Blake Sabol

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name = Blake Sabol

|image = Bsabol2023.jpg

|caption = Sabol with the Giants in 2023

|team = Boston Red Sox

|number =

|position = Catcher / Outfielder

|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1998|1|7}}

|birth_place = Aliso Viejo, California, U.S.

|bats = Left

|throws = Right

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = March 30

|debutyear = 2023

|debutteam = San Francisco Giants

|statleague = MLB

|statyear = April 26, 2025

|stat1label = Batting average

|stat1value = .237

|stat2label = Home runs

|stat2value = 13

|stat3label = Runs batted in

|stat3value = 46

|teams =

San Francisco Giants ({{mlby|2023}}–{{mlby|2024}})
Boston Red Sox ({{mlby|2025}})

}}

Blake Joseph Sabol (born January 7, 1998) is an American professional baseball catcher and outfielder in the Boston Red Sox organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Francisco Giants. He played college baseball at the University of Southern California. The Pittsburgh Pirates selected Sabol in the seventh round of the 2019 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut in 2023.

Early life

Sabol was born and raised in Aliso Viejo, California, to Carmalita Brown and Rob Sabol.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/3271777/2022/04/26/pirates-prospects-report-blake-sabol-is-catching-on-in-new-role-at-double-a/|title=Pirates prospects report: Blake Sabol is catching on in new role at Double A|first=Rob|last=Biertempfel|work=The Athletic|date=April 26, 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/player/blake-sabol-666165|title=Blake Sabol Stats, Fantasy & News|website=Minor League Baseball}}{{Cite web |last=Awal |first=Arati |date=April 13, 2023 |title=Blake Sabol Parents Carmen Fusipala and Rob Sabol |url=https://sportslulu.com/blake-sabol-parents |access-date=October 5, 2023 |website=sportslulu.com}} His father played college baseball at California State University, Long Beach. Sabol's older brother, Stefan, played catcher in college baseball at the University of Oregon and in the New York Mets organization.{{Cite web |last=Arslanian |first=Sam |date=March 8, 2018 |title=Outwork the opposition: The philosophy of USC catcher Blake Sabol |url=https://dailytrojan.com/2018/03/08/outwork-opposition-philosophy-usc-catcher-blake-sabol/ |access-date=October 5, 2023 |work=The Daily Trojan}}{{Cite web|url=https://goducks.com/sports/baseball/roster/stefan-sabol/4029|title=Stefan Sabol - Baseball|work=University of Oregon Athletics}}

Sabol's mother is from American Samoa, and Sabol grew up among a Samoan community in California. Troy Polamalu, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, is his second cousin; his mother used to babysit Polamalu.{{cite news |last1=Guardado |first1=Maria |title=How Samoan roots connect these two new Giants |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/sean-manaea-blake-sabol-share-samoan-heritage |access-date=April 9, 2023 |work=MLB.com |publisher=Major League Baseball |date=March 1, 2023}}

Amateur career

Sabol attended Aliso Niguel High School ('16) in Aliso Viejo.{{Cite web |last=Sondheimer |first=Eric |date=February 22, 2016 |title=High school baseball players to watch in 2016 |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/highschool/la-sp-prep-baseball-top-players-20160222-story.html |access-date=October 5, 2023 |website=Los Angeles Times}} In high school he batted .338/.418/.498 with 11 home runs, 73 RBIs, and 43 stolen bases in 44 attempts in 126 games, playing catcher, outfield, and first base.{{Cite web|url=https://insidethebucsbasement.com/2021/08/11/facing-the-challenges-of-promotion-head-on/|title=Facing The Challenges Of Promotion Head-On – Blake Sabol|date=August 11, 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.perfectgame.org/Players/PlayerProfile.aspx?ID=353983|title=Blake Sabol Class of 2016 - Player Profile|website=Perfect Game}}{{Cite web|url=https://usctrojans.com/sports/baseball/roster/blake-sabol/10165|title=Blake Sabol - Baseball|website=USC Athletics}} He also played basketball and football in high school. He ran a 6.77 second 60-yard dash (in the 94th percentile for his class), and as a catcher had a 1.89 second pop time.

Sabol was named 2013 and 2014 All-Sea View League, and 2016 South Coast All-League. In 2013 he won a gold medal with the Team USA U15 National Team at the Pan Am Games, in 2015 Perfect Game USA rated him the No. 64 player in the nation in his class and seventh-best catcher, and Perfect Game named him a 2015 First Team Underclass All-American, and in 2016 Max Preps rated him the 23rd-best player in the nation for his class.

The Cleveland Indians selected Sabol in the 33rd round of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft, but he did not sign and instead enrolled at the University of Southern California (USC) to play college baseball for the USC Trojans.{{cite web |url=https://247sports.com/mlb/indians/Article/2016-Cleveland-Indians-33rd-Round-Pick-CA-Blake-Sabol-105505372/ |title=Indians 33rd Round Pick: CA Blake Sabol}} In 2017, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod Baseball League, and returned to the league in 2018 with the Chatham Anglers where he was named a league all-star after batting .340(4th in the league)/.445(7th)/.573(4th) in 103 at bats with 28 runs (5th), seven home runs (3rd), 21 walks (5th), and 14 stolen bases (2nd).{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=sabol-000bla|title=Blake Sabol Amateur, College, Minor & Fall Leagues Statistics|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}{{cite web|url=http://baseball.pointstreak.com/player.html?playerid=1083131&seasonid=30631 |title=#4 Blake Sabol |publisher=pointstreak.com |accessdate=July 24, 2022}}{{cite web |url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2018-cape-cod-league-top-prospects-21-30/ |title=2018 Cape Cod League Top Prospects 21–30 |date=August 29, 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://baseball.pointstreak.com/player.html?playerid=1207151 |title=#21 Blake Sabol |publisher=pointstreak.com |accessdate=May 29, 2022}} As a junior in 2019, he played in 55 games and batted .268/.346/.368 in 231 at bats with 37 runs, three home runs, and 22 RBIs.{{cite web |url=https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/pirates/2019/06/11/Pirates-sign-draft-picks-Sabol-Fraizer/stories/201906110167 |title=Pirates sign six more draft picks; seven total under contract}} In college on defense he played 70 games in left field, 55 games at catcher, and 12 in center field.

Professional career

=Pittsburgh Pirates=

File:Sabol.jpg

The Pittsburgh Pirates selected Sabol in the seventh round of the 2019 Major League Baseball draft.{{cite web |url=https://www.mlb.com/press-release/pirates-sign-six-players-from-2019-draft |title=Pirates sign six players from 2019 Draft |website=MLB.com}} He signed with the Pirates for a signing bonus of $247,500, and made his professional debut with the Low-A West Virginia Black Bears with whom he hit .245/.350/.351 in 208 at bats with two home runs and 22 RBIs over 57 games.{{cite web |url=https://www.thebaseballcube.com/content/player/204195/ |title=Blake Sabol - Stats - the Baseball Cube }}{{cite web |url=https://www.wboy.com/sports/black-bears-conversations-blake-sabol/ |title=Black Bears Conversations: Blake Sabol |date=August 11, 2019}} On defense, he played 20 games in right field, 13 in left field, and 8 in center field.

He split the 2021 season between the Single-A Bradenton Marauders and the High-A Greensboro Grasshoppers, slashing .310/.406/.551 in 245 at bats with 13 home runs and 45 RBIs over 66 games. Between the two teams, he played 28 games at catcher, 12 in left field, and two in right field.

He opened the 2022 season with the Double-A Altoona Curve, and was promoted to the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians in late August.{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/3291317/2022/05/03/pirates-prospects-henry-davis-matt-gorski-jared-jones/ |title=What we're hearing about Pirates prospects: Henry Davis, Matt Gorski and more }} Over 123 games between the two teams, he slashed .284/.363/.497 in 447 at bats with 74 runs, 26 doubles, 19 home runs, and 75 RBIs.{{cite web | url=https://www.milb.com/player/blake-sabol-666165?season=2022&team=484 |title=Blake Sabol Stats, Fantasy & News }} He was 5th in the Eastern League with five triples. Between the two teams, he played 66 games at catcher, 34 at DH, and 21 in left field. He played in the Arizona Fall League for the Surprise Saguaros after the season.{{cite web |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/arizona-fall-league-rosters-2022 |title=The Arizona Fall League rosters are here -- and they're loaded |website=MLB.com}}

=San Francisco Giants=

On December 7, 2022, Sabol was selected by the Cincinnati Reds with the fourth overall pick in the Major League phase of the Rule 5 draft.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/12/2022-rule-5-draft-results.html|title=2022 Rule 5 Draft Results|website=MLB Trade Rumors|date=December 7, 2022 }} He was then traded 90 minutes later to the San Francisco Giants in exchange for right-hander Jake Wong and cash considerations.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/blake-sabol-competing-for-giants-catching-job-in-spring-training|title=Rule 5 pick Sabol in the thick of key roster battle|website=MLB.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/giants-trade-blake-sabol-lose-023049958.html|title=Giants trade for Blake Sabol, lose eight Double-A players in Rule 5 Draft|website=yahoo.com|date=December 9, 2022 }} Sabol joked: "Cincinnati Reds legend. Never lost a game in a Reds uniform."

The Giants were not able to send Sabol to the minor leagues in 2023 without offering him back to the Pirates.{{Cite web|url=https://www.si.com/mlb/giants/news/sf-giants-trade-blake-sabol-reds-pirates-rule-5-draft|title="SF Giants acquire C/OF Blake Sabol from Reds for cash and PTBNL"|date=December 7, 2022 }} On March 26, 2023, after he batted .348 with a 1.105 OPS in spring training, it was announced that Sabol made San Francisco's Opening Day roster.{{Cite web|title=Giants' Blake Sabol: Makes roster, could start opener|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/giants-blake-sabol-makes-roster-could-start-opener/amp/|access-date=March 27, 2023|website=CBS Sports|language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Pashelka |first=Curtis |date=April 26, 2023 |title=SF Giants: Inside Blake Sabol's career night, ending in an electrifying walk-off bomb |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2023/04/26/sf-giants-inside-blake-sabols-career-night-from-catching-eight-pitchers-to-an-electrifying-walk-off |access-date=October 5, 2023 |website=Mercury News}} In 110 games for San Francisco, Sabol hit .236/.301/.394 with 13 home runs and 44 RBI.

Sabol was optioned to the Triple–A Sacramento River Cats to begin the 2024 season.{{cite web | title=Giants' Blake Sabol: Optioned to Triple-A | website=CBSSports.com | date=March 26, 2024 | url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/giants-blake-sabol-optioned-to-triple-a/amp/ | access-date=August 9, 2024}} He made 11 appearances for San Francisco, slashing .313/.421/.375 with no home runs and one RBI. On January 11, 2025, Sabol was designated for assignment following the signing of Justin Verlander.{{Cite news|title=Giants' Blake Sabol: DFA'd by San Francisco|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/giants-blake-sabol-dfad-by-san-francisco/|work=CBS Sports|date=January 11, 2025|access-date=January 15, 2025}}

=Boston Red Sox=

On January 15, 2025, the Giants traded Sabol to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for international bonus pool space.{{Cite web |last=Adams |first=Steve |date=January 15, 2025 |title=Giants Trade Blake Sabol To Red Sox |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/01/giants-trade-blake-sabol-red-sox.html |access-date=February 10, 2025 |website=MLB Trade Rumors |language=en-US}} He was optioned to the Triple-A Worcester Red Sox to begin the season.{{Cite web|title=Red Sox C on 40-man roster will 'try and prove' Alex Cora right in Worcester|url=https://www.masslive.com/redsox/2025/03/red-sox-catcher-on-40-man-roster-will-try-and-prove-alex-cora-right-in-worcester.html?outputType=amp|access-date=March 28, 2025|website=masslive.com|language=en}} On April 8, Sabol was called up to the Red Sox after starting catcher Connor Wong was placed on the 10-day injured list.{{Cite web |title=Red Sox announce roster moves |url=https://www.mlb.com/press-release/press-release-red-sox-announce-roster-moves-for-april-8-2025 |access-date=April 8, 2025 |website=MLB.com |language=en}} In eight appearances for Boston, he went 2-for-16 (.125) with one RBI and one walk. On June 1, Sabol was designated for assignment by the Red Sox.{{cite news |title=Red Sox put reliever Justin Slaten on IL in series of moves |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/45421865/red-sox-put-reliever-justin-slaten-il-series-moves |access-date=June 1, 2025 |publisher=ESPN.com |date=June 1, 2025}} He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A Worcester on June 5.{{Cite web|title=Red Sox Outright Blake Sabol|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/06/red-sox-outright-blake-sabol.html|access-date=June 5, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}}