Blake Walston

Blake Walston

22-Year-Old PitcherP
Arizona Diamondbacks
2024 Fantasy Outlook
There was no outlook written for Blake Walston in 2024. Check out the latest news below for more on his current fantasy value.
$Signed a $2.45 million contract with the Diamondbacks in June of 2019.
Sent to Triple-A
PArizona Diamondbacks  AAA
March 18, 2024
The Diamondbacks optioned Walston to Triple-A Reno on Monday.
ANALYSIS
Walston was dispatched to minor-league camp along with right-handers Slade Cecconi and Corbin Martin after all three pitchers fell short in their bids for spots on Arizona's Opening Day roster. Unlike Cecconi and Martin, Walston has yet to make his MLB debut, but the Diamondbacks saw enough potential in him to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft this winter and add him to their 40-man roster. The 22-year-old southpaw will be returning to Reno, where he posted a 4.52 ERA and 1.57 WHIP over 149.1 innings while pitching mostly in hitter-friendly venues in the Pacific Coast League.
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Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Blake Walston See More
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2021
2020
The youngest player at Arizona's alternate training site, Walston proved up to the challenge, showing an improved changeup and improved command against older hitters. A 6-foot-5, 195-pound southpaw, there's still some projection possible with Walston, even though his velocity already ticked up from the low-90s to the mid-90s after signing for $2.45 million in 2019. His plus slider is arguably his best pitch, and it is important that his changeup and curveball continue to improve in the coming years. He won't turn 20 until late June, so it's too early to say anything definitive with regards to his floor or ceiling. That said, athletic, tall lefties with mid-90s fastball velocity and good command of a four-pitch mix are very rare. He should spend the year at Low-A and High-A, where going deep into starts and building up his workload will be a priority.
When evaluators describe a pitcher as projectable, Walston, an athletic 6-foot-5, 175-pound southpaw, is the archetype. The expectation is that his stuff and his command will greatly improve with a combination of pro instruction, strength training and natural physical maturation. Selected with the No. 26 overall pick, Walston was touching 93 mph as an amateur and hit 94 mph in the AZL after signing for $2.45 million. His curveball already flashes plus and he is working on a solid third-pitch changeup. Considering he won't turn 19 until late June, he is well ahead of schedule. A few years down the road, we could see Walston getting up over 200 pounds with a mid-90s fastball that he pairs with a plus-plus curveball and above-average changeup. If that happens, he could be at least a No. 2 starter. If he struggles to add weight and velocity, he could still slot into the middle of a big-league rotation.
More Fantasy News
Protected from Rule 5 Draft
PArizona Diamondbacks  AAA
November 14, 2023
The Diamondbacks added Walston to their 40-man roster Tuesday.
ANALYSIS
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Getting crushed in Double-A
PArizona Diamondbacks  AAA
June 24, 2022
Walston has a 7.12 ERA, 1.93 WHIP and 35:17 K:BB through 36.2 innings (eight starts) for Double-A Amarillo.
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Makes jump to Double-A
PArizona Diamondbacks  AAA
May 2, 2022
The Diamondbacks promoted Walston from High-A Hillsboro to Double-A Amarillo on Monday, Zach Buchanan of The Athletic reports.
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Moves to High-A
PArizona Diamondbacks  AAA
July 9, 2021
Walston was recently promoted from Low-A Visalia to High-A Hillsboro.
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Gets taxi squad nod
PArizona Diamondbacks  AAA
June 25, 2020
Walston will be on Arizona's taxi squad, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.
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