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Seasons at Stanford: 2006-08
Professional Baseball Organization: New York Yankees (Compensation A Round, 44th pick overall - 2008)
Professional Baseball Career: Was chosen by the New York Yankees in the Compensation A round (44th pick overall) of the 2008 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft...began his professional career with the Staten Island Yankees of the New York-Penn League, a short-season single A circuit...started in his lone appearance, working 3.0 innings (2h,2r,2er,0bb,4so).
At Stanford: Was excellent as both a starter and a closer during his three-year Stanford career...finished with a 9-15 record, eight saves, one complete game and a 4.33 ERA (11er, 47.1ip) in 51 games (32 starts)...his seven saves as a freshman in 2006 are just outside the school's single-season top-10 list.
As a Junior in 2008: Was shelved by injury for a nearly two-month stretch, but was dominant when healthy...fashioned a 3-3 record with one save and a 2.09 ERA (11er, 47.1ip) in 11 games (nine starts)...compiled 42 strikeouts, while holding opposing hitters to a .229 average (40-for-175)...left-handed batters managed just nine hits in 58 at-bats (.155)...was Stanford's opening day starter, tossing 6.0 innings of one-hit, shutout ball in a 17-7 victory over Nebraska on February 22...had pitched 3.0 scoreless innings in a March 28 start vs. Washington State, but left with an injury...did not pitch again until May 19 at Arizona, when he worked 0.2-inning in relief...struck out 20 in 18.1 postseason innings, while going 1-1 with one save and a 3.44 ERA (7er, 18.1ip) in four games (three starts)...earned the save in a 5-1 Regional victory over Arkansas, holding the Razorbacks scoreless on two hits over the final 4.0 frames...took the ball for the Super Regional opener June 6 at Cal State Fullerton, and pitched Stanford to a 4-1 win...did not allow an earned run (one total) on three hits over 6.0 innings, with five strikeouts...tied his career high with seven strikeouts in 5.0 innings of the College World Series opener vs. Florida State, allowing one run in a game the Cardinal eventually won 16-5...earned honorable mention Pac-10 All-Academic accolades.
As a Sophomore in 2007: Spent most of the season as the team's ace...posted a 2-8 overall record and a 5.56 ERA (61er, 98.2ip) but was arguably better than his numbers for much of the year...was victimized by a few big innings, and often pitched well for large portions of games before struggling late in contests...led the team with 16 starts and 98.2 innings pitched, ranking 10th in the Pac-10 in both categories...tossed one of the club's three complete games, going the distance in an 11-2 victory May 19 at Pacific...pitched 6.0 or more innings in 10 of his 16 starts and 7.0 or more five times, including each of his last three...dropped seven consecutive starts from March 10-April 27 before recovering to go 1-0 with three no decisions over his final four starts...Stanford won each of his last three outings...was 0-5 with a 7.04 ERA in team-bests of eight starts and 47.1 innings pitched during Pac-10 play as the only Stanford pitcher to not miss a Pac-10 turn in the rotation.
As a Freshman In 2006: Led the club and tied for fourth in the Pac-10 with seven saves...also appeared in a team-high 24 games (seven starts), going 4-4 with a 4.05 ERA (27er, 60.0ip)...began the season in the bullpen before moving into the rotation in mid-April, where he stayed for six of eight weeks (through the June 4 NCAA Austin Regional Championship game versus North Carolina State)...earned the win in his collegiate debut, tossing 2.1 perfect relief innings February 3 vs. Cal State Fullerton...won two straight contests by recording victories as the starter at Washington (May 14) in a season-high 7.0 inning outing, after a winning performance out of the bullpen against California (May 7)...was successful in his first five save opportunities, and in seven of nine overall...recorded his first collegiate save February 5 vs. Cal State Fullerton, retiring all three batters faced...was 2-3 with a pair of saves and a 4.36 ERA in eight Pac-10 appearances (five starts), striking out 20 batters in 33.0 conference innings.
High School: Graduated in 2005 from Isidore Newman School in New Orleans, La....selected a 2005 first-team All-American by Collegiate Baseball (Louisville Slugger) and a third-team All American by Baseball America...twice earned all-state honors and was the District Most Valuable Player in both 2004 and 2005...named three times to the All-District, All-Metro and All-Orleans teams (2003-05)...selected as the 2005 All-Metro Player of the Year...led his team to the state title in 2003 and the district championship in 2005, as well as a district runner-up finish in 2004...had a 7-1 record and an 0.56 ERA on the hill as a senior, with 138 strikeouts in 63.0 innings pitched...chipped in with a .387 batting average at the plate, hitting three homers and driving in 30 runs...posted a 7-3 record as a junior with a 1.25 ERA and 110 strikeouts in 72.2 innings pitched, while also hitting .464 with eight homers and 35 RBI...was 9-3 as a sophomore, striking out 100 batters in 71.0 frames, while hitting .318 at the plate...coached by Billy Fitzgerald.
Other Amateur Baseball: Posted his second consecutive solid season for the Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod Baseball League in the summer of 2007, going 4-2 with a 2.44 ERA and striking out 47 in 44.1 innings pitched...had an excellent rookie CCBL campaign with Wareham in 2006, earning a spot in the CCBL All-Star Game after posting a 1-1 record and a 2.09 with 31 strikeouts in 43.0 innings over 10 appearances (six starts)...was 1-1 with an 0.69 ERA and five strikeouts in 13.0 postseason frames in 2006...played with the USA Junior National Team in 2005, helping the squad to a second place finish at the 2005 Pan Am Championships in Mexico...played in the 2005 High School All-American Game in Albuquerque, New Mexico...participated in the 2004 WWBA World Championships with the Cincinnati Reds scout team and played most of the summer of 2004 playing with the New Orleans Spice.
Personal Information: Son of Stan and Caron Bleich...was born in New Orleans, La....has one sister, Lauren and one brother, Steven...chose Stanford because, in his words, "it is the best academic and athletic combination in the country"...majored in economics.
Bleich's Career StatsYEARERAW-LAPPGSCGSHO/CBOSVIPHRERBBSO2B3BHRBFB/AVGWPHBPBKSFASHA20064.054-424700/0760.063352716371034260.2691532020075.562-8161610/0098.2119676131603029451.29988311120082.093-311900/0147.14025112742801212.22904241TOTALS4.339-15513210/08206.0222127997413948514923.2759178172
Bleich's Career NCAA Tournament StatsYEARERAW-LAPPGSCGSHO/CBOSVIPHRERBBSO2B3BHRBFB/AVGWPHBPBKSFASHA200610.380-01100/004.18551140121.3810000020083.441-14300/0118.11987112030172.26401002TOTALS4.761-15400/0122.2271312122170293.29001002
Bleich's Career HighsInnings Pitched (Starter): 9.0, May 19, 2007 at PacificInnings Pitched (Reliever): 4.1, May 7, 2006 vs. CaliforniaStrikeouts: 7 (twice), last: June 14, 2008 vs. Florida State (College World Series)Winning Streak: 3 games, May 19, 2007 - February 29, 2008