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Blake Sabol

Blake Joseph Sabol (born January 7, 1998) is an American and who has played in (MLB). Standing at 6 feet 4 inches (1.93 m) and weighing 225 pounds (102 kg), he bats left-handed and throws right-handed. Selected by the in the seventh round, 214th overall, of the 2019 MLB Draft out of the , Sabol progressed through the before being selected by the in the 2022 and traded to the Giants on December 7, 2022. Sabol made his MLB debut with the Giants on March 30, 2023, and appeared in 110 games that season, primarily as a and left fielder, batting .235 with 13 home runs and 44 runs batted in. After spending most of the 2024 season in Triple-A with the , where he hit .246 in 97 games, he returned briefly to the Giants, posting a .313 average in 11 MLB appearances. Following his designation for assignment by after the 2024 season, Sabol was traded to the Red Sox in the offseason for international bonus pool space. He played sparingly for in 2025, appearing in eight games with a .125 , before being traded to the on July 12, 2025, for cash considerations. Assigned to the Triple-A , Sabol batted .216 in 86 plate appearances there until his release by the White Sox organization on November 8, 2025, making him a . Throughout his MLB career to date, Sabol has compiled a .237 with 13 home runs and 46 RBIs over 129 games, showcasing power potential while splitting time between catching duties and roles. His athletic background includes high school play at in , and collegiate success at , where he was named to the All-Pac-12 second team in 2019.

Early life and amateur career

Early life

Blake Joseph Sabol was born on January 7, 1998, in Aliso Viejo, California, to parents Rob Sabol and Carmalita Brown. His mother, Carmalita, hails from Samoa and moved to California as a teenager, bringing with her a strong Samoan heritage that shaped the family's cultural identity. Rob Sabol, an outfielder, played college baseball at California State University, Long Beach, fostering an early environment rich in athletic tradition. Sabol grew up in a close-knit family with deep Samoan roots on his mother's side, including extended relatives like aunts, uncles, and cousins who formed a vibrant community in . This familial network provided unwavering support for his development, emphasizing cultural values and collective encouragement amid their multicultural household. He has an older brother, Stefan, who played collegiately at the and professionally in the organization, and a younger brother, Jarett, who has also pursued . During his early childhood in Aliso Viejo, Sabol was initially exposed to both and through casual play with his brothers and local peers, bonding over sports in the neighborhood. His father's own background significantly influenced Sabol's growing interest in the sport, inspiring him to follow in those footsteps from a young age within the supportive Samoan-American family dynamic.

High school career

Sabol attended in , graduating in 2016. During high school, he participated in both , where he played , , and first base, and as a . In 2013, Sabol was a member of the Team USA U15 National Team, winning a gold medal at the . A four-year varsity player under coach Craig Hanson, Sabol posted a career of .338 with 133 hits, 20 doubles, 5 triples, 11 home runs, and 73 RBIs. He earned All-Sea View League honors in 2013 and 2014, and All-South Coast League honors in 2016, and was named Aliso Niguel Athlete of the Year that same year. In the 2016 Major League Baseball Draft, the Cleveland Indians selected Sabol in the 33rd round, 992nd overall, out of high school. Sabol declined to sign with the Indians and instead enrolled at the University of Southern California to pursue higher education and further develop his baseball skills.

College career

Sabol enrolled at the in 2016 to play for the . As a in 2017, he appeared in 40 games, primarily as a , batting .250 with 2 home runs and 16 RBIs while posting an of .294. During his sophomore season in 2018, Sabol demonstrated positional versatility by playing and , starting in 54 games and hitting .276 with 4 home runs and 24 RBIs; his improved to .338, and he earned All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention recognition. In his junior year of 2019, Sabol started all 55 games, mainly at with some time at first base, slashing .268/.346/.368 with 3 home runs and 22 RBIs while leading the team in hits (62) and walks (29). Following the season, the selected Sabol in the seventh round (214th overall) of the 2019 MLB Draft, and he signed for a $247,500 bonus. Over his three seasons at USC, Sabol maintained a .268 batting average in 149 games, showing steady development in power output (9 total home runs) and plate discipline, as evidenced by his rising on-base percentage from .294 to .346.

Professional career

Pittsburgh Pirates organization (2019–2022)

Sabol began his professional career in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization after being selected in the seventh round of the 2019 Major League Baseball Draft out of the University of Southern California. He made his debut with the Single-A affiliate West Virginia Black Bears of the New York-Penn League, appearing in 57 games and posting a .245 batting average with a .350 on-base percentage and .351 slugging percentage, along with 2 home runs and 22 runs batted in. Primarily playing as a catcher and outfielder, Sabol showed early promise in plate discipline but adjusted to the professional level amid a shortened season due to injuries and late signing. The 2020 minor league season was canceled due to the , limiting organized play across the system. Sabol spent the year at the Pirates' player development complex in , participating in instructional activities and alternative training to refine his skills behind the plate and in the . In 2021, Sabol progressed through the Pirates' affiliates, splitting time between the Low-A of the Low-A Southeast and the High-A of the High-A East. Across 66 games, he slashed .310/.406/.551, hitting 13 home runs and driving in 45 runs, demonstrating improved power and on-base ability while transitioning more frequently to outfield duties. His performance earned him recognition as a breakout prospect within the organization, highlighting his versatility as a left-handed bat capable of handling multiple positions. Sabol continued his development in 2022, starting the season with the Double-A of the Eastern League before a midseason promotion to the Triple-A of the . In 123 total games, he batted .284 with a .363 and .497 , including 19 home runs and 75 , setting career highs in power production. During this campaign, he solidified his outfield eligibility, playing significant innings in left field alongside his primary catching role, which enhanced his value as a multi-positional player. Following the 2022 season, on December 7, the selected Sabol from the Pirates in the Major League phase of the , but immediately traded him to the Giants in exchange for cash considerations and a (later identified as right-hander Jake Wong). Over his four years in the Pirates system from 2019 to 2022, Sabol appeared in 246 games, compiling a .286 , 34 home runs, and 142 .

San Francisco Giants (2023–2024)

Sabol was selected by the Cincinnati Reds from the Pittsburgh Pirates in the Rule 5 draft on December 7, 2022, and traded to the San Francisco Giants later that day, adding him to their 40-man roster. As a Rule 5 pick, he was required to remain on the Giants' active roster for the entire 2023 season or be offered back to the Pirates. He impressed in spring training, batting .348 with a 1.105 OPS over 23 games, earning a spot on the Opening Day roster. Sabol made his major league debut on March 30, 2023, starting in left field against the Yankees at , where he went 0-for-2 with a . He hit his first career on April 6, 2023, against the , a 434-foot solo shot to center field off in the second , contributing to a 16-6 Giants victory. In 2023, Sabol appeared in 110 games for the Giants, primarily as a with 68 starts behind the plate and additional time in left field (42 games). He posted a .235/.301/.394 slash line with 13 home runs, 44 , and 4 stolen bases, showcasing power potential while adjusting to big-league pitching. Defensively, Sabol demonstrated notable improvements in his receiving and blocking skills after transitioning from to in the minors, earning praise for his arm strength and ability to handle a pitching staff, though he threw out only 13.6% of base stealers. Sabol began the 2024 season optioned to Triple-A , where he batted .246/.340/.388 with 11 s and 54 in 97 games, splitting time between , left field, and . He was recalled in September and played 11 games for the Giants, hitting .313/.421/.375 with 1 and 3 , primarily in 7 starts. Over his two seasons with the Giants, Sabol appeared in 121 games, batting .243/.310/.392 with 14 s and 47 . He was on January 11, 2025, to make room for on the 40-man roster, clearing waivers before being traded.

Boston Red Sox (2025)

On January 15, 2025, the San Francisco Giants traded catcher Blake Sabol to the Red Sox in exchange for international bonus pool money. The transaction came shortly after the Giants had designated Sabol for assignment. Sabol entered 2025 vying for the backup catcher position behind but ultimately did not secure a spot on the roster. On March 20, he was optioned to the Triple-A . He was recalled on April 8 and appeared in 8 major league games for from April to early May, batting .125 (2-for-16) with one double and 1 , before being optioned again on May 2. With , Sabol posted a .167 , .281 , and .299 , along with 3 home runs and 17 over 43 games. On June 5, following his designation for assignment on June 1 and clearance of waivers, Sabol was outrighted to , concluding his time on Boston's 40-man roster.

Chicago White Sox (2025)

On July 13, 2025, the Boston Red Sox traded Blake Sabol to the in exchange for cash considerations. Following the transaction, Sabol was assigned to the White Sox's Triple-A affiliate, the , where he provided depth behind the plate. In 23 games with , Sabol recorded a .216 , .326 , and .378 , along with 3 home runs and 13 over 86 plate appearances. He drew 9 walks while striking out 25 times, showcasing plate discipline amid a small sample size. Despite his availability, Sabol did not earn a major league call-up with and remained in the minors as organizational depth. Sabol's 2025 season marked a period of career instability, featuring an offseason trade from the Giants to the Red Sox followed by the midseason move to . Across minor league stints with the and , he hit .184 with 6 home runs and 30 in 253 plate appearances. The White Sox released Sabol from the on November 8, 2025, granting him free agency for the first time since entering professional baseball in 2019.

References

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