Nick Blackburn

Robert Nicholas Blackburn was born on February 24, 1982 in Ada, Oklahoma.

The Minnesota Twins selected him in round 29 of the 2001 MLB Draft. He had a 5.00 ERA in rookie ball during the 2002 season, and a 4.86 ERA at Class-A in 2003. Despite these struggles and his status as a lower draft pick, Minnesota kept moving Blackburn up through their minor league ranks. He blossomed into one of their best prospects as the years went on. Blackburn made his Major League debut as a September call-up in 2007, and Baseball American ranked him as the league's 56th best prospect entering 2008.

He went 11-11 with a 4.05 ERA in 2008, finishing eighth in the AL Rookie of the Year voting. Blackburn won a crucial game against the Chicago White Sox on September 24th, which evened up both teams in the AL Central standings through 158 games. Five days later, Blackburn tossed a gem in the 2008 AL Central Tiebreaker Game against that same White Sox club. Unfortunately, Chicago starter John Danks was a little bit better and the Twins lost 1-0.

Blackburn had an almost identical 2009 season, going 11-11 with a 4.03 ERA. His ability to show up in big games late in the year was a reoccurring theme. He had a 1.65 ERA over his final four regular season starts, completing seven innings in three of them. This included a September 29th win over the Detroit Tigers, who the Twins beat in a "Game 163" a few days later. Blackburn got the ball in game two of the ALDS against the eventual World Series champion New York Yankees. He went 5.2 innings, allowing just one run. Minnesota lost the game in 11 innings.

The Twins and Blackburn were able to void all his future arbitration years by agreeing to a four year, $14 million deal during spring training in 2010. The deal also included a fifth year club option. Blackburn was optioned to Triple-A in late July with a 6.66 ERA through 18 starts. He was re-called in late-August after Kevin Slowey suffered a triceps injury. For a third straight year, Blackburn was able to provide Minnesota with some big innings down the stretch of a tight divisional race. He had a 3.16 ERA after returning to the bigs, making eight starts and one relief appearance.

Minnesota was less competitive in 2011, but Blackburn was a bright spot early on. He finished June with a 3.15 ERA through 16 starts, but control issues began to haunt him in July. The Twins eventually shut him down due to forearm tightness. He finished the year 7-10 with a 4.49 ERA.

Blackburn was never fully healthy after that. He had 7.39 ERA in 19 starts during the 2012 campaign, undergoing surgery to remove a bone chip in his throwing elbow after the year concluded. A knee injury derailed his 2013 season before it could ever really begin, limiting Blackburn to just six minor league rehab games. The Twins declined his 2014 contract option, and Blackburn retired with all these injuries starting to add up.

Since retiring, Blackburn has coached at various high schools and lower level colleges in his home state of Oklahoma.

• 2008 AL fielding percentage leader
  • For qualified pitchers