This past season, Nick Blackburn put his professional ambitions to the side for an opportunity to grow a little more following Illinois’ school-record 50 wins in 2015.
A big part of the bullpen that propelled the Illini within two victories of the College World Series last year, he was hoping for more in a final season in Champaign.
An up-and-down season came for the Illini in 2016 in going 28-23, but Blackburn is already looking to the next opportunity.
That next opportunity hopefully will come out in Arizona.
Tabbed in the 16th round with the 479th overall pick on Saturday by the Diamondbacks on the final day of the 2016 MLB Draft, the former Neuqua Valley Wildcat is ready to get started.
“I wasn’t really surprised, but I was definitely happy with it,” he said on Saturday. “I’m just definitely thankful for the opportunity and I’m just ready to get out there and go play. I was trying as hard as I could to not really worry about where and when I was going. Just kind of trying to relax, have fun with it and just let it all come to me.”
Moved into the closer role as a senior after Tyler Jay got drafted in the top 10 last year by the Twins, Blackburn went 1-3 with a 3.73 ERA and 11 saves in 31 1/3 innings.
With no regrets after passing on a chance to sign with the Mets after being taken in the 22nd round of last year’s draft, he’s thankful for the lessons learned in one final year at Illinois.
“I think the main thing that it helped me out with was just the mentality,” Blackburn said. “Finally being that guy where I was the guy they were calling on out of the pen to close out games. It just definitely helped me out.
“Kind of feeling the pressure on every pitch and just learning how to handle it and being able to pitch through it, the extra innings and the experience and the time with (pitching coach) Drew (Dickinson). I think it all really helped me out. I think it was definitely a positive year and everything I learned is going to help me going forward.”
He became the third Naperville-area player to be drafted this year, joining Louisville’s Nick Solak (Naperville North) and Creighton’s Nick Lopez (Naperville Central).
While he knows Lopez well from their days playing travel ball together, he’s aware of Solak’s exploits with the Cardinals, as well.
“I played with Nicky Lopez for the Longshots and I knew he was an awesome player,” Blackburn said. “I think I played against Solak, but I’m not positive. I just know they’re both solid players and they had good college careers. Especially playing with Nicky, I knew he was going to be something special back in the day and I’m happy it all worked out for him. I can’t wait to see what they do in the future.”
Of Blackburn 72 career appearances for Illinois, 66 came out of the bullpen.
Whether he gets a chance to move back into a starter’s role with the Diamondbacks remains to be seen.
But with the organization’s Class A affiliate in Kane County, those who watched him compile a 7-4 record and a 1.19 ERA with 86 strikeouts at Neuqua Valley in 2012 won’t be far.
“I mean, yeah, obviously the fact that their A-ball’s in Kane County – that’s awesome to be close to family and everything,” Blackburn said. “But I mean, I’m going to get sent wherever they send me and no matter where I go, I’m ready to pitch.
“At this point, I just want to play. It doesn’t really matter where it is for me. I’m ready to start going at the next level and I’m ready to keep improving and hopefully make it to the big leagues in the next couple years.”
