The 26-year old Travis Blackley pitched in 28 games (21 starts) last season for the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA) of the Philadelphia Phillies organization. He went 5-10 with a 5.41 ERA with 59 walks and 87 strikeouts in 123.0 innings pitched, the third-most on the team.
The Phillies had selected Blackley in the 2007 Rule 5 draft from the Giants
Blackley has pitched in 12 games for Aguilas de Mexicali of the Mexican Winter League this offseason. He has gone 2-3 with a 4.24 ERA, striking out 55 over 63.2 innings pitched.
The native of Melbourne, Australia has spent time in the Seattle Mariners, San Francisco Giants and Philadelphia Phillies organizations. He originally signed with the Mariners as an undrafted free agent on Oct. 29, 2000. Blackley has appeared in eight
major league contests, all starts, (six for Seattle in 2004 and two for San Francisco in 2007), going 1-3 with a 9.35 ERA in 34.2 innings.
He will likely begin the 2009 season for the new Triple-A affiliate Reno Aces
alongside fellow Australian Trent Oeltjen.
The 2003 Texas League Pitcher of the Year, Blackley has gone 60-49 with 3.92 ERA in 913.0 innings pitched over 166 games (155 starts)
in his minor league career. His addition brings the D-backs' 40-man roster to 37 players.
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