Blake Lalli
Lalli with the Peoria Chiefs in 2008
First baseman / Catcher
Born: (1983-05-12) May 12, 1983
Gibsonia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Batted: Left
Threw: Right
MLB debut
May 18, 2012, for the Chicago Cubs
Last MLB appearance
September 29, 2016, for the Atlanta Braves
MLB statistics
Batting average.135
Home runs0
Runs batted in5
Teams

Blake Thomas Lalli (born May 12, 1983) is an American former professional baseball player and current manager for the Reno Aces, the Triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago Cubs, Milwaukee Brewers, and the Atlanta Braves.

Playing career

Amateur

Lalli graduated from Pine-Richland High School in Gibsonia, Pennsylvania, in 2001.[1] He attended Gardner–Webb University from 2002 through 2006, where he played for the school's baseball team.[2] Lalli was named to the All-Atlantic Sun Conference's first team as a third baseman in 2005 and as a catcher in 2006.[2] In 2005, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[3][4]

Chicago Cubs

Undrafted out of college, Lalli signed with the Chicago Cubs as a free agent in 2006. He was named a Southern League All-Star in 2009, 2010, and 2011.[5] The Cubs promoted Lalli to MLB on May 18, 2012, and he made his MLB debut that day.[5] He became the first GWU alumnus to appear in MLB.[2]

Oakland Athletics

On August 27, 2012, the Athletics acquired Lalli from the Chicago Cubs in exchange for catcher Anthony Recker.[6]

Milwaukee Brewers

On November 14, 2012, the Milwaukee Brewers signed Lalli to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.[7] On April 9, 2013, Lalli's contract was purchased and he was added to the Major League roster by the Brewers.[8] He was designated for assignment on September 19, 2013, and became a free agent on October 1.[9]

Arizona Diamondbacks

Lalli signed a minor league deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks in October 2013. He became a minor league free agent after the 2014 season and on November 26, 2014, he signed a minor league deal to return with the team.[8]

Atlanta Braves

On September 11, 2016, Lalli was called up from AAA Gwinnett Braves to the Atlanta Braves.[10] He was released on May 13, 2017.[11]

Second stint with Diamondbacks

On June 7, 2017, Lalli signed a minor league deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks.[12]

Managerial career

Kane County Cougars

For the 2018 season, Lalli was named the manager for the Kane County Cougars, the single-A affiliate of the Diamondbacks.[13]

Jackson Generals

After one year in the Chicago suburbs, he left to become manager of the Jackson Generals for the 2019 season. In one season with the Generals, Lalli led the team to their third championship in the last four seasons in the Southern League.

Reno Aces

On February 1, 2021, Lalli was announced as the new manager for the Reno Aces.[14] He became the youngest manager in Aces history and first to be a former Aces player.

Personal

Lalli resides in Boiling Springs, North Carolina during the baseball offseason.[2]

References

  1. ↑ <<<=theobj.bylinetime>>>. "Pine-Richland pals Neil Walker and Blake Lalli find way to Pirates, Cubs | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette". Post-gazette.com. Retrieved May 23, 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Catcher Lalli first GWU player ever to get 'The Call' from the Cubs | ever, contract, thousands - The Star Online: The Newspaper of Cleveland County". Shelbystar.com. Archived from the original on May 23, 2012. Retrieved May 20, 2012.
  3. ↑ "Major League Baseball Players From the Cape Cod League" (PDF). capecodbaseball.org. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  4. ↑ "2005 Harwich Mariners". thebaseballcube.com. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  5. 1 2 "Cubs select contract of Blake Lalli, Option Chris Volstad to Iowa | cubs.com: News". Chicago.cubs.mlb.com. May 18, 2012. Retrieved May 20, 2012.
  6. ↑ foxsports (August 27, 2012). "Cubs, A's agree to Recker-Lalli deal". FOX Sports. Retrieved May 23, 2017.
  7. ↑ Axisa, Mike (November 14, 2012). "Brewers Sign Blake Lalli". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  8. 1 2 "Blake Lalli Stats, Fantasy & News". Milb.com. February 28, 2017. Retrieved October 15, 2021.
  9. ↑ "October 2013 minor league transactions". Milb.com. February 28, 2017. Retrieved May 23, 2017.
  10. ↑ "Blake Lalli celebrating AAA series win when called to big leagues". Ajc.com. September 11, 2016. Retrieved May 23, 2017.
  11. ↑ "Minor League Transactions: May 13–19". BaseballAmerica.com. Retrieved May 23, 2017.
  12. ↑ "Transactions". Arizona Diamondbacks.
  13. ↑ Miles, Bruce (February 9, 2018). "Former Cubs catcher starting new chapter as manager of Kane County Cougars".
  14. ↑ "Reno Aces name former cather Blake Lalli as new team manager". Reno Gazette Journal. February 1, 2021.
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