PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Understandably when discussing the Double-A catcher, the conversation is about last year’s first overall draft pick Henry Davis. The Louisville star will likely be in the majors at some point next season. However, the other Altoona catcher is the one that is raking. You’ve probably never heard of him.
Blake Sabol leads the Curve in OPS and runs, is second in OBP, slugging, batting average, home runs, triples and third in RBI and hits. All of this from a 2019 seventh-round pick from USC.
The left-hand hitter played in 57 games in the New York/Penn League following being drafted. Sabol hit an unremarkable .245 with a .351 slugging percentage with two home runs. Then after the 2020 minor-league season was cancelled due to COVID-19, he’s been a different player. In 2021, he hit .310 with a .406 OBP and .957 OPS with 14 doubles and 13 home runs in 66 games at Low and High A.
“I used that as an opportunity to leap frog people and work on some stuff,” Sabol told 93.7 The Fan. “I think it was a good breather. My whole life I had be playing without a lot of time away from the game. It made me realize how much I really love baseball because it was taken away from me for the first time.”
“I remember that COVID year remembering ‘I’m so bored’. My life has always been all about baseball and I need to be more grateful. Rekindling the love for the sport was big for me. I started to get excited a lot more about going to the field and going to the cages.”
It also rekindled his love for catching. Even with the Pirates picking Davis, highly regarded minor-leaguer Endy Rodriguez and the addition of Carter Bins in the system, Sabol pestered the Bucs about returning behind the plate. They granted his request and recently Bucs roving catching instructor Chad Noble spent hours with him. GM Ben Cherington also watched some of his work in person.
Sabol says he doesn’t fear the competition, he embraces it, especially from Henry Davis.
“We have a really good relationship,” Sabol said of he and Davis. “He’s one of my best friends on the team. I like his energy, but we both butt heads as far as just competing against one another. I think that helps us strive to be better players.”
“The cool thing with Henry. As much as he competes, he’s looking out for everybody. He wants everybody to be the best they can be. He’s not looking at me that I will just be his backup. Henry is saying ‘you and me are going to be in the big leagues and hit a bunch of homers and split games behind the plate’. We dream big together.”
So many minor-league dreams don’t happen or are altered along the way. The California native says he is willing to adjust and thinks he could be a valuable asset as a catcher who can also move around on the field at the top level.
“My dad always instilled in me to play as many positions as I can because I just want to be in the lineup,” Sabol said. “Whether that says DH next to my name, one of the outfield spots, first base, catcher. I want to be able to swing the bat. Primarily catcher first, but have the versatility to play all over the field.”
“You look at the best teams, the Dodgers-Cody Bellinger plays all over the field, Max Muncy plays all over the field, Gavin Lux. It’s where baseball is headed.”
Sabol also name-dropped Kris Bryant and Bryce Harper, they are a couple of players who played with his older brother in amateur all-star games. Stefan Sabol was drafted by the Mets in 2012 and made it to AA before injuries ended his career. He calls him often for advice.
He’s told him to stay where his feet are, but not forget he could be just a phone call away from the majors. He’s seen it with a couple of Curve players just this year.
“I love coming out here,” Sabol said. “My teammates are awesome and we have a lot of good guys in this farm system.”
The best may play his position, but don’t count Sabol out especially if he keeps hitting like this.