Kyle Blair
| IP | 162 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 5.833 |
| WHIP | 1.457 |
| BB/9 | 4.556 |
| SO/9 | 7.611 |
- Full name Kyle K. Blair
- Born 09/27/1988 in Los Gatos, CA
- Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 236 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School San Diego
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Drafted in the 4th round (120th overall) by the Cleveland Guardians in 2010 (signed for $580,000).
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Blair was one of the top high school pitching prospects for the 2007 draft, and the Dodgers took him in the fifth round but did not sign him. His first two seasons at San Diego included bursts of brilliance, nagging injuries (shoulder inflammation in 2009 caused him to miss six weeks) and some struggles. In 2010, Blair has finally delivered on his promise. Earlier in his college career, Blair fought a tendency to overthrow, which caused his front side to pull down and open, lessening his velocity and command. Having improved his mechanics, Blair has also rediscovered his power slider. No longer hesitant to challenge hitters inside, Blair pounds the strike zone with a low to mid-90s fastball, complemented by a slider with depth. He has also added an overhand curve and firm changeup. Blair delivered a sensational one-hit, 15-strikeout masterpiece against Portland in his first May start and was finishing strong. He has matured and improved his fastball control, though he's still lacking in command. A free spirit who has traveled the world and worked with Habitat for Humanity to build homes in Honduras, Blair could still be a No. 3 starter.
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Organization Prospect Rankings
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One of the top high school pitchers in the 2007 draft, Blair dropped to the Dodgers in the fifth round because of signability questions and opted instead to attend San Diego. After two solid college seasons, he earned West Coast Conference pitcher of the year honors as a junior last spring. The Indians drafted him in the fourth round and signed him for an above-slot $580,000 bonus. Blair attacks hitters with a low-90s fastball that reaches 95 mph and bores in on righthanders. He has made strides with his mechanics and doesn't overthrow as much as he used to, but he still needs to do a better job of locating his fastball. He throws a slider that isn't a power pitch but can give him a second above-average offering, while also mixing in an overhand curve and a firm changeup. He's a good athlete with a strong frame who has improved his conditioning since missing six weeks in 2009 with shoulder inflammation. He's also a free thinker who traveled the world as a teenager, climbing Mount Kiliminjaro on an African safari and building houses with Habitat For Humanity in Honduras. Blair didn't pitch after signing, so he'll make his pro debut with one of Cleveland's Class A affiliates in 2011. If everything comes together, he has the potential to be a mid-rotation starter.
