Blackford Ready For Cub Life
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Nobody seemed to believe Todd Blackford.
He didn't believe the news at first.
The 2004 Triton High School graduate was on his way to grab dinner after his game with the Danville Braves of the Appalachian League, the rookie affiliate of the Atlanta Braves, when he was called back to the stadium.
"My coach called me and said I had to come back. They played it off like I was in trouble with the cops," Blackford said in a phone conversation Tuesday night.
Blackford wasn't wanted by the law, rather the Chicago Cubs.
The Cubs initiated a deal with the Atlanta Braves where Chicago sent veteran outfielder Todd Hollandsworth to Atlanta for Blackford and 25-year-old pitcher Angelo Burrows.
Blackford, a right-handed pitcher, was stunned by the news.
"(My coaches) told me it was good for my career because guys in my spot aren't usually traded for major leaguers," said Blackford. "But they said the Cubs had their eyes on me."
The Blackford family was more stunned than Todd was.
Blackford said he called his brother, Scott, and father, Ken, while the two were in Las Vegas watching Blackford's cousin, Eric Stults, pitch for the Los Angeles Dodgers' Triple A team, the Las Vegas 51s.
"I called my brother and he didn't believe me at first," said Blackford. "He gave the phone to my dad and he didn't believe me either. He had to call my (Danville) coach to make sure it was true."
Blackford talked to Stults as well. Stults, an Argos graduate and standout at Bethel College, congratulated him and the two talked about the possibility of someday pitching against each other in the majors.
Blackford was a 13th-round pick of the Atlanta Braves in 2004's amateur baseball draft. He struggled in his first season with the Gulf Coast League Braves.
"You come out of high school and you have to adjust real quickly," said Blackford. "Once you settle in it becomes a lot easier."
Blackford definitely settled in this year with Danville. He compiled a 5-3 record with a 3.17 ERA this season by effectively using three pitches: a fastball, changeup and curveball. Blackford said his fastball is somewhere between 90 and 94 m.p.h.
The disbelief by Blackford and his family was compounded by the fact that their home is a Cubs home.
Blackford grew up a die-hard Cub fan and dreamed that one day he would toe the rubber at Wrigley Field.
"Every pitcher that stepped on the field there, I wanted to be like them," said Blackford.
That time may come sooner than later. The Cubs informed Blackford that they would like to bring him up in the next three years.
"They said they're going to try and push me through the organization real quick," said Blackford.
Blackford is slated to make his debut in the Cubs orginization Saturday with the Class A Peoria Chiefs against the South Bend Silverhawks in Peoria.
It seems to be a perfect fit for both sides. Chicago gets a pitcher they wanted to draft in 2004, while Blackford will play for the team he grew up rooting for.
Who knows, maybe the 2008 starting pitching rotation for the Cubs will be Mark Prior, Carlos Zambrano, Greg Maddux, Kerry Wood and Todd Blackford. [[In-content Ad]]
Nobody seemed to believe Todd Blackford.
He didn't believe the news at first.
The 2004 Triton High School graduate was on his way to grab dinner after his game with the Danville Braves of the Appalachian League, the rookie affiliate of the Atlanta Braves, when he was called back to the stadium.
"My coach called me and said I had to come back. They played it off like I was in trouble with the cops," Blackford said in a phone conversation Tuesday night.
Blackford wasn't wanted by the law, rather the Chicago Cubs.
The Cubs initiated a deal with the Atlanta Braves where Chicago sent veteran outfielder Todd Hollandsworth to Atlanta for Blackford and 25-year-old pitcher Angelo Burrows.
Blackford, a right-handed pitcher, was stunned by the news.
"(My coaches) told me it was good for my career because guys in my spot aren't usually traded for major leaguers," said Blackford. "But they said the Cubs had their eyes on me."
The Blackford family was more stunned than Todd was.
Blackford said he called his brother, Scott, and father, Ken, while the two were in Las Vegas watching Blackford's cousin, Eric Stults, pitch for the Los Angeles Dodgers' Triple A team, the Las Vegas 51s.
"I called my brother and he didn't believe me at first," said Blackford. "He gave the phone to my dad and he didn't believe me either. He had to call my (Danville) coach to make sure it was true."
Blackford talked to Stults as well. Stults, an Argos graduate and standout at Bethel College, congratulated him and the two talked about the possibility of someday pitching against each other in the majors.
Blackford was a 13th-round pick of the Atlanta Braves in 2004's amateur baseball draft. He struggled in his first season with the Gulf Coast League Braves.
"You come out of high school and you have to adjust real quickly," said Blackford. "Once you settle in it becomes a lot easier."
Blackford definitely settled in this year with Danville. He compiled a 5-3 record with a 3.17 ERA this season by effectively using three pitches: a fastball, changeup and curveball. Blackford said his fastball is somewhere between 90 and 94 m.p.h.
The disbelief by Blackford and his family was compounded by the fact that their home is a Cubs home.
Blackford grew up a die-hard Cub fan and dreamed that one day he would toe the rubber at Wrigley Field.
"Every pitcher that stepped on the field there, I wanted to be like them," said Blackford.
That time may come sooner than later. The Cubs informed Blackford that they would like to bring him up in the next three years.
"They said they're going to try and push me through the organization real quick," said Blackford.
Blackford is slated to make his debut in the Cubs orginization Saturday with the Class A Peoria Chiefs against the South Bend Silverhawks in Peoria.
It seems to be a perfect fit for both sides. Chicago gets a pitcher they wanted to draft in 2004, while Blackford will play for the team he grew up rooting for.
Who knows, maybe the 2008 starting pitching rotation for the Cubs will be Mark Prior, Carlos Zambrano, Greg Maddux, Kerry Wood and Todd Blackford. [[In-content Ad]]