A’s pitcher Paul Blackburn named as representative for All-Star game

OAKLAND — Athletics manager Mark Kotsay got to deliver some good news that he never received himself in an 18-year career.

Paul Blackburn, the right-handed starting pitcher who was designated for assignment by the club in 2021, was named as the Athletics’ representative in the 2022 All-Star Game on July 19 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.

“I’m at a loss for words,” Blackburn said. “The journey it’s taken to get here has been incredible. I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity play and be in the All-Star game.”

Blackburn is 6-4 with a 3.36 earned run average with 73 strikeouts and 23 walks in 91 innings. The league mandates at least one player per team be selected, and the A’s, with the worst record in baseball at 29-57, had few candidates with solid credentials.

Having pitched at least five innings in 12 of 17 starts, Blackburn, 28 already has a career-high in innings pitched. A former first round draft pick by the Chicago Cubs out of Heritage High in Brentwood in 2012, Blackburn was traded from the Cubs to the Seattle Mariners in 2016 and then to Oakland in exchange for Danny Valencia that same season.

Along the way, Blackburn broke his hand with the A’s after being hit by a line drive off the bat of Trey Mancini, and the next season dealt with a forearm injury. He was ineffective enough to be DFA’d a year ago, only to return as a non-roster invite.

“His journey to get to an All-Star Game is probably unlike any All-Star that’s there this year,” Kotsay said. “Got hit in the wrist, had to come back from that. He’s a guy that’s been designated and he’s had to have the right mindset to battle back from that. He should feel really rewarded and it’s very well deserved.”

Blackburn, along with the rest of the team, met as a group at 11:30 a.m. and were told it was a “travel meeting.” Instead, it was Kotsay giving them the word Blackburn had been selected.

The All-Star Game wasn’t a part of Blackburn’s thought process.

“There was never a point in the season where that crossed my mind,” Blackburn said. “My goal was to make the team coming out of spring training and that’s what happened. Then I wanted to be the best I can be. That’s how I’ve approached this year.”

Blackburn is looking forward to being a sponge around some of the great players in the game.

“Honestly I’m probably more excited to be around those guys and talk to them,” Blackburn said. “Talk to (Shohei) Ohtani. Talk to (Justin) Verlander. See what they’ve done to set themselves up for very successful careers and pick their brains.”

Given that Dodger Stadium constitutes a road trip, that could be a good omen for Blackburn should he get in the game. He is 1-4 with a 6.75 ERA in seven home starts and is 5-0 and 1.28 in 10 on the road.

Kotsay was one of baseball’s better outfielders over a career that stretched from 1997 through 2013 but never got the call. He said he felt his best chance was in 2004, when he played for the A’s.

“Your goal is to get on that stage, and it’s a difficult one because you’re competing against some of the best in the game,” Kotsay said. “The time that I played there were some pretty elite outfielders . . . Ken Griffey Jr., Ichiro . . . Unfortunately, I never got it.”

Cole Irvin, who started, pitched well and lost to the Astros Sunday, felt good about Blackburn’s selection.

“Regardless of win or loss, we can all be happy for Paul,” irvin said. “I think he’s the story today. He’s earned every ounce of that All-Star vote. The guy’s been through so much and it’s an incredible story to get where he is.”