Paul Blackburn Bio
Paul Cady Blackburn (born December 4, 1993) is an American professional baseball pitcher with the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Oakland Athletics and the New York Mets. Blackburn made his MLB debut in 2017 with the Athletics and was an All-Star in 2022.
A right-handed starting pitcher known for his command and durability, Blackburn has built his career as a dependable innings-eater across three organizations. He has appeared in more than 100 major league games since his debut and continues to contribute as a veteran arm in the Yankees’ pitching staff.
Early Life and Background
Paul Cady Blackburn was born on December 4, 1993, in Brentwood, California, USA. He grew up in the East Bay region of Northern California, an area with a deep baseball tradition and a strong pipeline of prospects heading toward the professional ranks. From a young age, Blackburn showed an aptitude for pitching, developing his mechanics and competitive edge in local youth and high school programs.
Blackburn attended Heritage High School in Brentwood, California, where he continued to refine his game as a starting pitcher. His performance on the high school circuit drew attention from professional scouts, and by the time he finished his prep career, he was regarded as one of the top pitching prospects in the country. His family background and upbringing in Brentwood helped shape his work ethic and his approach to the game.
Path to Baseball
Blackburn’s path to professional baseball accelerated when he was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the first round of the 2012 Major League Baseball draft out of Heritage High School. He made his professional debut that same season with the Rookie Arizona League Cubs, going 2–0 with a 3.48 ERA across nine games, including six starts. The early returns offered an encouraging glimpse of the strike-throwing profile that would define his career.
From 2013 through 2015, Blackburn climbed steadily through the Cubs’ minor league system. He pitched for the Low-A Boise Hawks in 2013, the Single-A Kane County Cougars in 2014, and the High-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans in 2015, posting strong earned run averages at every level. In 2016, he began the year with the Double-A Tennessee Smokies before a midseason trade sent him to the Seattle Mariners organization, where he finished the year with the Double-A Jackson Generals. Across 26 total games that season, he recorded a 9–5 record with a 3.27 ERA, cementing his status as a major league-ready arm.
Paul Blackburn Career
Early Career (2017–2018)
On November 12, 2016, Blackburn was traded to the Oakland Athletics in a deal for Danny Valencia, and the Athletics added him to their 40-man roster shortly afterward. He began 2017 with the Triple-A Nashville Sounds, where he posted a 5–6 record with a 3.05 ERA and was named to the 2017 Pacific Coast League All-Star Team. On July 1, 2017, he was called up to Oakland to make his major league debut against the Atlanta Braves, throwing six scoreless innings in a 4–3 loss. Five days later, he earned his first career win against the Seattle Mariners, working 7⅔ innings in a 7–4 victory.
In 2018, Blackburn battled injuries, beginning the year on the disabled list before being activated in June. Across six starts, he struggled to a 7.16 ERA, and on August 28 he was placed back on the disabled list with a forearm injury. The early Oakland years tested his resilience but also established him as a rotation candidate heading into the next phase of his career.
Oakland Athletics Breakthrough (2019–2024)
Blackburn’s tenure with Oakland included several setbacks followed by major triumphs. In 2019, he posted a 10.64 ERA in just four appearances, and in the shortened 2020 season he made only one outing. After being designated for assignment in February 2021, he cleared waivers and returned to Triple-A, where he spent most of the year before his contract was selected in August. The 2022 season marked a defining chapter: Blackburn went 7–6 with a 4.28 ERA in 21 starts and earned Oakland’s lone selection to the 2022 MLB All-Star Game, a milestone that reflected his bounce-back performance and importance to the rotation.
Blackburn signed a one-year, $1.9 million contract for 2023 and a one-year, $3.45 million deal for 2024, avoiding arbitration in both years. He opened 2024 with a historic run, throwing 19⅓ scoreless innings across his first three starts to set the team record for the most scoreless innings to open a season by a starting pitcher since the franchise moved to Oakland. He extended that streak to 22⅓ innings, the second-longest season-opening scoreless streak in Athletics history and the longest since Harry Krause in 1910, before giving up a run in the fourth inning of his fourth start. A right foot injury briefly interrupted his year, but he returned to post a 4–2 record with a 4.41 ERA across nine starts before being dealt.
New York Mets Era (2024–2025)
On July 30, 2024, the Oakland Athletics traded Blackburn to the New York Mets in exchange for pitcher Kade Morris. In five starts with the Mets down the stretch, he went 1–2 with a 5.18 ERA and 21 strikeouts across 24⅓ innings. The offseason brought another health challenge, as he underwent cerebrospinal fluid leak repair in October 2024 and was ruled out for four to five months.
Blackburn began the 2025 season on the injured list with right knee inflammation, but he was activated by early June. He made his season debut on June 2 against the Los Angeles Dodgers, striking out three batters while allowing three hits and one walk over five innings in a 4–3 extra-innings Mets victory. On June 8, he earned the first save of his career against the Colorado Rockies, closing out the final four innings of a 13–5 win. He struggled to a 0–3 record over his next three starts and landed back on the injured list in early July, but he returned on August 13 to pitch five relief innings against the Atlanta Braves. Three days later, the Mets designated him for assignment, and on August 19 they released him.
New York Yankees Era (2025–Present)
On August 21, 2025, Blackburn signed a major league contract with the New York Yankees, giving him a fresh start in the American League East. He made eight appearances for New York down the stretch, recording a 5.28 ERA with 16 strikeouts across 15⅓ innings. On January 15, 2026, Blackburn re-signed with the Yankees on a one-year, $2 million contract, locking in his place in the pitching staff.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Blackburn’s signature moments, the 2022 MLB All-Star selection stands as the most prominent individual honor of his career. His 22⅓-inning season-opening scoreless streak in 2024 ranks as the second-longest in Oakland Athletics history and the longest since Harry Krause in 1910. He also recorded the first save of his major league career on June 8, 2025, while with the Mets, a milestone that highlighted his growing versatility as a multi-inning reliever.
Paul Blackburn Career Wins
Across his major league career, Paul Blackburn has accumulated wins as a starter and reliever for three organizations. His most memorable victories include his first career win on July 6, 2017, against the Seattle Mariners, his strong 2022 All-Star campaign with Oakland, and his 2024 scoreless-innings streak that set a modern Oakland franchise record.
Oakland Athletics Highlights
Blackburn spent the bulk of his career with the Oakland Athletics from 2016 through mid-2024, debuting in 2017 and serving as a rotation regular. He recorded his first major league win with Oakland in 2017 and earned All-Star honors in 2022. He is remembered in Oakland for his record-breaking 22⅓-inning scoreless streak to open the 2024 season.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond Oakland, Blackburn has made meaningful contributions with the New York Mets and New York Yankees. With the Mets, he notched his first career save in June 2025, and with the Yankees he has provided veteran depth in the pitching staff after being signed in August 2025.
Paul Blackburn Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Paul Cady Blackburn was raised in Brentwood, California, where his family supported his early development as a baseball player. He is an American by nationality, and his Brentwood upbringing played a central role in shaping his path toward professional baseball.
Limited public information is available about Blackburn’s personal life beyond his professional career. He is known to be active on social media, including his Instagram presence, where he shares glimpses of his baseball journey.
2025 Season Performance
Paul Blackburn’s 2025 campaign was defined by injury setbacks and a midseason change of scenery. After missing the start of the year on the injured list, he returned to the New York Mets in early June and delivered one of his best outings of the season against the Los Angeles Dodgers, pitching five strong innings in a 4–3 win. He quickly added his first career save against the Colorado Rockies, but he struggled through his next three starts and returned to the injured list in early July.
After rejoining the Mets’ bullpen in mid-August, Blackburn was designated for assignment on August 16 and released three days later. He signed with the New York Yankees on August 21 and made eight appearances for the Bronx Bombers down the stretch, finishing the year with a 5.28 ERA and 16 strikeouts. On January 15, 2026, he re-signed with the Yankees on a one-year, $2 million contract, setting the stage for a bounce-back season with his new club.
