Astros’ A.J. Blubaugh Adds Finishing Touches At Triple-A
A.J. Blubaugh has a deep repertoire, and now it’s a matter of refining his arsenal and waiting for his call to the majors.
The 24-year-old righthander throws a four-seam fastball, cutter, two-seamer, curveball, slider and changeup. He has added the cutter and two-seam fastball to his arsenal in recent years as he climbed the minor league ladder.
“I would say the cutter and two-seam are two of my newer pitches,” Blubaugh said. “They’re still in the works, but they feel a lot better. Then I would say my . . . slider is more of a strikeout (pitch).”
He said his curveball is a whiff pitch “if it’s one of those days.”
Blubaugh needed just three pitches at the Futures Game at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. He took the mound with the bases loaded and one out in the fourth inning for the American League squad.
Blubaugh allowed only one of his inherited runners to score, holding the National League to a sacrifice fly and a line out.
In that brief appearance, Blubaugh showed his composure and growth since the Astros drafted him in the seventh round in 2022 out of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Blubaugh reached Double-A Corpus Christi in 2023 and then logged six relief appearances in the Arizona Fall League. He returned to the Texas League to open this season—but only briefly. He headed to Triple-A Sugar Land after one scoreless appearance.
Through 79 innings for Sugar Land, he pitched to a 4.10 ERA with 71 strikeouts and 35 walks.
“I feel like I’m doing all right,” he said. “I definitely have some things I need to work on as far as consistency and developing my pitches in a more consistent manner. I also just think I have more to learn about the game, which I’m really excited about doing.”
