Blake Walston

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #11 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 45/Medium
  
  Track Record: Walston was a standout prep quarterback who led all North Carolina high schoolers in passing yards while taking New Hanover High to a state championship his junior year. The D-backs bet on his athleticism when they drafted him 26th overall in 2019 and bought him out of a North Carolina commitment. Walston rose quickly through the low minors, but his progress hit a speedbump in 2023 at Triple-A Reno. His stuff and control backed up pitching in a difficult environment, raising questions about his ceiling.
  
  Scouting Report: Walston is a lanky, 6-foot-5 lefthander who has to grow into his velocity. His fastball averages 91 mph and was flatter than before in 2023, making it a less effective pitch with little margin for error. He lost feel for what had been a plus changeup, his above-average slider essentially turned into a cutter and his once-dominant curveball became less consistent. The result was nearly as many walks (93) as strikeouts (104) in 149.1 innings and the lowest strikeout rate of his career. Walston showed impressive toughness despite the loss of stuff and finished 12-6, 4.52, the second-lowest ERA among qualified starters in the Pacific Coast League, to earn a 40-man roster spot after the season.
  
  The Future: The D-backs remain steadfast in their belief Walston has midrotation potential, but his stuff has to rebound for him to be more than a back-end starter. He’ll enter spring training looking to establish himself in the starting pitching pecking order.
  
  Scouting Grades Fastball: 45 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 60 | Control: 50
• 
  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #9 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 55/Very High
  
  Track Record: A standout two-sport star at New Hanover High in Wilmington, N.C., where he was a decorated quarterback who helped lead his school to a state championship, Walston was seen as a projectable starting pitching prospect when the D-backs bought him out of a North Carolina State commitment in 2019 with a $2.45 million bonus. Though he has had some success while advancing through the system, his outlook is still based on some projectability, with the potential still there for continued development in both his body and stuff.
  
  Scouting Report: Walston averaged 91-92 mph with his fastball last season and topped out at 95-96. As has been the case since his amateur days, his velocity fluctuated both within games and from start to start, and finding a way to harness the top-end fastball more consistently was an emphasis as he entered the offseason. He still has a lot of room to add strength to his frame, making his fastball more projectable than most Double-A pitchers' heat. Walston made big strides with his changeup, turning it into his best secondary pitch in part thanks to pregame work he did throwing a football, which he said had a similar feel to what he wanted from his changeup. His slider was more consistent than his curveball, but while neither was a plus pitch, he does have a feel for both, giving him the potential for a legit four-pitch mix. Walston's athleticism allows him to repeat his delivery with ease, leading to him being a consistent strike-thrower.
  
  The Future: Evaluators more willing to project still have Walston as the best or the second-best pitching prospect in the organization. For now, his stuff fits a profile of No. 4 starter, though with his athleticism and potential to put on weight, his upside remains significant.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50. Curveball: 50. Slider: 55. Changeup: 60. Control: 50
• 
  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #5 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: The D-backs selected Walston, a former high school quarterback in addition to ace lefthander, with the second of their two first-round picks in 2019 and signed him away from a North Carolina State commitment for $2.45 million. After the coronavirus pandemic delayed his first full season, Walston turned in a solid 2021 across both Class A levels, showing glimpses of the frontline starter the D-backs hope he becomes while also exposing some areas that still need refinement.
  
  Scouting Report: Walston has nearly everything scouts look for in a frontline starter, including command, velocity, ability to spin the ball and feel to pitch. He still has a thin frame, giving him room for more physical maturity but also affecting his present ability to hold his velocity. At his best, Walston sits in the low 90s and touches 94-95 mph. His velocity tends to decrease as games wear on, and his average velocity dropped from close to 92 mph in June to a tick under 90 mph in September. Walston’s potentially plus curveball is his most advanced secondary pitch but remains inconsistent. His slider and changeup have improved to be above-average and average, respectively, and he is gaining trust in his changeup in particular. Walston throws everything for strikes with above-average control. He still has maturing to do when it comes to the consistency of his between-starts routine.
  
  The Future: Walston has the most upside of any starter in the system. He took strides with his preparation, and coaches are excited to see what happens as his improved work ethic translates into further development.
  
• 
  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #8 prospect in 2021
  Fastball: 55. Slider: 60. Changeup: 45. Curveball: 50. Control: 50.
  
  TRACK RECORD: The D-backs grabbed the projectable, athletic Walston with the second of their two first-round picks in 2019, and they were pleased with the initial returns. Walston added significant weight and strength and spent the 2020 season at the alternate training site, where he performed relatively well.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Walston has a lot of promise, but is still a young pitcher learning to maintain his best stuff. His fastball velocity can reach the mid 90s but is inconsistent, and he’s still making mechanical adjustments to get better separation between his average curveball and plus slider. His changeup remains a work in progress. Walston’s intensity level fluctuated at the alternate site, leading to speculation that the lack of true competition—of games that counted—was a detriment to his focus. Others wondered if he needed adversity to get the most of his ability. Walston also saw his command and velocity suffer when he got into the middle innings of games. He earned praise for his work and preparation off the field.
  
  THE FUTURE: Walston missed out on the development that comes from grinding out a full season. He should get the chance to do that in 2021 and will aim to show his best stuff on a more consistent basis.
• 
  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #6 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: The D-backs saw a projectable lefthander with plenty of stuff to dream on in Walston and surprised many, including Walston himself, when they selected him 26th overall in the 2019 draft. He signed for $2.45 million to forgo a North Carolina State commitment. Walston made huge strides in his first summer as a pro, adding both strength and velocity.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: In the world of high school pitchers, Walston checks all the boxes when it comes to projectability. He's tall and lanky with room to add strength; he has a clean arm action and delivery; he showed velocity and the ability to spin a breaking ball; and he is an excellent athlete, evidenced by his success as a high school quarterback. While his velocity fluctuated during the spring, he was more consistent after signing, regularly touching 96-97 mph. His plus curveball and average slider tended to bleed together, and some feel he could benefit from settling on one or the other. His changeup is lightly used but showed flashes of being an average pitch.
  
  THE FUTURE: Walston excited the Diamondbacks with glimpses of his potential last summer, drawing comparisons to a young Barry Zito. He likely will open the season in extended spring training with a chance to push his way to low Class A Kane County.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #40 prospect in 2019 draft
  One of the most exciting, projectable arms in the 2019 class, teams were aware of Walston last summer but weren't able to see him much on the showcase circuit due to his commitments as a talented high school quarterback. Listed at 6-foot-4, 172-pounds, Walston is a thin lefthander with an immensely projectable frame that could easily add 30-40 more pounds in the future. He has a clean arm action and delivery, and scouts note that his plus athleticism translates well to the mound, allowing him to be one of the best natural strike-throwers in the high school class. At the moment, Walston throws his fastball in the 86-91 mph range, topping out in the low 90s, but scouts are convinced that he'll start to throw harder once he gains more physicality. He also has terrific feel to spin a breaking ball that projects as a plus pitch in the future, and he has shown a solid changeup as well. In a down year for high school lefthanders, Walston could see himself selected as soon as Day 1, although he is expected to be a tough sign out of his North Carolina State commitment. While there's nothing plus with Walston right now, every element of his operation screams upside and plenty of high-level decision makers have laid eyes on him this spring.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked California League #8 prospect in 2021
  Walston cruised through the Low-A West for the season’s first six weeks before being promoted to High-A Hillsboro. He ranked third in Low-A West in strikeouts at the time of his promotion and held opponents to two runs or fewer in six of his eight starts. Walston sat 91-94 mph with his fastball and powered it downhill out of his long 6-foot-5 frame. He landed his mid-70s curveball for strikes, used his mid-80s slider as an effective chase pitch and his mid-80s changeup was voted best in the league by managers. Walston pitched with a quick tempo and aggressively challenged hitters, keeping them from getting comfortable. Walston’s velocity tended to drop in the middle innings and he still needs to add strength to maintain his stuff deeper into games. Once he does, he could become a mid-rotation starter.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #93 prospect in 2022

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 55/Very High
  
  Track Record: A standout two-sport star at New Hanover High in Wilmington, N.C., where he was a decorated quarterback who helped lead his school to a state championship, Walston was seen as a projectable starting pitching prospect when the D-backs bought him out of a North Carolina State commitment in 2019 with a $2.45 million bonus. Though he has had some success while advancing through the system, his outlook is still based on some projectability, with the potential still there for continued development in both his body and stuff.
  
  Scouting Report: Walston averaged 91-92 mph with his fastball last season and topped out at 95-96. As has been the case since his amateur days, his velocity fluctuated both within games and from start to start, and finding a way to harness the top-end fastball more consistently was an emphasis as he entered the offseason. He still has a lot of room to add strength to his frame, making his fastball more projectable than most Double-A pitchers' heat. Walston made big strides with his changeup, turning it into his best secondary pitch in part thanks to pregame work he did throwing a football, which he said had a similar feel to what he wanted from his changeup. His slider was more consistent than his curveball, but while neither was a plus pitch, he does have a feel for both, giving him the potential for a legit four-pitch mix. Walston's athleticism allows him to repeat his delivery with ease, leading to him being a consistent strike-thrower.
  
  The Future: Evaluators more willing to project still have Walston as the best or the second-best pitching prospect in the organization. For now, his stuff fits a profile of No. 4 starter, though with his athleticism and potential to put on weight, his upside remains significant.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50. Curveball: 50. Slider: 55. Changeup: 60. Control: 50
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 55/Very High
  
  Track Record: A standout two-sport star at New Hanover High in Wilmington, N.C., where he was a decorated quarterback who helped lead his school to a state championship, Walston was seen as a projectable starting pitching prospect when the D-backs bought him out of a North Carolina State commitment in 2019 with a $2.45 million bonus. Though he has had some success while advancing through the system, his outlook is still based on some projectability, with the potential still there for continued development in both his body and stuff.
  
  Scouting Report: Walston averaged 91-92 mph with his fastball last season and topped out at 95-96. As has been the case since his amateur days, his velocity fluctuated both within games and from start to start, and finding a way to harness the top-end fastball more consistently was an emphasis as he entered the offseason. He still has a lot of room to add strength to his frame, making his fastball more projectable than most Double-A pitchers' heat. Walston made big strides with his changeup, turning it into his best secondary pitch in part thanks to pregame work he did throwing a football, which he said had a similar feel to what he wanted from his changeup. His slider was more consistent than his curveball, but while neither was a plus pitch, he does have a feel for both, giving him the potential for a legit four-pitch mix. Walston's athleticism allows him to repeat his delivery with ease, leading to him being a consistent strike-thrower.
  
  The Future: Evaluators more willing to project still have Walston as the best or the second-best pitching prospect in the organization. For now, his stuff fits a profile of No. 4 starter, though with his athleticism and potential to put on weight, his upside remains significant.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50. Curveball: 50. Slider: 55. Changeup: 60. Control: 50
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 55/High
  
  Track Record: The D-backs selected Walston, a former high school quarterback in addition to ace lefthander, with the second of their two first-round picks in 2019 and signed him away from a North Carolina State commitment for $2.45 million. After the coronavirus pandemic delayed his first full season, Walston turned in a solid 2021 across both Class A levels, showing glimpses of the frontline starter the Diamondbacks hope he becomes while also exposing some areas that still need refinement.
  
  Scouting Report: Walston has nearly everything scouts look for in a frontline starter, including command, velocity, ability to spin the ball and feel to pitch. He still has a thin frame, giving him room for more physical maturity but also affecting his present ability to hold his velocity. At his best, Walston sits in the low-90s and touches 94-95 mph. But his velocity tends to decrease as games wear on, and his average velocity dropped from close to 92 mph in June to a tick under 90 mph in September. Walston&#39s potentially plus curveball is his most advanced secondary pitch but remains inconsistent. His slider and changeup have improved to be above-average and average, respectively, and he is gaining trust in his changeup in particular. Walston throws everything for strikes with above-average control. He still has maturing to do when it comes to the consistency of his between-starts routine.
  
  The Future: Walston has the most upside of any starter in the system. He took strides with his preparation, and coaches are excited to see what happens as his improved work ethic translates into further development.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Curveball: 60. Slider: 55. Changeup: 50. Control: 55.
• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: The D-backs selected Walston, a former high school quarterback in addition to ace lefthander, with the second of their two first-round picks in 2019 and signed him away from a North Carolina State commitment for $2.45 million. After the coronavirus pandemic delayed his first full season, Walston turned in a solid 2021 across both Class A levels, showing glimpses of the frontline starter the D-backs hope he becomes while also exposing some areas that still need refinement.
  
  Scouting Report: Walston has nearly everything scouts look for in a frontline starter, including command, velocity, ability to spin the ball and feel to pitch. He still has a thin frame, giving him room for more physical maturity but also affecting his present ability to hold his velocity. At his best, Walston sits in the low 90s and touches 94-95 mph. His velocity tends to decrease as games wear on, and his average velocity dropped from close to 92 mph in June to a tick under 90 mph in September. Walston’s potentially plus curveball is his most advanced secondary pitch but remains inconsistent. His slider and changeup have improved to be above-average and average, respectively, and he is gaining trust in his changeup in particular. Walston throws everything for strikes with above-average control. He still has maturing to do when it comes to the consistency of his between-starts routine.
  
  The Future: Walston has the most upside of any starter in the system. He took strides with his preparation, and coaches are excited to see what happens as his improved work ethic translates into further development.
  
• October, 2021 Scouting Report
  Walston cruised through the Low-A West for the season’s first six weeks before being promoted to High-A Hillsboro. He ranked third in Low-A West in strikeouts at the time of his promotion and held opponents to two runs or fewer in six of his eight starts. Walston sat 91-94 mph with his fastball and powered it downhill out of his long 6-foot-5 frame. He landed his mid-70s curveball for strikes, used his mid-80s slider as an effective chase pitch and his mid-80s changeup was voted best in the league by managers. Walston pitched with a quick tempo and aggressively challenged hitters, keeping them from getting comfortable. Walston’s velocity tended to drop in the middle innings and he still needs to add strength to maintain his stuff deeper into games. Once he does, he could become a mid-rotation starter.
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  Fastball: 55. Slider: 60. Changeup: 45. Curveball: 50. Control: 50.
  
  TRACK RECORD: The D-backs grabbed the projectable, athletic Walston with the second of their two first-round picks in 2019, and they were pleased with the initial returns. Walston added significant weight and strength and spent the 2020 season at the alternate training site, where he performed relatively well.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Walston has a lot of promise, but is still a young pitcher learning to maintain his best stuff. His fastball velocity can reach the mid 90s but is inconsistent, and he's still making mechanical adjustments to get better separation between his average curveball and plus slider. His changeup remains a work in progress. Walston's intensity level fluctuated at the alternate site, leading to speculation that the lack of true competition—of games that counted—was a detriment to his focus. Others wondered if he needed adversity to get the most of his ability. Walston also saw his command and velocity suffer when he got into the middle innings of games. He earned praise for his work and preparation off the field.
  
  THE FUTURE: Walston missed out on the development that comes from grinding out a full season. He should get the chance to do that in 2021 and will aim to show his best stuff on a more consistent basis.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  Fastball: 55. Slider: 60. Changeup: 45. Curveball: 50. Control: 50.
  
  TRACK RECORD: The D-backs grabbed the projectable, athletic Walston with the second of their two first-round picks in 2019, and they were pleased with the initial returns. Walston added significant weight and strength and spent the 2020 season at the alternate training site, where he performed relatively well.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Walston has a lot of promise, but is still a young pitcher learning to maintain his best stuff. His fastball velocity can reach the mid 90s but is inconsistent, and he’s still making mechanical adjustments to get better separation between his average curveball and plus slider. His changeup remains a work in progress. Walston’s intensity level fluctuated at the alternate site, leading to speculation that the lack of true competition—of games that counted—was a detriment to his focus. Others wondered if he needed adversity to get the most of his ability. Walston also saw his command and velocity suffer when he got into the middle innings of games. He earned praise for his work and preparation off the field.
  
  THE FUTURE: Walston missed out on the development that comes from grinding out a full season. He should get the chance to do that in 2021 and will aim to show his best stuff on a more consistent basis.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  Fastball: 55. Slider: 60. Changeup: 45. Curveball: 50. Control: 50.
  
  TRACK RECORD: The D-backs grabbed the projectable, athletic Walston with the second of their two first-round picks in 2019, and they were pleased with the initial returns. Walston added significant weight and strength and spent the 2020 season at the alternate training site, where he performed relatively well.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Walston has a lot of promise, but is still a young pitcher learning to maintain his best stuff. His fastball velocity can reach the mid 90s but is inconsistent, and he’s still making mechanical adjustments to get better separation between his average curveball and plus slider. His changeup remains a work in progress. Walston’s intensity level fluctuated at the alternate site, leading to speculation that the lack of true competition—of games that counted—was a detriment to his focus. Others wondered if he needed adversity to get the most of his ability. Walston also saw his command and velocity suffer when he got into the middle innings of games. He earned praise for his work and preparation off the field.
  
  THE FUTURE: Walston missed out on the development that comes from grinding out a full season. He should get the chance to do that in 2021 and will aim to show his best stuff on a more consistent basis.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The D-backs saw a projectable lefthander with plenty of stuff to dream on in Walston and surprised many, including Walston himself, when they selected him 26th overall in the 2019 draft. He signed for $2.45 million to forgo a North Carolina State commitment. Walston made huge strides in his first summer as a pro, adding both strength and velocity.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: In the world of high school pitchers, Walston checks all the boxes when it comes to projectability. He’s tall and lanky with room to add strength; he has a clean arm action and delivery; he showed velocity and the ability to spin a breaking ball; and he is an excellent athlete, evidenced by his success as a high school quarterback. While his velocity fluctuated during the spring, he was more consistent after signing, regularly touching 96-97 mph. His plus curveball and average slider tended to bleed together, and some feel he could benefit from settling on one or the other. His changeup is lightly used but showed flashes of being an average pitch.
  
  THE FUTURE: Walston excited the Diamondbacks with glimpses of his potential last summer, drawing comparisons to a young Barry Zito. He likely will open the season in extended spring training with a chance to push his way to low Class A Kane County.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The D-backs saw a projectable lefthander with plenty of stuff to dream on in Walston and surprised many, including Walston himself, when they selected him 26th overall in the 2019 draft. He signed for $2.45 million to forgo a North Carolina State commitment. Walston made huge strides in his first summer as a pro, adding both strength and velocity.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: In the world of high school pitchers, Walston checks all the boxes when it comes to projectability. He's tall and lanky with room to add strength; he has a clean arm action and delivery; he showed velocity and the ability to spin a breaking ball; and he is an excellent athlete, evidenced by his success as a high school quarterback. While his velocity fluctuated during the spring, he was more consistent after signing, regularly touching 96-97 mph. His plus curveball and average slider tended to bleed together, and some feel he could benefit from settling on one or the other. His changeup is lightly used but showed flashes of being an average pitch.
  
  THE FUTURE: Walston excited the Diamondbacks with glimpses of his potential last summer, drawing comparisons to a young Barry Zito. He likely will open the season in extended spring training with a chance to push his way to low Class A Kane County.
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  One of the most exciting, projectable arms in the 2019 class, teams were aware of Walston last summer but weren't able to see him much on the showcase circuit due to his commitments as a talented high school quarterback. Listed at 6-foot-4, 172-pounds, Walston is a thin lefthander with an immensely projectable frame that could easily add 30-40 more pounds in the future. He has a clean arm action and delivery, and scouts note that his plus athleticism translates well to the mound, allowing him to be one of the best natural strike-throwers in the high school class. At the moment, Walston throws his fastball in the 86-91 mph range, topping out in the low 90s, but scouts are convinced that he'll start to throw harder once he gains more physicality. He also has terrific feel to spin a breaking ball that projects as a plus pitch in the future, and he has shown a solid changeup as well. In a down year for high school lefthanders, Walston could see himself selected as soon as Day 1, although he is expected to be a tough sign out of his North Carolina State commitment. While there's nothing plus with Walston right now, every element of his operation screams upside and plenty of high-level decision makers have laid eyes on him this spring.