Blake Treinen

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Washington Nationals #23 prospect in 2014
  Treinen started his college career in 2007 on the junior varsity at NAIA Baker (Kan.), then spent 2008 at Arkansas (where he did not play) before transferring to South Dakota State (where he sat out 2009 due to NCAA transfer rules). His arm strength got him drafted by the Marlins in 2010 (23rd round) despite a 6.09 ERA, but he returned to post a 3.00 ERA as the SDSU ace in 2011, leaving as the program's highest-drafted player since 1985. The A's traded Treinen along with A.J. Cole to the Nationals in the Michael Morse deal before the 2013 season, and he turned in a solid year in Double-A. He works predominantly off his plus fastball, which sits in the 91-95 mph range and tops out at 97 with power sink at times. He has a durable 6-foot-4 frame and works downhill effectively. His secondary stuff is inconsistent, but he has the makings of a four-pitch repertoire. His curveball flashes plus at times but is below-average at other times, projecting as an average offering with more refinement. He also works in a below-average, short slider in the 81-84 mph range and a fringy changeup in the low 80s with decent arm speed and sink. Treinen is a strike-thrower, but scouts question the quality of his strikes, and most evaluators project him as a middle reliever. The Nationals could leave him in a starting role and move him to Triple-A in 2014, but he could push for a bullpen job during the season.
• 
  Ranked Oakland Athletics #19 prospect in 2012
  Treinen took a circuitous route to pro ball. He began his college career in 2007 on the junior varsity at Baker (Kan.), an NAIA program, before attending Arkansas without playing baseball in 2008. Then he was off to South Dakota State, where he sat out 2009 because of NCAA transfer rules. Treinen showed impressive arm strength in 2010 and was a 23rd-round pick of the Marlins, but they backed off after a physical raised concerns about his shoulder. Treinen went 7-3, 3.00 as a senior in 2011 and went in the seventh round, making him South Dakota State's highest-drafted player since 1985. Signed for $52,5000, Treinen has a physical frame and hard stuff to go with it. He throws a heavy, sinking fastball at 92-97 mph. He complements the heater with an 82-86 mph slider with late, sharp break. He also throws a changeup, but it's definitely his third option and he doesn't fully trust it at this point. Treinen didn't need his changeup much while working as a reliever in his pro debut, but he'll go back to starting in 2012 and Oakland will make sure to emphasize it. He could be a No. 3 starter if his changeup comes around. Treinen has solid mechanics, using a standard three-quarters arm slot. He'll turn 24 next season, so Oakland may look to move him quickly and send him to high Class A.