Standard MLB Batting Statistics

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Standard MLB Pitching Statistics

	Season	Tm	LG	BF	W	L	ERA	G	GS	SV	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	WHIP
	2024	AZ	NL	83	1	0	4.42	7	2	0	18.1	16	12	9	4	10	18	1.42
	1 Season	AZ	NL	83	1	0	4.42	7	2	0	18.1	16	12	9	4	10	18	1.42

*: All Star Season, Rankings AL/NL: Top 5 10 15 20,        Click for Chart.

Standard MLB Fielding Statistics

Season	Tm	LG	POS	G	GS	INN	TC	PO	A	E	DP	RF	FPCT%
2024	AZ	NL	P	7	2	18.1	2	0	2	0	0		1.000
1 Season	AZ	NL	P	7	2	18.1	2	0	2	0	0		1.000

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Scouting Report

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 60 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 50

Walston wasn't a regular on the showcase circuit, in large part because he was a star quarterback at New Hanover High (Wilmington, N.C.). He led the state with 4,340 passing yards and the Wildcats to a 3-AA state title in 2017, then continued to shine in 2018. His future definitely is in baseball, however, as he's the best prospect from New Hanover since the Red Sox made Trot Nixon the seventh overall choice in the 1993 Draft.

Scouts don't have a lot of history with Walston, and his projectability is more attractive than his present stuff, but he could fit in the top two rounds if he's signable away from North Carolina State, where he'd concentrate solely on baseball. He's a quality athlete with a good arm action and delivery, fills the strike zone and still has the room to add 40-50 pounds to his lanky 6-foot-4 frame. If he goes to college, gets stronger and develops as expected, he could be one of the first players selected in the 2022 Draft.

Gatorade's 2019 North Carolina high school player of the year and a catalyst behind back-to-back state 3-A baseball championships, Walston has shown glimpses of what he can become by working with a riding 90-93 mph fastball early in some games, but he'll also sit in the upper 80s at times and dip to 85 mph late in contests. He has natural feel for spinning the ball and has promising depth on his curveball, though it currently parks in the low 70s. He also can throw a lateral-breaking slider and flash an interesting changeup, though he doesn't use either offering much at this point.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 40 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Cutter: 50 | Control: 45 | Overall: 40

The D-backs selected Walston 26th overall out of New Hanover (N.C.) HS in 2019 out of the belief in his projectability and makeup. Both of those characteristics remain, but it's been a rather bumpy road for the 6-foot-5 southpaw. Walston reached Double-A in 2022 and generated some momentum at hitter-friendly Amarillo late in the season, but he saw the bottom fall out in 2023. He managed a 4.52 ERA over a career-best 149 1/3 innings for Reno, but most noticeably, he nearly walked as many batters (93) as he struck out (104) in that period.

Walston averages 91-92 mph with his fastball and relies much more heavily on his secondaries to keep batters off balance, including an upper-80s cutter, low-80s sweeping slider, mid-70s curveball and mid-80s changeup. The sweeper has been best at generating swing-and-miss during his time in Triple-A in 2024, and it’s become a real weapon against lefties. The others come with a variety of movement profiles -- cutter moving tight to glove-side, curveball breaking over two planes, changeup coming with arm-side run -- and the diversity of looks can make the southpaw effective despite his lack of velo.

Even when Walston struggled in Reno in 2023, he was still only in his age-22 season, giving the D-backs hope that he needed time and space to catch up to the level. He reached the Majors for three first-half appearances this summer before being sidelined in June with a left elbow strain. When healthy, he should be a contributor to Arizona’s rotation depth.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 45 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 40

The D-backs were big fans of Walston's projectability, makeup and athleticism -- he was a high-school quarterback -- when they selected him 26th overall out of New Hanover (N.C.) High School in 2019. After spending what would have been his first full season at the alternate training site, he delivered promising performances at two A-ball levels in 2021, only to run into a buzzsaw at Double-A Amarillo last year. He finished with a 5.16 ERA and 1.45 WHIP in 106 1/3 frames, but a 2.89 ERA over his final 10 starts with the Sod Poodles gave Arizona hope about the lefty's trajectory heading into 2023.

The belief that the 6-foot-5 southpaw's velocity would blossom in pro ball hasn't quite come to fruition, as he still sits in the low 90s with his fastball. He'll occasionally touch 95, and the D-backs expect him to hit that mark more regularly as he moves forward in his career. His changeup flashes above-average with good fade, but it's a distinct third pitching behind his sweeping slider that showed more consistency as his time in the Texas League wore on. An upper-70s curveball could be punished when hung but has the depth to be an average fourth pitch.

Walston has the durability, pitch mix and clean delivery to be a big league starter. The move to Triple-A has provided a rough test with Walston nearly equaling his walk and strikeout totals during his first few months in Reno. That said, Walston is still only 22, so there may be years of development left before he finds his true ceiling.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 60 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 50 | Overall: 50

The D-backs were thrilled to find the Gatorade North Carolina High School Player of the Year still on the board late in the first round of the 2019 Draft and made him New Hanover’s highest-drafted player (26th overall) since the Red Sox took Trot Nixon seventh in 1993. A high school quarterback, Walston boasted impressive competitive makeup and athleticism that appealed to the D-backs. After signing for $2,450,000, he showed an uptick in velocity and stuff across two levels during his pro debut, offering club officials a glimpse of his high ceiling. He followed that up with an impressive showing at the alternate training site in 2020 and then put together a solid season in 2021, striking out 117 over 95 2/3 innings and pitching his way up to High-A in his first full season.

Walston's fastball sits in the 90-94 mph range, but he's shown the ability to dial it up when needed. The D-backs feel there's more in the tank and that his velocity will increase a bit as he continues to develop. His plus curveball, thrown in the mid- to upper-70s with tight spin and depth, may already be the best in the system and can attack hitters on both sides of the plate. He's also shown an improved feel for a changeup that features plus movement and a short, tight slider that he can land for strikes. Walston got off to a slow start in 2021 but found his rhythm as the season progressed and showed the ability to command each of four above-average offerings.

Tall and lanky, Walston has a clean delivery and has added muscle to his 6-foot-5 frame since signing in 2019. He's been young for every level he's played at thus far but has more than held his own. Couple that with the maturity he's shown early in his career, and it's easy to see why the D-backs are filled with confidence that Walston will develop into a front-of-the-rotation starter.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 60 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 55 | Overall: 50

The D-backs were thrilled to find the Gatorade North Carolina high school player of the year still on the board for their second pick in the first round and made him New Hanover's highest-drafted player since the Red Sox took Trot Nixon seventh overall in 1993. A quarterback in high school, the D-backs liked his competitive makeup and athleticism. After signing for $2,450,000, Walston showed an uptick in velocity and stuff across two levels during his pro debut, offering club officials a glimpse of his high ceiling on the mound. He followed that up with an impressive showing at the alternate training site in 2020 before finishing up at Instructional League. He began the 2021 campaign with Low-A Visalia and although he got off to a slow start, he ultimately found his rhythm and was promoted to High-A Hillsboro.

Walston's velocity has been consistently in the mid-to-upper 90s as he's matured physically since the Draft. His plus curveball may already be the best in the system, thrown in the mid- to upper-70s with tight spin and depth that makes it a weapon against hitters on both sides of the plate. He rounds out his four-pitch mix with a lateral-breaking slider and he made great strides with a changeup last summer, giving him the chance to have four above-average offerings. He's also improved his command during the 2021 season and been aggressively attacking hitters.

Walston is tall and lanky, but he has a good arm action as well as a clean delivery that continues to improve with physical maturation. He's already added strength since signing and has considerable room to grow into his 6-foot-5 frame. Combine that with the maturity he's shown thus far and the development of the changeup and you can understand why the D-backs see him as a future front-line starter.

2020 Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 60 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 55 | Overall: 50

As a quarterback at New Hanover High (Wilmington, N.C.), Walston led the state with 4,340 passing yards and the Wildcats to a 3-A state title as junior, then continued to shine in 2018. He was equally accomplished on the diamond, leading the program to back-to-back state 3-A baseball championships and garnering Gatorade North Carolina high school player of the year honors as a senior. The D-backs were thrilled to find the projectable left-hander still on the board for their second pick in the first round and made him New Hanover's highest-drafted player since the Red Sox took Trot Nixon seventh overall in 1993. After signing for $2,450,000, Walston showed an uptick in velocity and stuff across two levels during his pro debut, offering club officials a glimpse of his high ceiling on the mound.

Walston's velocity fluctuated between the upper-80s and low-90s during his senior year, but he was bumping 96-97 mph in his first taste of pro ball and should add even more velocity as he grows into his ultra-athletic and projectable frame. His plus curveball may already be the best in the system, thrown in the mid- to upper-70s with tight spin and depth that makes it a weapon against hitters on both sides of the plate. He rounds out his four-pitch mix with a lateral-breaking slider and a promising changeup that will be focal points in his early-career development. Some evaluators who saw Walston's pro debut believe he'll have above-average control of four above-average-or-better pitches when all is said and done.

Walston is tall and lanky, but he has a good arm action as well as a clean delivery that will only improve with physical maturation. He's already added strength since signing and has considerable room to grow into his 6-foot-5 frame. That type of physical projection along with Walston's impressive stuff makes it easy to dream on the young left-hander as a future frontline starter.

The D-backs were thrilled to find the Gatorade North Carolina high school player of the year still on the board for their second pick in the first round and made him New Hanover's highest-drafted player since the Red Sox took Trot Nixon seventh overall in 1993. A quarterback in high school, the D-backs liked his competitive makeup and athleticism. After signing for $2,450,000, Walston showed an uptick in velocity and stuff across two levels during his pro debut, offering club officials a glimpse of his high ceiling on the mound. He followed that up by spending last summer at the team's alternate training site where he more than held his own against more experienced players before finishing up at Instructional League.

Walston's velocity fluctuated between the upper-80s and low-90s during his senior year, but has been more consistently in the mid-to-upper 90s as he's matured physically since the Draft. His plus curveball may already be the best in the system, thrown in the mid- to upper-70s with tight spin and depth that makes it a weapon against hitters on both sides of the plate. He rounds out his four-pitch mix with a lateral-breaking slider and he made great strides with a changeup last summer, giving him the chance to have four above-average offerings. 

Walston is tall and lanky, but he has a good arm action as well as a clean delivery that continues to improve with physical maturation. He's already added strength since signing and has considerable room to grow into his 6-foot-5 frame. Combine that with the maturity he showed against older competition this spring and the development of the changeup and you can understand why the D-backs see him as a future front-line starter.

Awards

MiLB.com Organization All-Star

Year	Team
2021

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	10/01/2024	Arizona Diamondbacks recalled LHP Blake Walston from ACL D-backs.
	09/26/2024	Arizona Diamondbacks optioned LHP Blake Walston to ACL D-backs.
	09/15/2024	Arizona Diamondbacks recalled LHP Blake Walston from Reno Aces.
	08/12/2024	Arizona Diamondbacks optioned LHP Blake Walston to Reno Aces.
	08/12/2024	Arizona Diamondbacks activated LHP Blake Walston from the 15-day injured list.
	08/11/2024	Arizona Diamondbacks sent LHP Blake Walston on a rehab assignment to Reno Aces.
	08/11/2024	Arizona Diamondbacks sent LHP Blake Walston on a rehab assignment to Reno Aces.
	06/06/2024	Arizona Diamondbacks placed LHP Blake Walston on the 15-day injured list. Left elbow inflammtion.
	05/26/2024	Arizona Diamondbacks recalled LHP Blake Walston from Reno Aces.
	05/02/2024	Arizona Diamondbacks optioned LHP Blake Walston to Reno Aces.
	05/01/2024	Arizona Diamondbacks recalled LHP Blake Walston from Reno Aces.
	03/18/2024	Arizona Diamondbacks optioned LHP Blake Walston to Reno Aces.
	03/07/2024	Arizona D-backs Prospects activated LHP Blake Walston.
	11/14/2023	Arizona Diamondbacks selected the contract of LHP Blake Walston from Reno Aces.
	09/22/2023	Salt River Rafters activated LHP Blake Walston.
	03/31/2023	LHP Blake Walston assigned to Reno Aces.
	02/27/2023	LHP Blake Walston and assigned to Arizona Diamondbacks.
	07/06/2022	Amarillo Sod Poodles activated LHP Blake Walston from the 7-day injured list.
	05/01/2022	LHP Blake Walston assigned to Amarillo Sod Poodles from Hillsboro Hops.
	05/01/2022	Amarillo Sod Poodles placed LHP Blake Walston on the 7-day injured list.
	10/01/2021	Hillsboro Hops activated LHP Blake Walston from the 7-day injured list.
	09/08/2021	Hillsboro Hops placed LHP Blake Walston on the 7-day injured list.
	06/25/2021	LHP Blake Walston assigned to Hillsboro Hops from Visalia Rawhide.
	02/12/2021	LHP Blake Walston assigned to Visalia Rawhide.
	02/12/2021	LHP Blake Walston assigned to Visalia Rawhide.
	02/12/2021	LHP Blake Walston assigned to Visalia Rawhide.
	09/30/2020	LHP Blake Walston assigned to Kane County Cougars from Diamondbacks Alternate Training Site.
	09/30/2020	LHP Blake Walston assigned to Kane County Cougars.
	07/19/2020	LHP Blake Walston assigned to Diamondbacks Alternate Training Site from Hillsboro Hops.
	06/28/2020	Arizona Diamondbacks invited non-roster LHP Blake Walston to spring training.
	08/21/2019	LHP Blake Walston assigned to Hillsboro Hops from AZL D-backs.
	07/05/2019	LHP Blake Walston assigned to AZL D-backs.
	06/19/2019	Arizona Diamondbacks signed LHP Blake Walston.