Double-A Corpus Christi in 2024 but made only one appearance before being promoted to Triple-A Sugar Land. He made 25 starts, pitching to a 3.83 ERA across 124.2 innings in the treacherous Pacific Coast League.
Scouting Report: Blubaugh is a tall, lean righthander with a prototype starter’s build and a five-pitch mix he deploys without falling into predictable patterns. He throws exclusively from the stretch. His arm action is moderate in length, and he delivers from a high three-quarters release. Blubaugh mixes a four-seam fastball, slider, curveball, changeup and cutter. He shows a knack for varying his arsenal and will throw any of his five pitches in any count. Blubaugh’s four-seam fastball sits 92-93 mph with average ride and run from a generic release height. His slider is a sweeper at 81-84 mph with between 9-10 inches of horizontal break. Blubaugh’s best pitch is his changeup, a low-80s offering with tumble, heavy armside run, good velocity and vertical separation off his fastball. His curveball is used heavily against lefthanded hitters and sits in the high 70s with heavy two-plane break. His mid-80s cutter has true cutter shape.
The Future: Blubaugh’s ability to mix a variety of shapes with average command gives him an opportunity to stick as a back-end starter.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 45 | Curveball: 45 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 55 | Cutter: 45 | Control: 50. -
BA Grade: 45/High
Track Record: Blubaugh spent three years at Wisconsin-Milwaukee, winning Horizon League relief pitcher of the year in 2021 and 2022, as well as consecutive first team all-conference selections. Blubaugh was selected by the Astros in the seventh round of the 2022 draft, signing for a below-slot bonus of $172,500. Blubaugh was assigned to High-A Asheville to begin 2023, appearing in 22 games and typically going 3-4 innings in a piggyback fashion with another starter. Blubaugh was promoted to Double-A Corpus Christi on Aug. 26, making four appearances before participating in the Arizona Fall League.
Scouting Report: Blubaugh has an athletic build with prototypical size for a starter and a clean, athletic operation. He mixes four pitches from a high-three quarters slot. His fastball sits 91-93 mph touching 94 with ride and run. Blubaugh’s slider, curveball and changeup are used at a similar rate, with his changeup outperforming the two breaking balls. Blubaugh’s changeup sits 81-83 mph with some tumble and fade and is his best swing-and-miss pitch. Blubaugh throws two sweepy breaking balls in a traditional sweeper slider which sits 79-81 mph and a mid-70s curveball with two-plane break. Blubaugh’s slider is his primary secondary against righthanded batters, and he uses the changeup and curveball heavily against lefties. He shows above-average command of his fastball but fringe-average command of his secondaries.
The Future: Blubaugh has a chance to start if he improves command of his secondaries. If not, he could find more velocity and long-term success as a reliever.
Scouting Grades Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 45 | Slider: 45 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50
Draft Prospects
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School: Wisconsin-Milwaukee Committed/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 22
For the second consecutive season, Blubaugh earned the Horizon League relief pitcher of the year award. The Wisconsin-Milwaukee righthander served as both a starter and reliever for the Panthers this spring, with 16 appearances out of the pen and seven starts. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound redshirt sophomore pitches up in the zone effectively with a 90-93 mph fastball that presents quicker than its velocity. He complements it with an excellent 80-82 mph changeup with late diving action. Blubaugh will mix in an average curveball to give the hitter a different look, as spin isn’t a big part of his game. The ability to locate all of his pitches at any time in the count separates him from most righthanded arms with a higher velocity fastball. With just 16 walks in 52.2 innings pitched, batters struggled figuring out Blubaugh’s repertoire and approach, hitting just .208 against him this spring. Blubaugh projects to be a multi-role arm at the next level.