2016 Baseball Roster
Jersey Number 22
Nick Blackburn
- Ht./Wt.:
- 6-2 / 205
- Position:
- RHP
- Hometown:
- Naperville, Ill.
- High School:
- Neuqua Valley
Career Highs
- Innings Pitched: 6.2, twice (Houston Baptist, 3/2/13)
- Strikeouts: 5, twice (Ohio State, 4/22/16)
Senior - 2016
- 2016 MLB Draft - 16th round - Arizona Diamondbacks
- Academic All-Big Ten
- 1-3, 3.73 ERA, 11 SV, 31.1 IP, 24 appearances
- Led the Illini in saves (11)
- Fourth in the Big Ten in saves (11)
- 15th in the Big Ten in appearances during the regular season (24)
- Third in Illinois history in saves in a single season (11)
- Fifth in Illinois history in career appearances (72)
- Sixth in Illinois history in career saves (14)
- Eighth in Illinois history in career Big Ten saves (4)
- 34th in the nation in saves during the regular season (11)
- NCBWA Stopper of the Year watch list
Junior - 2015
- 2015 MLB Draft - 22nd round - New York Mets
- Posted a 3-0 record and three saves with a 2.22 ERA, 19 K, 3 BB in 20 appearances (21.1 IP)
- 15 scoreless outings in 20 total appearances out of the bullpen
- Posted 1.2 scoreless innings in the Super Regional against Vanderbilt (6/8)
- Recorded his third win of the season by throwing 1.1 innings in relief against Nebraska in the Big Ten Tournament (5/20)
- Notched final two outs at SIU (4/28) for his third save
- Earned second save with a perfect ninth at Penn State (4/26)
- Picked up his second win at Penn State (4/25), retiring all six batters in the 14th and 15th innings
- Recorded first career save at Illinois State (4/14) with two scoreless innings
- Tossed 1.1 innings in relief against Saint Louis (4/8) and struck out two
- Threw 1.1 scoreless innings vs. Missouri (3/31)
- Season-high four strikeouts vs. Lindenwood-Belleville (3/18) in 2 scoreless innings
- Tallied one scoreless inning vs. Ball State (2/27)
- Notched 2.1 scoreless innings vs. Fordham (2/21)
- Earned win in first appearance vs. New Mexico State (2/14)
- Academic All-Big Ten
Sophomore - 2014
- Went 1-1 with a 3.18 ERA in 22.2 innings and 18 appearances all out of the bullpen
- Boasted a 1.74 ERA over his final 16 appearances on the mound
- Did not allow a run in 14 of 18 appearances
- Earned first win with two scoreless innings of relief at Iowa (5/11)
- Had a scoreless inning at Penn State (4/20) and against Southern Illinois (4/30)
- Allowed two runs to Missouri (4/23) in an inning at Busch Stadium
- Pitched a scoreless 10th inning at Northwestern (4/5)
- Turned in a scoreless inning at home vs. Illinois State (3/26) and posted 2.1 scoreless innings on the road at Illinois State (4/15)
- Tallied two scoreless and hitless appearances during the Xavier series (3/22-23)
- Threw a season-high three scoreless innings at Southern Illinois (3/15)
- Held onto a one-run lead with a scoreless eighth inning vs. FGCU (2/28)
- Had a scoreless inning vs. Connecticut (2/23)
- Pitched out of the bullpen in the final two games of the Georgia State series
- Academic All-Big Ten
- Played for the Wisconsin Rapids River Rafters of the Northwoods League along with Illini teammates Michael Hurwitz and John Kravetz during the summer
Freshman - 2013
- Started six games and finished 2-1 with three no decisions along with making four appearances out of the bullpen
- Compiled a 5.17 ERA in 38.1 innings pitched with 18 strikeouts and 11 walks
- Turned in a quality start in his first career win over Boston College (2/24), striking out five over 6.2 innings with no earned runs
- Won his second-straight game by allowing two earned runs over 6.2 innings vs. Houston Baptist (3/2)
- Retired all 11 batters he faced in a perfect 3.2 innings of relief at Ohio State (4/21)
- Received a no decision after pitching five innings and allowing three runs at Baylor (3/9) in game one of the doubleheader
- Made Illini debut at Tennessee Tech (2/17), allowing three earned runs over 4.1 innings while receiving a no decision
- Played for the Fayetteville SwampDogs of the Coastal Plain League along with Illini teammates Ryan Nagle and Adam Walton during the summer
High School
- Listed as the No. 21 prospect in the class of 2012 in Illinois by Prep Baseball Report
- Led Neuqua Valley to an IHSA Class 4A regional title in 2011, earning the victory in the regional championship game
- Went 4-3 with a 4.70 ERA and 64 strikeouts in 53 2/3 innings in 2011
- Went 2-0 with a 0.93 ERA and 23 strikeouts in 15 innings during the 2011 summer state tournament
- Named to the 2011 Phil Lawler Summer Classic All-Tournament team
- Named Academic All-Upstate Eight Conference in 2011.
Personal
- Born July 10, 1994
- Parents are Tim and Nancy Blackburn
- Majoring in business
- Has one sister, Lauren, who graduated from Illinois
- Favorite athlete is Mariano Rivera
- Earliest baseball memory is going to a White Sox game with his dad (but he is a Cubs fan)
- Lists his father as the most influential person in his athletic career because he taught him the game and coached his youth travel team
- Plans after school include either playing professionally or finding a secure job in the business field.
Illini Baseball | 03.18.25 Cinematic Recap vs. Indiana State
Wednesday, March 19
ILLINI BASE | Head Coach Dan Hartleb Availability (2/12/25)
Thursday, February 13
Illini Athletics | Week of Appreciation Coaches Video Dan Hartleb
Monday, December 09
Illini Baseball | Team IMPACT Signing
Friday, September 22
