Red Sox' Blake Aita Reflects on 'Dream Come True' Moment After Pro Debut on Opening Day
Blake Aita was drafted by the Red Sox in the 6th round of the 2024 MLB Draft last July. He also hadn’t pitched in a competitive game with stats counting since his final start for Kennesaw State previous to the draft.
The long awaited wait finally ended when Aita was tabbed as Salem’s Opening Day starter right out of the gate. A long wait that was all worth it.
“Debuting my professional baseball career on Opening Day was a dream come true,” Aita told Beyond the Monster. “I have been working hard and patiently waiting for this day to come since the Red Sox drafted me in the 6th round of this past draft. Like I mentioned in the podcast with you a couple weeks ago, I haven’t played in an organized baseball game since my last college game in May, so getting back out there was super fun for sure.”
The 21-year-old threw five scoreless innings in his start and struck out four batters and only walked one. The most impressive feat from his outing came at the fact that he did not give up any hits over the five innings.
Aita showed off his impressive command and offered an increase velocity, which was something he has been working on since the team drafted him last summer. When appearing on ‘To the Show Baseball Podcast’, Aita mentioned during camp that he had been sitting 93-95 MPH while touching 96. That is a big improvement from the low-90’s fastball we saw during his college days.
Making your first professional start is usually a mixed bag for pitchers due to having to adjust to the higher level of hitters you face. But in the case for Aita, he was not surprised by his stellar performance.
“I wouldn’t say I was surprised at all,” Aita said. “I have been working super hard through my time post draft in Fort Myers, then the Offseason Program until the dead period, and showing up first day possible after the dead period. I bought in to all the information and training regimens the Red Sox provided me and it put me in the best position to go out there this season and have success. I was still out there working on the usage % and shape of my changeup and will be all season long, while also using the stuff in my arsenal that I have already that helps me be successful as a pitcher.”
His debut earned him his first award in the professional ranks as he was named the Low-A Carolina League Player of the Week.
“Winning pitcher of the week during Opening Week of my first professional season is definitely something special,” Aita noted. “I’m hoping to win a lot more of those accolades and win them in the other levels as well as I continue to work my way up in this great organization.”
Aita will look to build upon his successful first start this week as Salem travels to Fredericksburg for the week.
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