AJ Blubaugh didn’t arrive in pro ball with much hype as a seventh-round MLB draft pick in 2022. But three years later, he’s on the cusp of the majors.
The right-hander has climbed Houston’s system at an impressive pace, spending nearly all of last season in Class AAA. Once overlooked, he has refined his arsenal, impressed evaluators and positioned himself as a legitimate option for the Astros.
“I just want the opportunity to step on the mound, and I’ll make the most of it,” Blubaugh said. “Last year was an amazing experience. The first thing I think of is the team around me. We had so many people coming in and out. It was beautiful how we all came together. Everyone was rooting for the next person.”
Blubaugh spent nearly all of last season in Class AAA, making 27 of his 28 appearances, including 25 starts, in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League. He held his own in the challenging environment, posting a 3.71 ERA with 133 strikeouts and 51 walks over 128 2/3 innings at Class AA and Class AAA, earning a spot in the 2024 All-Star Futures Game.
Originally a fastball-changeup reliever in college, Blubaugh has evolved into a full-time starter in pro ball. As his slider and curveball have improved, so has his confidence, giving him a more complete arsenal to keep hitters off balance.
“Once I got into the Astros organization, they have really developed my off-speed,” he said. “Now, I couldn’t tell you what my best pitch is. I have days where I have a pitch that stands out more than others, but it varies throughout the season. My confidence in all of my pitches has really improved.”
The 6-foot-2, 200-pound right-hander focused on adding strength and refining his pitch mix this offseason, splitting time between his hometown in Ohio and Milwaukee, where he spent three years pitching collegiately at UW-Milwaukee.
The work has paid off. His fastball ticked up in velocity, touching 98 mph during the winter, and he expects it to sit in the mid-90s with movement throughout the season.
“I love the grind of the offseason, and it’s awesome seeing it all come together through the offseason to get ready to go for the season,” he said.
Blubaugh enters his second straight big-league camp as the most major-league-ready rotation piece not on Houston’s 40-man roster. While he might not break camp with the Astros, his time is coming.
Blubaugh’s combination of durability, strike-throwing and an improving arsenal has positioned him as a clear starter option for Houston. But he isn’t caught up in looking too far ahead. He takes things day by day, crediting his deeper trust and faith in God for keeping him grounded as he moves closer to his big-league debut.
“I am going to control what I can control and let the rest take care of itself,” Blubaugh said. “It goes back to just trusting in God because he has a plan.”
Read previous stories on AJ Blubaugh:
- AJ Blubaugh develops into a draft prospect (July 14, 2022)
- AJ Blubaugh ‘living the dream’ in pro ball (Jan. 11, 2023)
- A Conversation with AJ Blubaugh (Jan. 26, 2024)
Dan Zielinski III has covered the MLB draft for 10 years. He has interviewed 580 of the top draft prospects in that period, including four No. 1 overall picks. Multiple publications, including Baseball America, USA Today, MLB.com, The Arizona Republic and The Dallas Morning News, have quoted his work, while he has appeared on radio stations as a “MLB draft expert.” Follow him on Twitter @DanZielinski3.
