Atlanta Braves Morning Chop/Box: The Blair Pitch Project – Scary Good

Aaron Blair Throws 7 No-Hit Innings vs. Durham in AAA Game Tuesday

“The Blair Pitch Project” – so dubbed on twitter by @BhamBravesFan – is now officially a “thing”.

Aaron Blair was already throwing well at AAA Gwinnett to start the year, but now he’s kicked it up a notch with an 87 pitch, 7 inning stint that saw the Durham Bulls get no hits and 10 strikeouts with just 1 walk in a 7-2 victory for the Braves.

Blair lowered his ERA to 1.42 in 19 innings, his WHIP to 0.79, and increased strikeouts to 22 for the year.

There were multiple instances of excellent defense behind Blair last night, but he was still masterful:  59 strikes in those 87 pitches.  Alas, the Gwinnett bullpen was unable to hold the no-no, but it is still a really strong showing by the player that Fredi Gonzalez told in March was just “a blister away from the big leagues“.

The 6’4″/250 23-year-old Blair is a Las Vegas native, but don’t relate that yet to another former Brave who grew up there:  Greg Maddux attended Valley High School in Las Vegas, but Blair hails from nearby Spring Valley High – don’t get these confused!

Maddux was the son of a casino blackjack dealer… but last night it was Aaron Blair doing the dealing.  It takes a lot to bump the major league club from the front page of the Chop, but this did it.

The Blair Pitch Project:  coming soon to a major league stadium this Summer.

Next: Taken to the Wood-Shed