Blake Townsend

{{Short description|Australian baseball player (born 2001)}} {{Use Australian English|date=March 2026}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2026}} {{Infobox baseball biography |name=Blake Townsend |image= |caption= |position=Relief pitcher |team=Texas Rangers |number= |birth_date={{birth date and age|2001|4|5|df=y}} |birth_place=Traralgon, Victoria, Australia |bats=Left |throws=Left |debutleague = MLB |debutdate = |debutyear = |debutteam = |statleague = MLB |statyear = |stat1label = Win–loss record |stat1value = |stat2label = Earned run average |stat2value = |stat3label = Strikeouts |stat3value = |teams = }} '''Blake Andrew Townsend''' (born 5 April 2001) is an Australian professional baseball pitcher in the Texas Rangers organization.

== Career == ===Seattle Mariners=== Townsend signed with the Seattle Mariners as an international free agent on 19 June 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/mariners/mariners-sign-a-pair-of-young-left-handed-pitchers-from-pacific-rim-countries/|title=Mariners sign a pair of young left-handed pitchers from Pacific Rim countries|date=19 June 2018|website=The Seattle Times}}</ref> He made his professional debut in 2019 with the rookie-level Arizona League Mariners. Townsend did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>{{Cite web|title=2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/2020-minor-league-baseball-season-canceled|access-date=11 October 2025|website=mlb.com|language=en}}</ref>

Townsend returned to action in 2021 with the rookie-level Arizona Complex League Mariners and High-A Everett AquaSox, posting an 0-1 record and 4.11 ERA with 26 strikeouts over five games (three starts).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Blake Townsend Stats & Scouting Report|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/players/620281-blake-townsend/stats/|access-date=11 October 2025|website=baseballamerica.com|language=en}}</ref> He split the 2022 campaign between the ACL Mariners, the Single-A Modesto Nuts, Everett, and the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers. In 20 appearances for the four affiliates, Townsend accumulated a 2-2 record and 4.60 ERA with 37 strikeouts across {{fraction|29|1|3}} innings pitched.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Blake Townsend - Stats - Pitching|url=https://www.fangraphs.com/players/blake-townsend/sa3010125/stats?position=P|access-date=11 October 2025|website=fangraphs.com|language=en}}</ref>

In 2023, Townsend made 35 appearances out of the bullpen for Modesto, registering a 4-3 record and 3.38 ERA with 55 strikeouts and one save across 48 innings of work.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Blake Townsend - Baseball Statistics|url=https://www.thebaseballcube.com/content/player/216322/|access-date=11 October 2025| website=thebaseballcube.com|language=en}}</ref> He began the 2024 season with Everett, recording a 2.45 ERA with 30 strikeouts in 28 appearances. Townsend was released by the Mariners organization on 5 August 2024.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Blake Townsend Player Card|url=https://www.baseballprospectus.com/player/139034/blake-townsend/|access-date=11 October 2025|website=baseballprospectus.com|language=en}}</ref>

===Pittsburgh Pirates=== On 21 August 2024, Townsend signed a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates organization.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://baseball.com.au/news/townsend-pirates/|title=Team Australia left-handed pitcher Blake Townsend signs with Pittsburgh Pirates|website=baseball.com.au}}</ref> He made five appearances down the stretch for the Double-A Altoona Curve, posting a 1-0 record and 2.00 ERA with six strikeouts over nine innings of work. Townsend elected free agency following the season on 4 November.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Minor League Free Agents 2024|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-free-agents-2024/|access-date=11 October 2025|website=baseballamerica.com|language=en}}</ref>

On 12 February 2025, Townsend re-signed with the Pirates organization on a new minor league contract. He made 34 appearances (12 starts) split between the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians, Altoona, and the High-A Greensboro Grasshoppers, accumulating an 8-4 record and 1.76 ERA with 81 strikeouts and one save over 92 innings of work. Townsend elected free agency following the season on 6 November.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Minor League Free Agents 2025|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-free-agents-2025/|access-date=28 November 2025|website=baseballamerica.com|language=en}}</ref>

===Texas Rangers=== On 23 January 2026, Townsend signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers.<ref>https://www.milb.com/transactions/2026-01-23</ref>

==International career== Townsend represented the Australia national baseball team in the 2023 World Baseball Classic,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-13/baseball-star-competing-on-world-stage-regional-victoria/102337558|title=Pitcher's rise to baseball's world stage hails from country town where cricket, footy reign|work=ABC News |date=13 May 2023|via=www.abc.net.au}}</ref> pitching in Australia's game against Japan.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://baseball.com.au/news/japan-aus/|title=Ohtani's mammoth three run homer highlights Japanese win over Australia|website=baseball.com.au}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{Baseballstats|brm=townse000bla}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Townsend, Blake}} Category:2001 births Category:Living people Category:Adelaide Giants players Category:Altoona Curve players Category:Arizona Complex League Mariners players Category:Arizona League Mariners players Category:Australian expatriate baseball players in the United States Category:Everett AquaSox players Category:Greensboro Grasshoppers players Category:Indianapolis Indians players Category:Melbourne Aces players Category:Modesto Nuts players Category:Tacoma Rainiers players Category:2023 World Baseball Classic players Category:2024 WBSC Premier12 players Category:2026 World Baseball Classic players Category:World Baseball Classic players of Australia