(This story was featured in the Spring 2024 Roar Report)

AJ Blubaugh pitched for the Milwaukee Panthers over parts of three seasons (2020-22). Throughout his time in the Black & Gold, Blubaugh proved to be a valuable arm for the Milwaukee staff, earning back-to-back Horizon League Reliever of the Year and All-League First Team honors in both 2021 and 2022.
 
Following his 2022 season, which saw him post a 3-3 record with six saves in 52 2/3 innings, Blubaugh became the 25th Major League Baseball draftee as he was selected in the seventh round by the defending American League Champion Houston Astros.
 
Blubaugh ascended quickly through the Astros organization, pitching at the Rookie Ball and Single-A levels in 2022, before reaching the High-A and Double-A levels in 2023. Earlier this year, Blubaugh received the call with an invite to Major League Camp with the Astros in West Palm Beach, Florida, where he'll be competing for a spot on the Major League roster this spring.
 
Blubaugh would become just the second Milwaukee Panther to reach the Major League level, joining Daulton Varsho, who currently plays for the Toronto Blue Jays.

The Roar Report had the chance to catch up with Blubaugh recently, chatting about his experiences as a Panther, his success in professional baseball, and his goals for the 2024 season.  
Roar Report: What were some key moments during your time with the Panthers that helped shape where you are today as a professional baseball player?
 
AJ Blubaugh: Some key moments that helped shape me into who I am today as a person and as a baseball player would be the people that I was surrounded by every day. My class of teammates, as well as the upperclassmen when I arrived my freshman year really understood the work that it took to become a great ball player.
 
My roommate, Michael Rodriguez, and I had friendly competitions all year in all aspects of life to push each other every day. I also had an amazing coaching staff that believed in me when a lot of other coaches didn't and with their support, I was able to become who I am today.   
RR: What are some of your favorite memories from college baseball?
 
AB: Some of my greatest memories didn't even happen on a baseball field. I really enjoyed 6:00 a.m. workouts with Nick Gilhaus that were usually followed by either a swim workout or a bike ride. I enjoyed long drives with Quinton Morris and seeing if we can sing all kinds of different duets … waking up on weekends and going into the 'K' with Jake Novak and biking, also watching football with Dylan Szajkovics and him yell at his fantasy football players … also putting on as much weight as I could with Marcus Cline because that's what needed to be done.
 
If I had to pick a memory on the baseball field, it would be the run we made in the Horizon League Tournament my sophomore year and we came together as a whole team, and it was some of the best baseball that I was a part during my time at Milwaukee.  
RR: Just about two full years into your professional career, you have made a quick ascent through the organization and reached AA last year with Corpus Christi. What do you think has been a main contributor to your success?
 
AB: I believe I can attribute my success to a lot of different reasons, but I believe that the biggest one was trying my best not to get ahead of myself. What I mean by that is that it doesn't matter what I have planned next week, next year, or even in five years, what matters is that I take care of business of what's right in-front of me.
 
In the great words of Grand Master Oogwey (of the Kung Fu Panda films), "The past is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift, that is why it is called the present."
RR: After splitting your time in Minor League Baseball as a starter and reliever, you flourished in the Arizona Fall League this past offseason with Mesa and had three saves in six outings. Is pitching at the end of games where you feel most comfortable?
 
AB: I love both starting and closing because both involve pitching. I do feel comfortable throwing at the end of games, but on the other hand I also feel comfortable knowing when I'm going to throw as a starter.
 
I ran into the same situation in college when I was trying to do both. But I will say that I really like the feeling of starting and knowing that this is my game. There is a lot that I know I can get better at as a starter, so I am excited to continue to develop in that regard.   
RR: You're in your first Major League spring training, when and how did you hear that you were being invited to camp? And what was your reaction?
 
AB: I was in Milwaukee visiting my girlfriend when I got the call … I had just arrived and what couldn't have been more than 20 minutes prior and was just sitting down in my friend's house, I got a call from a random number, I answered, and they let me know the news. I wish I could tell you that I kept my cool and acted like it didn't faze me, but I was so excited I could feel and hear my heartbeat get faster.
 
After the phone call ended, I immediately called my parents and told them the news along with a few other people I have in my corner. It was fun celebrating that moment but all it really did was put some more wood on the fire and I was ready to get down to Florida and start working with them.    
RR: At the age of 23, you are the third youngest player in Major League camp with the Astros this spring, what are you learning by being around the players and coaches with Major League experience?
 
AB: I think just hearing some of the older guys talk about how they approach the game day in, and day out is so rewarding because it really is a profession. I want to be a sponge to anything and everything they have to offer. I feel like every time I move up in the baseball world, I unlock a new level to baseball that I didn't know existed. I have been focusing most on strengthening my knowledge of the game and letting my body catch up when it is ready.    
RR: What is the best career advice you have received since being drafted by the Astros?
 
AB: The best advice I have received is to not let the outside world influence what you do in and around the game of baseball. There are so many distractions and people who want to see you fail, you just have to keep your head down and keep doing what you do.
 
I have learned that you need to have a switch … what I mean by that is when I am not on the mound I couldn't be more of a normal person. I want to be fun, energetic, and easy to be around. But on the other hand, when I step on that mound, I am a different person and I feel like nothing can get in my way.   
RR: What are your professional goals for the 2024 season?
 
AB: My goals are simple; I want to be consistent and approach every day, every game, every inning, every out, and every pitch, with the same calmness and yet same intensity, so that you can't tell the difference. I want to execute my pitches at a high level which means I want my velocity and my shapes to also be consistent. If I can master the art of consistency, I think the rest of 2024 will take care of itself.