Blake Lalli

{{short description|American baseball player & coach (born 1983)}}

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name=Blake Lalli

|image=Blake Lalli on April 21, 2008.jpg

|image_size=240px

|caption=Lalli with the Peoria Chiefs in 2008

|position=First baseman / Catcher

|team=Miami Marlins

|number=45

|bats=Left

|throws=Right

|birth_date={{birth date and age|1983|5|12}}

|birth_place=Gibsonia, Pennsylvania, U.S.

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate=May 18

|debutyear=2012

|debutteam=Chicago Cubs

|finalleague=MLB

|finaldate=September 29

|finalyear=2016

|finalteam=Atlanta Braves

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label=Batting average

|stat1value=.135

|stat2label=Home runs

|stat2value=0

|stat3label=Runs batted in

|stat3value=5

|teams=

;As player

Chicago Cubs ({{mlby|2012}})
Milwaukee Brewers ({{mlby|2013}})
Atlanta Braves ({{mlby|2016}})

;As coach

Miami Marlins ({{mlby|2025}}–present)

}}

Blake Thomas Lalli (born May 12, 1983) is an American former professional baseball first baseman and catcher and current third base coach for the Miami Marlins of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played in MLB for the Chicago Cubs, Milwaukee Brewers, and Atlanta Braves.

Playing career

=Amateur=

Lalli graduated from Pine-Richland High School in Gibsonia, Pennsylvania, in 2001.{{cite web|author=<<<=theobj.bylinetime>>> |url=http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/pirates/2012/05/26/Pine-Richland-pals-Neil-Walker-and-Blake-Lalli-find-way-to-Pirates-Cubs/stories/201205260203 |title=Pine-Richland pals Neil Walker and Blake Lalli find way to Pirates, Cubs | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |publisher=Post-gazette.com |date= |access-date=May 23, 2017}} He attended Gardner–Webb University from 2002 through 2006, where he played for the school's baseball team.{{cite web|url=http://www.shelbystar.com/sports/ever-64297-contract-thousands.html|title=Catcher Lalli first GWU player ever to get 'The Call' from the Cubs | ever, contract, thousands - The Star Online: The Newspaper of Cleveland County|publisher=Shelbystar.com|access-date=May 20, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120523231433/http://www.shelbystar.com/sports/ever-64297-contract-thousands.html|archive-date=May 23, 2012|df=mdy-all}} Lalli was named to the All-Atlantic Sun Conference's first team as a third baseman in 2005 and as a catcher in 2006. In 2005, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod Baseball League.{{cite web|author= |url=http://capecodbaseball.org.ismmedia.com/ISM3/std-content/repos/Top/2012website/archives/Current%20Year/All_Time_MLB_CCBL_Alumni.pdf |title=Major League Baseball Players From the Cape Cod League |publisher=capecodbaseball.org |date= |access-date=September 25, 2019}}{{cite web|url=http://www.thebaseballcube.com/college/summer/stats.asp?Y=2005&T=Harwich_Mariners |title=2005 Harwich Mariners |publisher=thebaseballcube.com |accessdate=September 23, 2021}}

=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. The Cubs promoted Lalli to MLB on May 18, 2012, and he made his MLB debut that day.{{cite web|date=May 18, 2012|url=http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120518&content_id=31629940&vkey=pr_chc&c_id=chc|title=Cubs select contract of Blake Lalli, Option Chris Volstad to Iowa |publisher=Chicago.cubs.mlb.com|access-date=May 20, 2012}}{{dead link|date=October 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} He became the first GWU alumnus to appear in MLB.

=Oakland Athletics=

On August 27, 2012, the Athletics acquired Lalli from the Chicago Cubs in exchange for catcher Anthony Recker.{{cite web|author=foxsports |url=http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/story/chicago-cubs-oakland-athletics-trade-blake-lalli-anthony-recker-082712 |title=Cubs, A's agree to Recker-Lalli deal |work=FOX Sports |date=August 27, 2012 |access-date=May 23, 2017}}

=Milwaukee Brewers=

On November 14, 2012, the Milwaukee Brewers signed Lalli to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.{{cite web |last1=Axisa |first1=Mike |title=Brewers Sign Blake Lalli |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/11/brewers-sign-blake-lalli.html |website=mlbtraderumors.com |date=November 14, 2012 |access-date=9 August 2021}} On April 9, 2013, Lalli's contract was purchased and he was added to the Major League roster by the Brewers.{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/player/blake-lalli-503351 |title=Blake Lalli Stats, Fantasy & News |publisher=Minor League Baseball |date=February 28, 2017 |access-date=October 15, 2021}} He was designated for assignment on September 19, 2013, and became a free agent on October 1.{{cite web|url=http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=l_trn&sid=milb&lid=112&ymd=201310 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004220224/http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=l_trn&sid=milb&lid=112&ymd=201310 |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 4, 2013 |title=October 2013 minor league transactions |publisher=Minor League Baseball |date=February 28, 2017 |access-date=May 23, 2017}}

=Arizona Diamondbacks=

On October 28, 2013, Lalli signed a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He became a minor league free agent after the 2014 season.

On November 26, 2014, Lalli re–signed with the Diamondbacks organization on a minor league contract.{{Cite web|title=Minor Moves: Ramirez, Pena, De La Torre, Hood, Sanabia|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2014/12/minor-moves-ramirez-pena-de-la-torre-hood-sanabia.html|access-date=October 2, 2024|website=mlbtraderumors.com|date=December 6, 2014 |language=en}}

=Atlanta Braves=

On September 11, 2016, Lalli was called up from the Triple–A Gwinnett Braves to the Atlanta Braves.{{cite web|url=http://www.ajc.com/news/sports/baseball/while-celebrating-with-g-braves-lalli-gets-call-to/nsWc3/ |title=Blake Lalli celebrating AAA series win when called to big leagues |publisher=Ajc.com |date=September 11, 2016 |access-date=May 23, 2017}} He was released on May 13, 2017.{{cite web|url=http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/minor-league-transactions-may-13-19/#4bfa0Z1ZFAm0bOlx.97 |title=Minor League Transactions: May 13–19 |publisher=BaseballAmerica.com |date= |access-date=May 23, 2017}}

=Arizona Diamondbacks (second stint)=

On June 7, 2017, Lalli signed a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks.{{cite web|url=http://m.dbacks.mlb.com/roster/transactions/|title=Transactions|website=Arizona Diamondbacks}}

Coaching 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/20180209/former-cubs-catcher-starting-new-chapter-as-manager-of-kane-county-cougars|title=Former Cubs catcher starting new chapter as manager of Kane County Cougars|first=Bruce|last=Miles|date=February 9, 2018|publisher=}}

=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.{{cite web|url=https://www.rgj.com/story/sports/2021/02/01/reno-aces-name-blake-lalli-new-team-manager/4341813001/|title=Reno Aces name former cather Blake Lalli as new team manager|date=February 1, 2021|publisher=Reno Gazette Journal}} He became the youngest manager in Aces history and first to be a former Aces player.

=Miami Marlins=

On January 17, 2025, the Miami Marlins hired Lalli to serve as their third base coach.{{Cite web|title=Marlins Hire Blake Lalli As Third Base Coach|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/01/marlins-hire-blake-lalli-as-third-base-coach.html|access-date=January 18, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}}