Tanner
Blackmon

Opening Day couldn’t have gone much better for Blackmon, who delivered a dominant complete-game shutout with 12 strikeouts, looking every bit like a pitcher already in midseason form. The left-hander worked 84-85 mph, touching 86, and maintained his velocity deep into the outing while showing confident command of a full four-pitch mix. His curveball (72-73), slider (75-77), and changeup (75-77) were all used effectively, allowing him to change speeds, move the ball around the zone, and keep hitters guessing throughout. The result was a steady stream of uncomfortable at-bats, frozen takes, and late swings, as Blackmon consistently stayed ahead in counts (only 2 BBs allowed) and controlled the tempo of the game. Physically, the progress since last spring was impossible to miss. A year ago, Blackmon was sitting 80-82 mph, topping at 83, and now he’s holding mid-80s with ease. The frame looks noticeably stronger, roughly 10-15 pounds heavier, and he moved freely and athletically down the mound, suggesting even more gains could still be coming as he continues to mature into his projectable and lean six-foot build. He logged 92 pitches and never showed signs of fatigue, maintaining his stuff and execution from the first inning to the last. That durability and efficiency, paired with his ability to sequence and command all four pitches, point to a starter who’s already built to handle a full workload. Blackmon also showed his value as a two-way contributor, finishing 1-for-3 with a walk and ripping a line-drive single to left-center in his final at-bat to cap off an impressive day. His overall game looks more complete, more physical, and more polished than it did a year ago. If Murrieta Mesa is going to make noise in a very competitive Southwestern League this spring, Blackmon figures to be right in the middle of it — setting the tone on the mound and contributing in the lineup as a true two-way difference maker.