Paul Blackburn's strong performances out of the New York Yankees bullpen are no longer going unnoticed, according to manager Aaron Boone. The veteran right-handed reliever has become a reliable option, delivering scoreless innings and helping the team secure victories.
Boone noted that for weeks, Blackburn's contributions were a "secret" despite his effectiveness. "It had been about a month-plus of some really good work — whether it be a high-leverage situation, whether it’s giving you multiple innings on a given night," Boone said after Blackburn pitched two scoreless innings to help the Yankees win Game 2 of a doubleheader against the Pirates. "It’s been about six weeks where he’s gotten his stuff in a really good place. He’s another guy like [Brent] Headrick, you feel good about going through lefties and righties. He’s been big for us."
Blackburn is currently enjoying a successful season, holding a 2.00 ERA. He has allowed only one earned run over his last 14 appearances, a stretch spanning 21 ⅓ innings since June 21. His outings have been crucial, including escaping a jam in the seventh inning of Wednesday's game by striking out two batters with a runner on first base.
The 32-year-old joined the Yankees last year after being released by the Mets in August. He signed a one-year deal and has seen a significant improvement in his performance this season.
"Just when I showed up last year, I didn’t know what to expect," Blackburn said. "I walked in, there was a plan for me from day one. It just seemed like they were interested in helping me and getting me back to where they thought I could be."
One key factor in his resurgence is an increase in velocity. Blackburn is now averaging a career-best 94.2 mph on his sinker, up from 92.6 mph last year. This enhanced velocity has also made his secondary pitches more effective.
"I had a full offseason this year," Blackburn explained. "I focused on little different things I needed to get stronger and [gain] more mobility. Just ran with it."