MLB Rookie Profile: Ty Blach, LHP, San Francisco Giants

Let’s turn out gaze to the San Francisco Giants and rookie left-hander Ty Blach.

Blach ranked fourth on the 2017 San Francisco Giants Top 20 prospects list with the following commentary:

4) Ty Blach, LHP, Grade B-/B: Age 26, posted 3.43 ERA with 113/38 K/BB in 163 innings in Triple-A, 147 hits; 1.06 ERA in 17 major league innings with 10/5 K/BB; fifth round pick in 2012 from Creighton University in Omaha; velocity has picked up a hair since college and sits in low-90s now, mixes in slider, change-up, curve; stuff similar to Andrew Suarez and overall approach is comparable though I think Blach throws slightly harder; Blach is two years older but has a better track record of durability. ETA 2017.

With two solid Triple-A seasons under his belt, Blach has nothing left to prove in the minors. He performed well in brief action with the Giants last year and continued to show good control in 2017 spring training, pitching 21 innings with a 13/2 K/BB and 4.22 ERA. During the regular season so far he’s pitched two relief innings over three games, giving up two hits, two walks, and three runs.

That’s not a great beginning for ‘17 but the Giants still see Blach as a key member of the staff according to Andrew Baggarly at the San Jose Mercury News, manager Bruce Bochy commenting that they need to keep the lefty stretched out enough so he’s able to start games.

Overall there’s no major change in Blach’s profile from last fall: he’s a classic finesse southpaw with 88-92 MPH fastball, a traditional assortment of secondary pitches, and a track record of success in the high minors. If he happens to get lost in the shuffle with the Giants, another club could certainly target him for a trade.

This video from Sean Bialaszek has every pitch Blach threw in the majors last year: