Blake Parker, Relief Pitcher


Date of Birth: 6/19/1985
Birthplace: Fayetteville, Arkansas
College: University of Arkansas

Blake Parker, relief pitcher, was first drafted by the Chicago Cubs in 2006. He pitched in the Cubs' minor league system from 2007 through 2011.

Parker first joined the Cubs in 2012, pitching 6.0 innings in 7 games. That season, he spent time on the DL with elbow problems as well as pitching in 21 games in the minors. The following season, he pitched in 49 games with the Cubs. He finished the 2013 season with a 2.72 ERA, 1 win to 2 losses, 1 save, and 55 strikeouts to 15 walks in 46.1 innings.

Parker spent most of the 2014 season in the minors. He pitched in 18 games with the Cubs and he had a 5.14 ERA in 21.0 innings. The following season, the Cubs released him in May, after just three games in the minors.

Parker became a free agent on November 6, 2015. He signed a minor league contract with the Seattle Mariners on December 17, 2015. After just one game with the Mariners in 2016, he was claimed off waivers by the New York Yankees on August 9th. He finished the season with a 4.67 ERA and 15 strikeouts to 9 walks in 17.1 innings in 1 game with the Mariners and 16 games with the Yankees. He also pitched 39.2 innings in 38 games in the minors.

The Los Angeles Angels claimed Parker off waivers from the Yankees on October 5, 2016. The Milwaukee Brewers claimed him off waivers from the Angels on November 23rd. A month later, on December 23rd, the Angels again claimed him off waivers. He finished the 2017 season with 3 wins and 3 losses, 8 saves, 86 strikeouts to 16 walks, and a 2.54 ERA in 67.1 innings in 71 games.

Parker pitched in 67 games in 2018. He had 2 wins and 1 loss, 14 saves, 70 strikeouts to 19 walks, and a 3.26 ERA in 66.1 innings.

Parker became a free agent on November 30, 2018. He signed with the Minnesota Twins on January 14, 2019. He was designated for assignment on July 24, 2019, and he elected free agency on July 29th. He signed with the Philadelphia Phillies a day later. He finished the 2019 season with 3 wins and 3 losses, 10 saves, 65 strikeouts to 22 walks, and a 4.55 ERA in 61.1 innings in 37 games with the Twins and 23 games with the Phillies.

Parker pitched in 14 games in 2020. He finished the season with 3 wins and no losses, 25 strikeouts to 9 walks, and a 2.81 ERA in 16.0 innings.

Parker became a free agent on October 30, 2020. He signed a minor league contract with the Cleveland Guardians on February 16, 2021. He finished the 2021 season with 2 wins and 1 loss, 37 strikeouts to 14 walks, and a 3.09 ERA in 43.2 innings in 47 games.

Parker became a free agent on November 3, 2021. He signed a minor league contract with the St. Louis Cardinals on March 26, 2022. He was released on July 6th.

Career pitching statistics for Parker through 2021 include:

  • 350 games played
  • 345.1 innings pitched
  • 16-11 win-loss record
  • 34 saves
  • 383 strikeouts to 113 walks
  • 3.47 ERA

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Blake Parker
ESPN - Blake Parker