Jabari Blash

Position: OF
Born: 7/4/1989
Height: 6'5
Weight: 225
B/T: R/R
Acquired: Selected with the sixth pick in the 2015 MLB Rule 5 Draft (OAK) and then immediately traded to complete the December 2, 2015 trade which sent 1B Yonder Alonso and LHP Marc Rzepczynski from the Padres to OAK in exchange for LHPs Drew Pomeranz and Jose Torres. Originally drafted in the eighth round of the 2010 MLB First-Year Player Draft (SEA).

Most Recent Stats at Time of Debut
2015 SEASON STATS: Combined to hit .271 between Jackson (Double-A/Mariners) and Tacoma (Triple-A/Mariners) with 32 HRs, 81 RBIs, 8 SBs and 24 doubles for a .576 SLG.

Info & MLB Debut Date
Already on the 40-man roster, he made the club out of spring training.
MLB Debut Date: 4/4/2016

Debut Details
April 4, in a 15-0 loss to the Dodgers. A late-game defensive insertion in right field in a double switch that was made when fellow “debutante,” RHP Luis Perdomo, came out of the game in the eighth inning, he drew a full-count two-out walk.

Player Notes
Already blessed with perhaps the best baseball name of any player making his debut this week, Blash is also among the most intriguing and exciting players in the lot. A native of the Virgin Islands, already a rarity in the game, he was drafted three times before he signed with the Mariners: First in the 29th round of 2007 by the White Sox out of high school in the VI, and then in the ninth round of 2009 by Texas out of Miami-Dade. He has big-time power to all fields but is a free swinger, something he’ll need to work on to harness his potential. He’s been something of a late bloomer but his 32 HRs tied him for 2nd in the minors and his .576 SLG ranked fifth. In 2014 between Jackson and Tacoma he batted .221 with 18 HRs and 59 RBIs so he’s already shown how much he can improve in one season.

2080 Notes
2080’s Dave DeFreitas on Lee: “Big raw-power guy; has been an offensive oriented player his entire career. Was primarily a third baseman in Korea; I first saw him on the Korea WBC team in 2009. Always had a middle of the field, opposite field approach. I would say he has ‘loft’ power as he gets carry on his fly balls, but not the big exit velocity. Above-average plate discipline, good on-base guy. Moves better than the body lets on, but still a below-average