EKU Commit Blanton Fulfills Life-Long Dream

Brock Blanton RHP / 1B / Paint valley, OH / 2021

BAINBRIDGE - A relative that played baseball at one college in Kentucky played a big role in Brock Blanton going to another.

“My cousin played at Northern Kentucky and was a big influence on me,” Blanton said in reference to Pierce Knisley. “He worked with me growing up showing me things I needed to do to get better and saying I could play college baseball.

“Ever since I was about eight-years-old when I went to a minor league summer program near me I’ve wanted to be a college baseball player. I fell in love with it back then.”

The Paint Valley junior will get that opportunity after a recent commitment to Eastern Kentucky.

“I first went there last fall with my travel team, now Arsenal USA,” Blanton reflected. “I was there about eight hours with a younger group. I was the only 2021. Coach (Edwin) Thompson approached me and we talked real easy. He was very approachable, I could talk to him about anything. He’s a guy I could see myself being around.”

The relationship became stronger between Blanton and the Eastern Kentucky head coach..

“He asked me to come the following weekend,” Blanton noted. “I did a camp and talked to the pitching coach. A couple months went by and I went again to a pitching camp. I threw in front of the coaches and was asked to come back the next day when they put out an offer.”

There was a lot about the 6-3 195-pound right-handed pitcher that stood out to the coaches at the Ohio Valley Conference program.

“They like my frame and that I’m very projectable,” explained the recently-turned 17-year-old. “I have a good breaking ball and they could see me as a good fit for them in the future.”

Blanton, who earned Top Performance accolades at the PBR 2020 Arsenal USA Scout Day in February, - where he was called “a scholarship-level prospect that’s only going to get better” - took an immediate liking to Eastern Kentucky.