March 31, 2026 • 7 mins
Astros pitcher AJ Blubaugh joins The A-Team to discuss his performance this season, the team’s early results, Lance McCullers’ impressive start, and more.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Well, we hope to ask you initially, you're just a
handful of games into the season, You've been able to
get out there twice. We'll take you back to the
opening appearance for you, right there at dyk In Park.
I'm sure that was exciting in and of itself. You're
on the opening gay roster, it's opening day and then
there's runners on first and third and you got to
come in and keep the game tight at zero. How'd
you feel as you headed out to the mound, And
(00:20):
I imagine you felt awesome as you headed back into
the dugout after that inning was complete because you got
the job done.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Yeah, I mean to say I felt amazing. As an understatement,
that was some of the most adrenaline field pitching I
think I've ever had, And honestly, I was just I
was very happy that I could get out of that
with a zero and keep the runs off the board
and really put a cap on Hunter's great pitching performance.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
But you live for adrenaline moments like that, Oh, one
hundred percent.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
That's why we do what we do.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
You know, no, absolutely, there's no comparison to it, but
you know there is. Baseball is such like golf, such
a mental game at times, and sometimes in those situations
you worry to the anticipation point about it not going
well for you. But you know, when you do get
it to go, it's like the highest euphoria.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
On It's such an unbelievable feeling. I feel incredibly blessed
that I get to feel that so often.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
What did you think about how you prepared for this season?
You got a little bit of taste in Major League
Baseball last year. You obviously had some important instances where
they needed you to come up and pitch for them,
and you did, and you pitched well. And then you
went into this off season obviously it would seem like
to me a little bit different in that you'd had
that taste and maybe knew a little bit more about
what it takes to get things done. How'd you feel
about your preparation when you went into a spring training
(01:43):
where you basically had to pitch your way onto the team,
which obviously you did.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
You know what it was? It was super rewarding and
fulfilling to go about the off season with such a
calm in my mind, not because I don't care, but
because I think my my motives changed, and you know,
being a professional baseball player is one of the biggest
blessings that I could ever ever ask for. But on
(02:14):
top of that, why I'm playing baseball at the highest level.
I think it was the more important question I focused
on this offseason and and you know, I felt, uh,
there was a moment last year where where I had
this this overwhelming feeling of you know what, why are
you doing what you're doing? And you know, I felt
super selfish that it was because I wanted to be great,
(02:35):
and which you know isn't a bad thing, but I
just felt wrong for thinking that. And last year I
had a nice chat with God and he pretty much
was like playing for something bigger than yourself. And in
a nutshell, I flipped that switch towards the towards the
end of the year last year, and it sort of
(02:55):
changed the season. So, you know, I took that straight
into the off season, and obviously I had the intention
of making the open day roster. That's that's been a
dream of mine. But at the same time, like at
the end of the day that there's so many uncontrollables
that can happen before I would make it or wouldn't
make it. I decided to leave that up to God.
So I did what I could, and I controlled what
(03:17):
I could control, and he took care of the rest.
And I couldn't be more thankful for what He's done
for me this offseason, the spring training, and so far
the season.
Speaker 3 (03:26):
Now, I'm only guessing. I can't speak for you. I'll
ask your answer on this, but I'm I'm assuming when
you took that approach, I'm guessing a weight was probably
lifted on you.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
Personally, you could say that it was. It was such
a rewarding feeling. I wish I wish everyone could feel it. It
was actually right around right before my Miami outing, but
a little bit before that, when I was still on
Triple A, where I was like, man, I feel so
lost right now, and I made that switch Mentally, I
(03:57):
didn't change anything I was doing for physically, I didn't
change anyway I was approaching the game. All I did
was change my mental side of the game. And from
that point on, it just it felt like I was
pitching with a purpose. It felt like I was I
was glorifying him and everything he did, and that's truly
what I'm trying to do. I'm I'm out there, but
I'm just a vessel for what his glory can do.
(04:20):
You know, there's so many things in my life where
I almost feel like I had to get extremely lucky
for even to you know, to get to Milwaukee and
play Division one Baseball, to get drafted and you know,
come up through the miners at the Astros. You know,
there's so many things that had to happen so perfectly
for me to do that to where I feel like
it has to be God working through me, so it's
(04:41):
only right for me to do the same thing for him.
Speaker 1 (04:44):
When you consider your path here we're talking with aj
Blueball Astros pitcher, Astros reliever. You're drafted by the Astros.
Like you said, it's during an era where the Astros
are one of the best teams, if not the best
team in baseball. There obviously are talented and doing things correctly,
especially when it comes to pitching, which is why they've
developed so many pitchers. How does someone who joins the
(05:05):
organization and tries to make their way up the ladder
view things knowing that A this team is super talented,
so the road to pitching with this team could be difficult,
or B they do a lot of things with pitchers
that make them reach their utmost potential.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
Yeah. I mean, I had a screenshot on my phone
at twenty twenty two when I got drafted at the
end of that season, and the Astros pitching staff ranks
first in almost every single category for the MLB that season,
and I'm looking at it, and there's two ways that
could look at it. There was, Wow, I have a
lot to go through to get to the big leagues,
or Wow, I have an opportunity to learn from some
(05:44):
of the best pitching coaches in the league and come
up through that system. And you know, I chose to
look at the second one and just kind of buy
in to what they're trying to do. And you know,
because Milwaukee did so many great things for me, But
at the same time, I still felt like there's so
much room for me to grow and I still feel
that way. I still feel like there's still a future
(06:05):
evolution of myself that that I haven't even unlocked yet.
And but yeah, looking looking back on it, it's super
rewarding to know that I bought in and you know,
I I did basically, you know, I was like, you know,
what you tell me what to do, I'm going to
do it. And and here I am, and I couldn't
be more thankful.
Speaker 1 (06:26):
From being a panther to being an Astros. You mentioned Wisconsin,
Milwaukee a couple of times, A lot of different faces
in the current Astros bullpen. Uh, have you been able
to get to know some of these guys? You know,
a guy like Ryan Weiss who was pitching overseas. Several
pitchers who obviously weren't a part of this organization at
all last year are now out there in the bullpen
with you.
Speaker 2 (06:47):
Yeah. No, it's it's super cool. Just you know, I
feel like you can learn so much from from people
who come from different places. And you know, me and
Me and Weiss are throwing partners, Me and in my
head lockers right actually each other in spring training. You know,
I got to know Ochred and King a little bit
last year a bray. You greeted me every morning with
(07:08):
a smile. Man, Michael Munos, He's my locker buddy in
the in the locker room, like there's a there's so
many cool guys out there, and it's super cool that,
you know, I could strike a conversation up with anyone
and walk away with it feeling like I just learned
something well.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
It's a really interesting group. They have done a lot
of things to try to make sure this team is
set up to pitch well regardless of what happens. You've
been a big part of that earlier first two appearances
here this season. I'm sure there's many more to come,
maybe even this afternoon over at the yard.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
AJ.
Speaker 1 (07:40):
We certainly appreciate you taking some time to share some
thoughts with our listeners here on New your home for
Astros Baseball, and we look forward to doing it again
soon
Well, we hope to ask you initially, you're just a
handful of games into the season, You've been able to
get out there twice. We'll take you back to the
opening appearance for you, right there at dyk In Park.
I'm sure that was exciting in and of itself. You're
on the opening gay roster, it's opening day and then
there's runners on first and third and you got to
come in and keep the game tight at zero. How'd
you feel as you headed out to the mound, And
(00:20):
I imagine you felt awesome as you headed back into
the dugout after that inning was complete because you got
the job done.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Yeah, I mean to say I felt amazing. As an understatement,
that was some of the most adrenaline field pitching I
think I've ever had, And honestly, I was just I
was very happy that I could get out of that
with a zero and keep the runs off the board
and really put a cap on Hunter's great pitching performance.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
But you live for adrenaline moments like that, Oh, one
hundred percent.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
That's why we do what we do.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
You know, no, absolutely, there's no comparison to it, but
you know there is. Baseball is such like golf, such
a mental game at times, and sometimes in those situations
you worry to the anticipation point about it not going
well for you. But you know, when you do get
it to go, it's like the highest euphoria.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
On It's such an unbelievable feeling. I feel incredibly blessed
that I get to feel that so often.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
What did you think about how you prepared for this season?
You got a little bit of taste in Major League
Baseball last year. You obviously had some important instances where
they needed you to come up and pitch for them,
and you did, and you pitched well. And then you
went into this off season obviously it would seem like
to me a little bit different in that you'd had
that taste and maybe knew a little bit more about
what it takes to get things done. How'd you feel
about your preparation when you went into a spring training
(01:43):
where you basically had to pitch your way onto the team,
which obviously you did.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
You know what it was? It was super rewarding and
fulfilling to go about the off season with such a
calm in my mind, not because I don't care, but
because I think my my motives changed, and you know,
being a professional baseball player is one of the biggest
blessings that I could ever ever ask for. But on
(02:14):
top of that, why I'm playing baseball at the highest level.
I think it was the more important question I focused
on this offseason and and you know, I felt, uh,
there was a moment last year where where I had
this this overwhelming feeling of you know what, why are
you doing what you're doing? And you know, I felt
super selfish that it was because I wanted to be great,
(02:35):
and which you know isn't a bad thing, but I
just felt wrong for thinking that. And last year I
had a nice chat with God and he pretty much
was like playing for something bigger than yourself. And in
a nutshell, I flipped that switch towards the towards the
end of the year last year, and it sort of
(02:55):
changed the season. So, you know, I took that straight
into the off season, and obviously I had the intention
of making the open day roster. That's that's been a
dream of mine. But at the same time, like at
the end of the day that there's so many uncontrollables
that can happen before I would make it or wouldn't
make it. I decided to leave that up to God.
So I did what I could, and I controlled what
(03:17):
I could control, and he took care of the rest.
And I couldn't be more thankful for what He's done
for me this offseason, the spring training, and so far
the season.
Speaker 3 (03:26):
Now, I'm only guessing. I can't speak for you. I'll
ask your answer on this, but I'm I'm assuming when
you took that approach, I'm guessing a weight was probably
lifted on you.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
Personally, you could say that it was. It was such
a rewarding feeling. I wish I wish everyone could feel it. It
was actually right around right before my Miami outing, but
a little bit before that, when I was still on
Triple A, where I was like, man, I feel so
lost right now, and I made that switch Mentally, I
(03:57):
didn't change anything I was doing for physically, I didn't
change anyway I was approaching the game. All I did
was change my mental side of the game. And from
that point on, it just it felt like I was
pitching with a purpose. It felt like I was I
was glorifying him and everything he did, and that's truly
what I'm trying to do. I'm I'm out there, but
I'm just a vessel for what his glory can do.
(04:20):
You know, there's so many things in my life where
I almost feel like I had to get extremely lucky
for even to you know, to get to Milwaukee and
play Division one Baseball, to get drafted and you know,
come up through the miners at the Astros. You know,
there's so many things that had to happen so perfectly
for me to do that to where I feel like
it has to be God working through me, so it's
(04:41):
only right for me to do the same thing for him.
Speaker 1 (04:44):
When you consider your path here we're talking with aj
Blueball Astros pitcher, Astros reliever. You're drafted by the Astros.
Like you said, it's during an era where the Astros
are one of the best teams, if not the best
team in baseball. There obviously are talented and doing things correctly,
especially when it comes to pitching, which is why they've
developed so many pitchers. How does someone who joins the
(05:05):
organization and tries to make their way up the ladder
view things knowing that A this team is super talented,
so the road to pitching with this team could be difficult,
or B they do a lot of things with pitchers
that make them reach their utmost potential.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
Yeah. I mean, I had a screenshot on my phone
at twenty twenty two when I got drafted at the
end of that season, and the Astros pitching staff ranks
first in almost every single category for the MLB that season,
and I'm looking at it, and there's two ways that
could look at it. There was, Wow, I have a
lot to go through to get to the big leagues,
or Wow, I have an opportunity to learn from some
(05:44):
of the best pitching coaches in the league and come
up through that system. And you know, I chose to
look at the second one and just kind of buy
in to what they're trying to do. And you know,
because Milwaukee did so many great things for me, But
at the same time, I still felt like there's so
much room for me to grow and I still feel
that way. I still feel like there's still a future
(06:05):
evolution of myself that that I haven't even unlocked yet.
And but yeah, looking looking back on it, it's super
rewarding to know that I bought in and you know,
I I did basically, you know, I was like, you know,
what you tell me what to do, I'm going to
do it. And and here I am, and I couldn't
be more thankful.
Speaker 1 (06:26):
From being a panther to being an Astros. You mentioned Wisconsin,
Milwaukee a couple of times, A lot of different faces
in the current Astros bullpen. Uh, have you been able
to get to know some of these guys? You know,
a guy like Ryan Weiss who was pitching overseas. Several
pitchers who obviously weren't a part of this organization at
all last year are now out there in the bullpen
with you.
Speaker 2 (06:47):
Yeah. No, it's it's super cool. Just you know, I
feel like you can learn so much from from people
who come from different places. And you know, me and
Me and Weiss are throwing partners, Me and in my
head lockers right actually each other in spring training. You know,
I got to know Ochred and King a little bit
last year a bray. You greeted me every morning with
(07:08):
a smile. Man, Michael Munos, He's my locker buddy in
the in the locker room, like there's a there's so
many cool guys out there, and it's super cool that,
you know, I could strike a conversation up with anyone
and walk away with it feeling like I just learned
something well.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
It's a really interesting group. They have done a lot
of things to try to make sure this team is
set up to pitch well regardless of what happens. You've
been a big part of that earlier first two appearances
here this season. I'm sure there's many more to come,
maybe even this afternoon over at the yard.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
AJ.
Speaker 1 (07:40):
We certainly appreciate you taking some time to share some
thoughts with our listeners here on New your home for
Astros Baseball, and we look forward to doing it again
soon
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