Blake Treinen Bio
Blake Michael Treinen is an American professional baseball relief pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Washington Nationals and Oakland Athletics. Treinen played college baseball for the Baker Wildcats and South Dakota State Jackrabbits. The Athletics selected him in the seventh round of the 2011 MLB draft and he made his major league debut in 2014. Treinen was an All-Star in 2018 and has been part of three World Series championship teams.
Known for a heavy sinker that produces sharp downward movement, Treinen has built a career as a high-leverage late-inning reliever. He has converted more than 80 saves across the regular season and postseason, and he has been a trusted setup man and closer for contending clubs in both the National League and the American League.
Early Life and Background
Blake Michael Treinen was born on June 30, 1988, in the United States. As a toddler, he cut his thumb on glass, required surgery, and lived with limited range of motion that later affected how he gripped a baseball.
Treinen attended Osage City High School in Osage City, Kansas. He joined the school baseball team as a freshman but stepped away during his sophomore year after being diagnosed with prediabetes. He returned to the team in his junior year, when his fastball reached the high 70s.
After high school, Treinen played junior varsity college baseball for the Baker Wildcats in 2007. He transferred to the University of Arkansas in 2008 but was not allowed to try out for the Arkansas Razorbacks. He increased his weight training and, on the recommendation of Minor League Baseball pitcher Don Czyz, eventually transferred to South Dakota State University, where he sat out 2009 under NCAA transfer rules.
Path to Baseball
Once eligible at South Dakota State, Treinen’s fastball climbed into the upper 80s, and the Miami Marlins selected him in the 23rd round of the 2010 MLB draft. He was willing to sign, but a medical review revealed shoulder inflammation, and the Marlins withdrew their offer. He returned to the Jackrabbits for his senior season, posting a 7–3 record with a 3.00 earned run average (ERA), and his fastball reached 97 miles per hour.
In the 2011 MLB draft, the Oakland Athletics selected him in the seventh round, and he signed for a $52,000 bonus. He began his professional career in 2012 with the Stockton Ports of the Class A-Advanced California League. In January 2013, the Athletics traded him to the Washington Nationals in a three-team deal. He split 2013 between Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Syracuse, posting a 3.64 ERA in the Eastern League and building toward a major league opportunity.
Blake Treinen Career
Early Career (2014–2016)
Blake Michael Treinen made his major league debut with the Washington Nationals on April 12, 2014, after a strong spring training. He earned his first career win on June 29, 2014, out-dueling Jeff Samardzija of the Chicago Cubs in a 7–2 victory. He appeared in 15 major league games that season, mostly in relief, and reached 98 miles per hour with his fastball.
In 2015, Treinen became a regular in the Washington bullpen and was used in late-game situations behind closer Drew Storen. His sinker touched 100 miles per hour, and he reached 101.32 miles per hour in May. In 2016, he was used almost exclusively in relief, posted a 2.28 ERA, and ranked among the National League leaders in groundball rate. He credited pitching coach Mike Maddux and teammate Matt Belisle for his improvement and made his postseason debut in the 2016 National League Division Series (NLDS) against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Washington Nationals Closer Era (2017)
With Mark Melancon departing in free agency, the Washington Nationals named Blake Michael Treinen their closer to open the 2017 season. He converted a perfect ninth inning on Opening Day against the Miami Marlins, but his season unraveled in April as his ERA climbed above 7.00. Manager Dusty Baker removed him from the closer role in mid-April in favor of Shawn Kelley and later Koda Glover.
Although his overall results were uneven, Treinen was praised for his toughness by reigning National League MVP Christian Yelich. He continued to work in middle relief through June, and on July 16, 2017, the Nationals traded him back to Oakland, along with Sheldon Neuse and Jesús Luzardo, in a deal that sent Sean Doolittle and Ryan Madson to Washington.
Oakland Athletics Breakthrough (2017–2019)
After rejoining the Oakland Athletics, Blake Michael Treinen stabilized in the closer role. In 2018, he was one of the best relievers in baseball, finishing 9–2 with a 0.78 ERA, 38 saves, and 100 strikeouts, and he was named an American League All-Star. He gave up a three-run home run to Giancarlo Stanton in the 2018 American League Wild Card Game, ending Oakland’s season.
Treinen won his salary arbitration case before the 2019 season and earned a $6.4 million salary. A right shoulder injury in June 2019 cost him the closer job to Liam Hendriks. He finished 6–5 with a 4.91 ERA and 16 saves, was left off Oakland’s postseason roster, and was non-tendered after the season, making him a free agent.
Los Angeles Dodgers Era (2020–Present)
On December 15, 2019, Blake Michael Treinen signed a one-year, $10 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. In the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, he appeared in 27 games and was a key part of the Dodgers bullpen, including a save in Game 5 of the World Series as Los Angeles won the championship in six games. The Dodgers re-signed him in January 2021 to a two-year deal with a team option.
In 2021, Treinen pitched in 72 games, posted a 1.99 ERA, and led the majors with 32 holds. Shoulder trouble limited him in 2022, and he underwent right shoulder labrum and rotator cuff repair surgery in November 2022, missing the entire 2023 season. Cracked ribs and a bruised lung delayed his 2024 return until May, but he was effective, posting a 1.93 ERA over 50 games and helping the Dodgers win the 2024 World Series. On December 10, 2024, he signed a two-year, $22 million contract to remain in Los Angeles.
Driving Style and Strengths
Blake Michael Treinen is best known for a heavy sinker that produces elite rates of groundballs and weak contact. He attacks hitters in the strike zone, induces double-play balls, and thrives in high-leverage spots when managers need a groundball or a strikeout. Late in his career, he has leaned on veteran poise and command rather than pure velocity, which once touched 101 miles per hour.
Notable Events and Milestones
Treinen’s 2018 season, when he posted a 0.78 ERA and made the All-Star team, stands as his career high point on the mound. He is a three-time World Series champion, winning titles with the Dodgers in 2020, 2024, and 2025, and he earned a notable save in Game 5 of the 2020 World Series. In September 2025, he became the first pitcher since at least 1912 to take the loss in five consecutive team defeats.
Blake Treinen Career Wins
Blake Michael Treinen has built his résumé as a high-leverage reliever rather than a traditional starting pitcher. His career MLB totals through June 19, 2026, show a 49–42 win–loss record, a 2.93 ERA, 621 strikeouts, and 83 saves across stints with the Washington Nationals, Oakland Athletics, and Los Angeles Dodgers. His single biggest season came in 2018, when he went 9–2 with 38 saves and an 0.78 ERA for Oakland.
Major League Highlights
Treinen earned his first major league win on June 29, 2014, against the Chicago Cubs. He converted 13 of 16 save opportunities after his July 2017 trade to Oakland and reached his peak with 38 saves and an 0.78 ERA in 2018, when he was named an All-Star. With the Dodgers, he has picked up postseason wins in the 2020, 2024, and 2025 World Series and saved a critical Game 5 in 2020.
Other Wins and Performances
Treinen also collected a postseason win in Game 2 of the 2016 National League Division Series against the Dodgers while pitching for Washington. In 2021, he led the major leagues with 32 holds, an industry term for relief appearances that protect a lead, underscoring his value in the late innings even when he was not closing games. Through June 19, 2026, his career line stands at 49–42 with a 2.93 ERA.
Blake Treinen Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Blake Michael Treinen and his wife Kati have four children and live in Walla Walla, Washington. Kati is an assistant women’s basketball coach at Walla Walla Community College and played college basketball at Walla Walla and Boise State University. From 2015 to 2020, Treinen served as a volunteer assistant coach for the Whitman College Blues baseball team in Walla Walla, the same community where the couple settled.
Treinen is Roman Catholic. He has been open about his faith and has drawn public attention for comments about team Pride Night events. He is also a dog owner, and his bulldog Maxx famously accompanied him on a road trip from Walla Walla to spring training in Florida in 2016. Pitching influencer Rob Friedman once nicknamed him “The Witch” on social media because of the sharp movement on his sinker, a nickname Treinen himself disliked.
2025 Season Performance
Blake Michael Treinen’s 2025 season with the Los Angeles Dodgers was a study in perseverance. After signing a two-year, $22 million contract in December 2024 to remain in Los Angeles, he took his first loss and blown save of the year on April 6. Forearm tightness sent him to the injured list in April, and he was transferred to the 60-day injured list in May before rejoining the Dodgers on July 27.
His return was brief, as September brought a difficult stretch in which Treinen took the loss in five consecutive Dodgers defeats, a feat not matched in the major leagues since at least 1912. He finished 2–7 with a 5.40 ERA across 32 games and 26 and two-thirds innings, and his postseason struggles continued with runs allowed in the National League Division Series, National League Championship Series, and World Series.
Despite the late-season difficulties, Treinen was part of the Dodgers’ run to a 2025 World Series championship, his third ring with Los Angeles. The combination of his veteran presence, postseason experience, and proven ability to bounce back from injuries and rough stretches leaves him well positioned to remain a trusted late-inning option heading into the next campaign.
