Matt Blank
Encyclopedia
Clarence Matt Blank is a former Major League Baseball
relief pitcher
who played for the Montreal Expos
. He batted and threw left-handed
.
Blank was drafted by the New York Yankees
in the 37th round of the 1994 Major League Baseball Draft
. Blank decided not to sign. The following year, he was again drafted, this time by the Florida Marlins
in the 40th round. Again, Blank chose not to sign. After not being drafted in , Blank was drafted in the 11th round of the 1997 Major League Baseball Draft
by the Montreal Expos. Blank signed on to play in the Expos organization. Blank made his made major league debut in at the age of 24. In that game, Blank pitched one inning, giving up zero earned run
s. That year, Blank had an ERA
of 5.14 in 14 innings. The following year, he threw 22.7 innings, with an ERA of 5.16. After spending the entire season in the minors, Blank was traded on April 30, to the San Francisco Giants
to complete an earlier trade. Less than two months later, he was released.
On August 3, Blank was signed by the Atlanta Braves
, only to be released 16 days later. In January , he was signed by the Florida Marlins. After spending the year in the minors, Blank was released by the Marlins. A month later, he was again signed by the Marlins, but again was released by them. On January 11, , he was signed by the Toronto Blue Jays
. On March 22, 2006, he was granted free agency
, and re-signed with the Marlins. During the season, he was traded to the San Diego Padres
for Jim Brower
and finished the season with Triple-A Portland
, retiring after the season.
At the time of his retirement, Blank had a 2-3 record, a 5.15 ERA, 18 walks
, and 15 strikeout
s. Blank was 4 for 9 hitting, with a lifetime batting average
of .444. His lifetime fielding percentage
was 1.000.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
who played for the Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
. He batted and threw left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
.
Blank was drafted by the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
in the 37th round of the 1994 Major League Baseball Draft
1994 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1994 Major League Baseball draft.-Compensation picks:-Other notable players:*A.J. Pierzynski , Minnesota Twins, 3rd round*Bobby Howry , San Francisco Giants, 5th round...
. Blank decided not to sign. The following year, he was again drafted, this time by the Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
in the 40th round. Again, Blank chose not to sign. After not being drafted in , Blank was drafted in the 11th round of the 1997 Major League Baseball Draft
1997 Major League Baseball Draft
The 1997 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft of high school and college baseball players, was held on June 2 and 3, 1997...
by the Montreal Expos. Blank signed on to play in the Expos organization. Blank made his made major league debut in at the age of 24. In that game, Blank pitched one inning, giving up zero earned run
Earned run
In baseball, an earned run is any run for which the pitcher is held accountable . Any runner who tags his base and reaches home plate is scored against the pitcher as an earned run...
s. That year, Blank had an ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
of 5.14 in 14 innings. The following year, he threw 22.7 innings, with an ERA of 5.16. After spending the entire season in the minors, Blank was traded on April 30, to the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
to complete an earlier trade. Less than two months later, he was released.
On August 3, Blank was signed by the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
, only to be released 16 days later. In January , he was signed by the Florida Marlins. After spending the year in the minors, Blank was released by the Marlins. A month later, he was again signed by the Marlins, but again was released by them. On January 11, , he was signed by the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
. On March 22, 2006, he was granted free agency
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
, and re-signed with the Marlins. During the season, he was traded to the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
for Jim Brower
Jim Brower
James Robert Brower is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He played for 8 MLB teams: Cleveland Indians , Cincinnati Reds , Montreal Expos , San Francisco Giants , Atlanta Braves , Baltimore Orioles , San Diego Padres , and New York Yankees...
and finished the season with Triple-A Portland
Portland Beavers
The Tucson Padres are a minor league baseball team, representing Tucson, Arizona, in the Pacific Coast League . They are the Triple-A affiliate for the San Diego Padres. The team was formerly known as the Portland Beavers and played its last home game at PGE Park on September 6, 2010...
, retiring after the season.
At the time of his retirement, Blank had a 2-3 record, a 5.15 ERA, 18 walks
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
, and 15 strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s. Blank was 4 for 9 hitting, with a lifetime batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
of .444. His lifetime fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
was 1.000.