Blake Baxendale
Catcher
Rogers Heritage HS, Rogers, AR
“5 Pitch Strikeout”
(Blake, getting ready to go)
Blake Baxendale is one of the most talent players I have had the opportunity to see play in my small career. He is what many view as one of the top catching prospects in this year’s draft, who is the younger brother of what many feel is one of the top pitching prospects in this year’s draft. Blake’s older brother, DJ, is the ace of the Arkansas Razorbacks pitching staff under Coach Van Horn. Blake’s dad, Greg, is a scout for the Cleveland Indians, and runs the legendary summer baseball program, the Arkansas Express. Blake has a lot of raw power, and can really catch. He blocks the ball very well, and throws it on a line. He is 6’4, 220, and from what I have heard has been in the low 1.8’s with his pop time. He attends Roger’s Heritage HS where he players alongside another Razorback commitment, Hunter Wood. We are very happy that Blake was our first “5 Pitch Strikeout” interviewee, and are happy to announce that he is a candidate for our The Balk Blog Preseason Player of the Year for the state of Arkansas, as well as National Player of the Year. Enjoy the interview!
(Would you be scared to pitch to him? Most of Arkansas is!)
Pitch 1: Blake, first off thank you for sitting down with us, it’s a real honor to have you apart of our first 5 Pitch Strikeout interview. For the fans who don’t know much about you, why don’t give them an introduction to tell the people a little bit about yourself.
Blake: I really appreciate y'all having me on here. I'm a lover of the game of baseball. It's basically been my life since I was 3 years old. I live in a "baseball family" you could say.
Pitch 2: The Baxendale last name is a very famous name in the baseball world. Your brother, DJ, was a highly recruited right handed pitcher out of high school who now pitches at Arkansas, and your dad is a scout for the Indians I believe. How’s it feel to have two great people helping you out whom have been there for before?
Blake: It's great having guys like DJ and my dad around. Everything that I've learned in the game of baseball, I give credit to them. Me and DJ have been best friends our whole lives and we have always been together on teams. It's great for me that he has had so much success because that really gets the Baxendale name out there.
Pitch 3: Let’s talk about your recruiting process. You committed very early, before your junior season, did you have any other offers, or did you know being a Razorback was what you wanted to do?
Blake: I committed to the University of Arkansas before my first game my sophomore year. I had other people that were recruiting me such as Louisville, Missouri State, Oklahoma, and others. With me and DJ being so close, I really wanted to follow his footsteps wearing a razorback uniform and I'm blessed to have the opportunity to do that.
Pitch 4: I have heard from what I consider a very good source that your 90 ish off the mound, but stopped pitching once you commitment to Arkansas. It makes sense seeing how your brother’s velo has been rumored to be up around 95 before, but is this true? Is pitching something you like doing?
(Blake, at a young age, taking the mound)
Blake: I used to pitch and I could run it up there pretty good. I've been anywhere on the gun from 89-92. Last summer I was pitching and got a 50% tear in my ulnar collateral ligament in my elbow. I went through rehab without having to have Tommy John surgery and decide that my pitching career was done from that day on.
Pitch 5: Well Blake, this interview is coming to an end, is there anything out there that you would like to tell the people reading this? Also, tell the people a little bit about what you expect this coming season at Rogers Heritage, and what the expectations are.
Blake: I just want to say that I really appreciate being on this and that I've worked very hard through my baseball career to get to the point that I'm at. We have a lot of young talent on our high school team this year. We graduated 5 starting seniors. We are going to get after it this fall and in the spring. We have a very good chance to make a run at the state championship and that is what we plan on doing
Bonus Pitch: Just when you thought it was over huh? We have one more question for you. I am sure all the people reading this have been wondering one thing, Has DJ ever pitched against you? If so, what happen? If not, what would happen?
Blake: I haven't faced him since My freshman year, his senior year of high school practice. I faced him 4 times. He struck me out once, got a flyout, a groundout, and then I hit a double in the right center gap. He's a very good pitcher that can locate in pitch in any count. He has a lot of arm side run on his fastball and that's what makes him so effective. Thanks again for the opportunity to be on here
Thanks a lot Blake, we are very honored to have you apart of these segment. Good luck to you this season, and in next year’s draft.
(The Legend, Blake Baxendale)
BB29
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