Paul Blackburn

Paul Cady Blackburn Bio

Paul Cady Blackburn (born December 4, 1993) is an American professional baseball pitcher who currently plays for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Oakland Athletics and the New York Mets. Blackburn made his MLB debut in 2017 with the Athletics and was selected as an All-Star in 2022. Throughout his career, Blackburn has established himself as a durable starting pitcher known for his competitive nature on the mound and ability to work deep into games.

Early Life and Background

Paul Cady Blackburn was born on December 4, 1993, in Brentwood, California. He attended Heritage High School in his hometown, where he developed his skills as a baseball pitcher during his high school years. Blackburn’s performance at the high school level caught the attention of Major League Baseball scouts, setting the stage for his professional career.

Path to Professional Baseball

Blackburn’s talent on the mound led to his selection in the 2012 Major League Baseball Draft. The Chicago Cubs chose him in the first round, marking his entry into professional baseball. He made his professional debut that same season with the Rookie Arizona League Cubs. Blackburn quickly demonstrated his potential, posting a 2-0 record with a 3.48 ERA in nine games during his first professional season.

Paul Cady Blackburn Career

Minor Leagues (2012-2016)

Following his selection by the Cubs, Blackburn steadily climbed the minor league ladder. In 2013 with the Low-A Boise Hawks, he went 2-3 with a 3.33 ERA in 13 games. He continued his development in 2014 with the Single-A Kane County Cougars, where he posted a 9-4 record with a 3.23 ERA in 24 starts. By 2015 with the High-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans, Blackburn compiled a 7-5 record with a 3.11 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP in 18 starts.

Blackburn began 2016 with the Double-A Tennessee Smokies before a significant career move. On July 20, 2016, the Cubs traded Blackburn and Daniel Vogelbach to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for Mike Montgomery and Jordan Pries. Seattle assigned him to the Double-A Jackson Generals. In 26 total games between Tennessee and Jackson, he went 9-5 with a 3.27 ERA.

Oakland Athletics Era (2016-2024)

On November 12, 2016, Blackburn was traded to the Oakland Athletics for Danny Valencia. The Athletics added him to their 40-man roster shortly thereafter. He began 2017 with the Triple-A Nashville Sounds, where he posted a 5-6 record with a 3.05 ERA and 56 strikeouts through June 26. Blackburn was named to the 2017 Pacific Coast League All-Star Team on June 28.

Blackburn received the call to the majors and made his MLB debut on July 1, 2017, against the Atlanta Braves. In his debut, he threw 6 innings, giving up 3 hits and no earned runs on 96 pitches in a 4-3 loss. He earned his first career win five days later on July 6 against the Mariners, throwing 7 and 2/3 innings while giving up 8 hits, one walk, and one earned run in a 7-4 victory. He finished his rookie season with a 3-1 record and a 3.22 ERA in ten starts.

The 2018 and 2019 seasons presented challenges for Blackburn. He began 2018 on the disabled list, was activated in June, and struggled to a 7.16 ERA in six starts before returning to the disabled list in August with a forearm injury. In 2019, he appeared in only 4 games with a 10.64 ERA.

Blackburn bounced back strongly in 2022. With Oakland, he went 7-6 with a 4.28 ERA in 21 starts. He was the Athletics’ lone representative at the 2022 MLB All-Star Game, marking the highlight of his career thus far. In 2023, he went 4-7 with a 4.43 ERA and a career-high 104 strikeouts in 21 appearances.

The 2024 season began exceptionally for Blackburn. He signed a one-year contract worth $3.45 million in January. He started the season by throwing 19 and 1/3 scoreless innings over his first three starts, setting the Oakland franchise record for the most scoreless innings to start a season by a starting pitcher since the team moved to Oakland. His streak ended at 22 and 1/3 scoreless innings, becoming the second-longest season-opening streak in Athletics franchise history. He was placed on the injured list on May 13 with a right foot injury and was activated on July 26. Across 9 starts for Oakland, he posted a 4-2 record with a 4.41 ERA and 38 strikeouts in 51 innings pitched.

New York Mets (2024-2025)

On July 30, 2024, the Athletics traded Blackburn to the New York Mets in exchange for pitcher Kade Morris. In 5 starts for the Mets, he logged a 1-2 record with a 5.18 ERA and 21 strikeouts over 24 and 1/3 innings pitched. On October 11, 2024, Blackburn underwent a cerebrospinal fluid leak repair procedure and was ruled out for 4-5 months.

Blackburn began the 2025 season on the 15-day injured list with right knee inflammation. He was activated on May 31 and made his season debut on June 2 against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He struck out 3 batters while allowing only one walk and 3 hits across 5 innings as the Mets defeated the Dodgers 4-3 in extra innings. On June 8, Blackburn earned the first save of his career after closing out the last four innings of a 13-5 victory over the Colorado Rockies. However, he struggled afterward, going 0-3 in his next three starts before landing on the injured list on July 3. He returned briefly in August before being designated for assignment on August 16 and released on August 19.

New York Yankees (2025-Present)

On August 21, 2025, Blackburn signed a major league contract with the New York Yankees. He made eight appearances for New York, recording a 5.28 ERA with 16 strikeouts across 15 and 1/3 innings pitched. On January 15, 2026, Blackburn re-signed with the Yankees on a one-year, $2 million contract, securing his spot with the team for the upcoming season.

Pitching Style and Strengths

Blackburn is known as a ground-ball pitcher who works efficiently and competes deep into games. His ability to limit walks and generate weak contact has been a hallmark of his approach on the mound. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated resilience in bouncing back from injuries and challenging seasons, showing his determination to succeed at the major league level.

Notable Events and Milestones

The standout moment of Blackburn’s career remains his All-Star selection in 2022, when he represented the Oakland Athletics as their lone representative at the MLB All-Star Game. His 2024 scoreless innings streak also stands out as a remarkable achievement, ranking second in franchise history for season-opening scoreless innings. He earned his first career save with the Mets in June 2025 against the Colorado Rockies.

Paul Cady Blackburn Career Wins

Through June 25, 2026, Blackburn has accumulated 24 wins and 32 losses across his Major League Baseball career with a 4.80 ERA and 389 strikeouts. His career has included moments of brilliance alongside periods of injury challenges, but his perseverance has kept him in professional baseball.

Major League Baseball Highlights

Blackburn’s most successful stretch came with the Oakland Athletics from 2017 through mid-2024. He achieved his first career win on July 6, 2017, against the Seattle Mariners. His All-Star selection in 2022 marked the pinnacle of his career. His 2024 season-opening scoreless innings streak became a franchise record and drew national attention to his performance.

Other Career Notes

Beyond his MLB career, Blackburn has accumulated over 50 wins in minor league play across various levels. His journey through multiple organizations demonstrates his value as a pitcher who can contribute at the major league level when healthy.

Paul Cady Blackburn Family

Family information for Paul Cady Blackburn is not publicly available. He maintains an active presence on Instagram under the handle paulyb_58, where he shares glimpses of his professional career and personal life with fans.

2025 Season Performance

The 2025 season presented significant challenges for Blackburn. Beginning the year on the injured list with right knee inflammation, he worked his way back to make his Mets debut on June 2 against the Los Angeles Dodgers. His performance against the Dodgers showed promise, as he allowed only 3 hits and 1 walk while striking out 3 across 5 innings in a winning effort. He recorded his first career save on June 8 against the Colorado Rockies, closing out the final four innings of a high-scoring game.

Despite these highlights, Blackburn struggled significantly in subsequent starts, going 0-3 in three straight losing performances. He landed back on the injured list on July 3. His brief return in August proved insufficient, leading to his designation for assignment on August 16 and subsequent release on August 19. Blackburn then signed with the New York Yankees on August 21, providing him with a fresh opportunity to contribute to a playoff-contending team for the remainder of the season.