Trusting the process: Blake Walston adjusting and improving at Double-A Amarillo

Blake Walston had been waiting for his time on the mound all day.

The 20-year-old top-ranked pitching prospect in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization was set to make his sixth start at the Double-A level.

Despite the high accolades, Walston was still in search of his first win in an Amarillo uniform. The Sod Poodles, beginning the second week of their homestand, ensured that statistic did not lost much longer when they hosted the Frisco RoughRiders on Tuesday.

However, it was not just any other game.

Walston went head-to-head against Jack Leiter — the second overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft out of Vanderbilt and top-ranked prospect in the Texas Rangers organization.

"I woke up this morning and went through three different shirts because I was sweating so much," Walston said. "I was ready to go. All that prospect stuff really doesn't mean anything to me because what happens on the field happens on the field. I don't look too far into that, but I just knew he's a big guy in their 'org' and I'm a big guy in our 'org'. I just went out there and did what I needed to do."

What Walston did was deliver six scoreless innings in which he allowed five hits and three walks while striking out four en route to helping the Soddies notch a 7-4 win over the RoughRiders.

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His counterpart Leiter started the game with a walk and five straight balls thrown before the Toddies offense kicked into gear. In the second, he allowed the bases to be loaded before first baseman Andy Yerzy launched a grand slam over the right field wall to get the game's scoring started.

Leiter allowed another home run in the fourth when second baseman Drew Stankiewicz sent a two-run shot to right field. The last run he gave up was following another bases loaded situation in the fifth when catcher Nick Dalesandro hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield to score a runner.

Texas' top prospect allowed seven runs — all earned — on seven hits with four walks and five strikeouts in five innings of action.

At the end of the day, it was safe to say Walston took round one of head-to-head battle against his fellow top prospect as Amarillo secured a 7-4 win in the series opener.

"The biggest thing for Blake tonight was just controlling what he could control and let the offense and defense behind him work," Amarillo manager Shawn Roof said.

Walston stands 6-foot-5 and has the prototypical frame of a starting pitcher in the big leagues. He was the 26th overall pick in the 2019 Draft out of New Hanover High School in Wilmington, N.C. and throws an arsenal of pitches that includes an impressive curveball and fastball.

He tossed seven pitches to get three quick outs to start the ballgame and did not allow his first baserunner until walking the sixth batter he faced with two outs in the second inning. Walston allowed his first hit in the third and induced a pair of double plays to get out of some adverse situations in the third and fourth.

Walston's command improved as the game moved on. It developed so well that he notched all four of his strikeouts in his final three innings on the mound — two coming in the sixth.

In a full circle moment, he ended his day on the hill with a strikeout of Frisco left fielder Josh Stowers — the first baserunner he allowed in the game.

"Today was a good matchup and the whole morning I was thinking about it," Walston said. "I just came in there with an underdog mentality and my buddies behind me, my fellas, made good plays behind me. Me and my catcher were pretty pinpoint and have that trust. I've been playing with him for three years. It all clicked tonight."

More: Sod Poodles Weekly: Amarillo enters first series against Frisco fresh off four-win week

Walston's performance set the tone for the Soddies, who pounded out seven hits that led to eight runs.

The young pitcher returned from the locker room for his postgame interview drenched in water — a solid indicator of the celebration that had taken place alongside his team just moments before.

"That was awesome for Blake," Roof said. "He's been working really hard with our pitching coach (Shane Loux) and our catchers (Nick Dalesandro, Lyle Lin). It seems like every outing that he just gets better and better. He's starting to trust himself and trust his stuff in the zone. Obviously, too, him throwing his off-speed pitch when behind in counts was really big tonight."

Since his promotion from High-A Hillsboro back on May 1, Walston has improved in different area in each start.

In his Double-A debut against Midland on May 7, he lasted only two innings after allowing eight runs (seven earned) on eight hits with two walks and one strikeout. Walston saw his ERA climb to 31.50 following his first start and has lowered that number in each subsequent appearance on the bump.

Walston started four games in the month of May and in 14 2/3 innings allowed 21 runs (20 earned) on 27 hits with seven walks and 15 strikeouts.

Following a solid four-inning start against Midland last week, Walston earned his first win against Frisco and finally lowered his ERA back down into single digits (7.66).

"I think I'm adapting pretty well," he said. "Since my first outing, I've been climbing ever since. The whole thing is a huge learning process. You learn how to pitch these hitters that are just super talented. Double-A is really good baseball. You can either fail here or this is where you see that you're a big leaguer. It's a make-or-break league for sure and I think I'm adapting to it pretty well."

Walston is scheduled to take the mound, once again, Sunday evening — which is expected to be the second time against Leiter presuming nothing changes in the rotation.

Facing an elite opposing pitcher brought out the best in Walston on Tuesday night. With that in mind, he will aim to build on and better that performance next time out.

How does Walston plan to accomplish that?

"I'm just going to keep on the same routine that I was on," Walston said. "Every day in baseball is a routine thing. Whether you're doing good or doing bad, you just have to stick to the process and learn from the good things and the bad things. Put it all together and eventually it will work. Just trust the process."

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Blake Walston adjusting, improving at Double-A Amarillo Sod Poodles