Jake Blalock
| AB | 2323 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .256 |
| OBP | .333 |
| SLG | .393 |
| HR | 53 |
- Full name Jake Willie Blalock
- Born 08/06/1983 in San Diego, CA
- Profile Ht.: 6'4" / Wt.: 205 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Rancho Bernardo
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Drafted in the 5th round (149th overall) by the Philadelphia Phillies in 2002.
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The development of Blalock's brother Hank into one of the top hitting prospects in the game has prompted scouts to take a closer look at Jake, a bigger and stronger player at the same stage of development. Some see Jake as a product of his brother's growing reputation and rate him as a fifth- to eighth-round pick. A handful of clubs say he's a comparable talent and want to avoid repeating the mistake everyone made in 1999, when Hank slipped to the third round. While the lefthanded-hitting Hank was a better all-around hitter in high school, the righthanded Jake has more power. A 6-foot-4, heavy-footed shortstop in high school, Jake will move to an infield corner, probably third base to take advantage of an above-average arm. Jake is a gamer who knows the game well and plays hard. He has committed to Arizona State, but college is a secondary option at this point.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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The younger brother of Rangers all-star third baseman Hank Blalock and a high school teammate of Phillies No. 1 prospect Cole Hamels, Blalock has spent his pro career trying to carve out his own niche. He has moved from third base to left field and earns plaudits from Phillies for his work ethic--which rates among the best in the organization--and his grind-it- out mentality. Though Blalock's slugging percentage hit a three-year low, officials attribute that to the spacious parks of the high Class A Florida State League and expect more homers out of him in 2006. He still projects to hit for above-average power to all fields after closing his stance during 2004. Blalock's strikeout rate declined for the second straight year, though he's still prone to chasing breaking balls despite better overall pitch selection. He works hard on his defense, though he's never likely to be much better than an average left fielder with an average arm. He'll try for a breakout year in Double-A in 2006. -
Blalock played with Cole Hamels at San Diego's Rancho Bernardo High. He's more associated with his all-star brother Hank, but Jake couldn't be more different as he possesses more raw power but not the same ability to hit for average. A high school shortstop, Blalock moved to third base and then the outfield as a pro. Blalock worked hard on his defense, playing an average left field and showing solid arm strength in 2004. Relaxing on defense helped him do the same at the plate, where he boosted his average by making more contact. He also learned to keep his front side closed longer against breaking balls, allowing him to show plus power to the opposite field. He led the South Atlantic League in doubles. Blalock is still a streaky hitter. He didn't homer until May and ran hot and cold all season long. Though he cut down on his strikeouts, he still whiffed 126 times and may be exploited by more advanced pitchers. The Phillies will continue to show patience with Blalock. He'll go to Clearwater, where the spacious Florida State League parks should test his power output and hitting skill. -
Blalock's surname immediately brings to mind his older brother Hank, but let the comparisons end there. Jake bats righthanded and projects to have more power and hit for less average than Hank, and his upside is more comparable to Pat Burrell. Blalock has the raw pop to hit 35 homers annually, and like Burrell has moved to the outfield after playing third base. Blalock, a high school shortstop, projects to be an adequate outfielder with limited range, and his arm strength plays fine in left or right field. He struggled at the plate some in his first full pro season, as he was too pull-conscious and his swing was too long. Blalock must focus on keeping his front shoulder in and using the entire field. He handles offspeed pitches as well as fastballs but gets too aggressive at the plate. He's a hard worker, though he sometimes is too hard on himself. His next stop is low Class A. -
The younger brother of Rangers prospect Hank Blalock received plenty of hype during his senior season at Rancho Bernardo High, where he played for his uncle Sam Blalock. Despite rumors that Blalock could be a supplemental first-round pick of the Athletics--Oakland general manager Billy Beane also played for Sam Blalock in high school--he fell to the fifth round and landed with the Phillies and high school teammate Cole Hamels, their first-round pick. Blalock is an impressive physical specimen, bigger than his brother and possessing more raw power. He hit a ball so hard in the Gulf Coast League that he left one side flat. He takes a solid approach to the plate, where he sees breaking balls well for a young hitter and uses the whole field. Owing to his baseball bloodlines, Blalock's makeup and work ethic are impressive. Defensively, he has yet to settle into a position. A high school shortstop, he has seen time at the outfield corners and third base since turning pro. At best, he'll be an adequate defender, as Blalock doesn't have the hands his brother does. His arm and range are average. A strong spring could earn him a spot in low Class A.
Minor League Top Prospects
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Blalock comes from a baseball family and it showed in his approach. He played hard and was one of the most fundamentally sound players in the league. He also was one of the top offensive players. The 6-foot-4, 210-pound Blalock was a shortstop in high school and was tried at both third base and in the outfield. "He takes a big hack and can put a charge in the ball when he makes contact," Bushong said. "Most of his power now is gap-to-gap but he should develop pull power as he grows into his frame." Blalock's brother Hank is a top third-base prospect with the Rangers, while his uncle Sam is the head coach at San Diego's Rancho Bernardo High, one of the top high schools in the country. Blalock's dad Dana is a successful youth league coach in the San Diego area.
