Adam Blackley

From BR Bullpen

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Adam L. Blackley

  • Bats Left, Throws Left
  • Height 6' 1", Weight 220 lb.

Adam Blackley is a Boston Red Sox minor leaguer and has played well for the Australian national team. He is the brother of Travis Blackley.

Noted Australian manager Jon Deeble signed Blackley with the Boston Red Sox in 2003. He debuted with the 2003 GCL Red Sox and allowed only 13 hits in 24 2/3 IP, saving one game and posting a 0.73 ERA. In 2004, he pitched for the Lowell Spinners (0-1, 7.71), GCL Red Sox (1-0, 3.00) and Augusta GreenJackets (4-3, 3.39). The next year, Adam was with Lowell (6-3, 4.01) and the Greenville Drive (2-7, 6.15). In 2006, the southpaw was limited by an elbow injury, spending his year with the GCL Red Sox (3.86) and the Wilmington Blue Rocks (0-2, 4.64), only pitching eight games. He joined Australia for the 2006 Intercontinental Cup and starred. He did not allow a run in 12 innings of work yet somehow got no decisions. He made the tourney All-Star team as the top left-handed pitcher alongside Sandy Patrone as the top right-hander. Blackley led the Cup in ERA.

In 2007, Adam worked out of the bullpen for Lowell (2-2, 4.70, 66 K in 38 1/3 IP) and Greenville (1-0, 6.75, 34 K in 32 IP). He allowed over a hit per inning despite his impressive strikeout rates. Blackley again starred in international play in the 2007 Baseball World Cup, allowing only one run in six-plus innings against the South Korean national team and allowing one run in six against the Mexican national team in a quarterfinals victory. He was 1-0 with a 1.42 ERA on the tournament, second to Dushan Ruzic among Australia's hurlers and a bit ahead of brother Travis.

Blackley allowed three runs in five innings against Mexico in the 2008 Final Olympic Qualification Tournament; he left with a no-decision but Australia lost when Adam Bright struggled out of the bullpen. Australia failed to qualify for the 2008 Olympics.

Let go by Boston, Blackley signed with the El Paso Diablos, going 7-9 with a 4.98 ERA. That winter, he went 4-1 with a 3.95 ERA for Victoria in the Claxton Shield. Blackley was on the provisional Australian roster for the 2009 World Baseball Classic but did not make the final cut.

He signed with the L&D Amsterdam Pirates for 2009. In the 2009 European Cup's Nettuno phase, Blackley went 1-0, tossing 7 shutout innings against the host Danesi Caffe Nettuno. He was Amsterdam's Opening Day starter on April 11. He allowed only 3 hits in 7 shutout innings for a win over Kinheim, which had won two of the three prior titles. In the Final Four of the 2009 European Cup, Blackley allowed two runs in 5 1/3 IP in a loss to Fortitudo Bologna.