MESA, Arizona — Paul Blackburn entered A’s spring training camp in a similar spot as last year.
But this time the momentum feels different.
Blackburn, 25, is feeling strong a year after an elbow injury undermined his sophomore season with the A’s. It has fueled optimism that the right-handed pitcher can compete for a roster spot among perhaps four others.
“He’s definitely in the mix with all the other guys we talk about,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said. “When he’s been healthy he’s performed well for us.”
A year ago, Blackburn was coming off a storybook rookie season in the majors. The pitcher got called up in June of 2017 to make his A’s debut at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum that is an hour away from his hometown of Brentwood.
Then he pitched a gem in front of a large group of family and friends who made the short drive to watch the former Heritage High star allow one run over six innings.
Blackburn followed that up with an impressive stretch the rest of that season to finish 3-1 with a 3.22 ERA over 10 starts. Then came the setback early in 2018.
Blackburn’s health issues became a mystery to the club after he struggled with a forearm problem last March that caused him to miss some spring games.
He started the regular season on the injured list. Then Blackburn struggled through six starts while continuing to feel lingering soreness. The club sidelined him for what was supposed to be about two weeks. By August, Blackburn was out for the season with an elbow issue.
“It was weird for me because I didn’t know what was going on,” Blackburn said. “I just knew I didn’t feel right. Everyone in the organization was kind of in the same boat. It was frustrating, but we’re over that hump now.”
The main positive Blackburn took away from last year was not needing surgery to treat the problem. Physicians diagnosed his condition as lateral epicondylitis, known as tennis elbow. After offseason treatment, the pain has subsided and Blackburn is throwing on a regular schedule this spring.
He thinks the origins of his injuries began last spring. It was his second big league camp, but the first where he had a real chance to compete for a spot in the rotation. Blackburn said he might have tried too hard to impress coaches too quickly instead of easing his way into it.
“To me, it was like, ‘OK, I have to be ready from day one,’ ” Blackburn said. “Looking back on that, coming into spring this year I did more work before so I’m not just jumping into it.”
Blackburn has a lot of work to do to crack the rotation. He’s in the mix with a group that features prospect Jesus Luzardo, Parker Bridwell, Chris Bassitt and Frankie Montas.
“For a team that looks reasonably set, he’s one of those guys competing for a job,” Melvin said.
Blackburn went 2-3 with a 7.16 ERA over six starts last year. But he never felt at full strength. It was the type of struggle he had never experienced since getting picked by the Chicago Cubs in the first round of the 2012 draft.
“It just had its days,” Blackburn said. “There were some times where I would feel fine and the next day would bring that lingering soreness.
Then the pain would increase “like after I came back the first time” and he’d feel sore in different parts of the arm.
“It sucks because you really don’t have anything to look at,” Blackburn added. “The time I pitched last year was not anything great. But it’s just putting that behind and knowing I’m healthy this spring and the work I put in this offseason will show.”
The competition for the one spot in the rotation has not created friction in the clubhouse. Blackburn, who played with most of the candidates in the minor leagues, said they are focused on helping the team win.
“Everyone here is rooting for everyone,” Blackburn said. “If it’s a thing where I don’t perform well in spring and have to go to Triple-A in Vegas, that’s what it’s going to be. I could still contribute somehow.”
Blackburn has shown the ability get big league hitters out on a consistent basis before and is confident he can do it again. He’s looking to make little adjustments this spring such as pre-game preparation and spending more time with scouting reports on opposing hitters.
It’s a skill that comes with maturity, and something Blackburn hopes will help him get all the way back.
“I can still get big leaguers out, haven’t lost confidence in that,” he said. “It’s just getting back on that path.”
