Liberty right-hander Ben Blair has taken a steady, deliberate climb from high-usage freshman reliever to one of the more intriguing starting pitching prospects in the 2026 MLB draft.
Now a junior, the 6-foot-3, 200-pound Blair is drawing first-round consideration in July after a breakout season that has showcased both his durability and evolving arsenal.
Blair arrived at Liberty with expectations of starting but instead carved out a key role at the back end of the bullpen as a freshman in 2024, leading the team with 23 appearances. The experience proved foundational. A year later, he transitioned into the rotation, where he began to harness his stuff over longer outings.
Across his first two collegiate seasons, Blair posted a 3.61 ERA over 132 innings, striking out 23.5% of opposing hitters while walking 9.2%. Those numbers hinted at potential. This spring, they have taken a significant leap.
As a junior, Blair owns a 2.94 ERA with 86 strikeouts and just nine walks in 67 1/3 innings, a reflection of improved command and growing confidence.
“I think it’s just my confidence coming from last year, just knowing I can do it,” Blair said. “And then not putting pressure on myself. Even though it’s a big draft year, I’m not really worrying too much about that. Just throwing strikes. Walks tend to kill you.”
That ability to consistently attack the strike zone has become a defining trait. Blair’s walk rate has dropped dramatically, and his repeatable delivery has allowed his natural stuff to play up.
He attacks hitters from a low three-quarters arm slot, generating difficult angles and armside life on a fastball that sits in the low 90s and has reached 98 mph this season. The pitch pairs effectively with a mid-80s sweeper with sharp lateral movement that generates swings and misses.
Blair also mixes a sinker, cutter, slider and changeup, giving him a deep repertoire. He describes the sinker as his “bread and butter,” using it to induce weak contact, particularly against right-handed hitters.
“The sinker, it’s got that run and sink on it, and I can really get inside on righties,” Blair said. “The four-seam, I try to get that up in the zone. And then the cutter and slider just give me different looks to keep hitters off balance.”
While his breaking ball already grades as a potential plus pitch, continued development of his changeup could further solidify his profile as a starter at the professional level.
Blair’s physical development has also played a key role in his rise. He arrived on campus at around 170 pounds and has since added roughly 30 pounds to his frame, a transformation that has directly translated into improved velocity and durability.
“That was kind of what I was missing the most, just getting stronger,” Blair said. “That really allowed me to throw a little bit harder.”
Rather than pitch in summer leagues following his sophomore season, Blair remained in Lynchburg to focus on strength training and conditioning, a decision that has paid dividends.
“I just stayed here and lifted, trying to get my body right,” he said.
The added strength, combined with a more established routine as a starter, has helped Blair settle into a rhythm on the mound.
“Last year, I’d get a little more nervous before games,” he said. “Now I know what I’m doing every day. Being a starter, you build that routine, and that helps a lot.”
A Lynchburg native who attended Liberty Christian Academy, Blair has deep ties to the university. He said the familiarity and environment made Liberty an easy choice after high school.
“Just growing up around here, it felt like the right fit,” Blair said. “Everything about it — the coaches, the facilities, the fans — it checks all the boxes for me.”
Blair also credits his faith as central to his approach on and off the field.
“My identity is in Christ,” he said. “That takes a lot of pressure off. I just want to honor Him with how I play.”
With his combination of size, improving command and a diverse pitch mix, Blair has positioned himself as one of the top mid-major arms in the class. Scouts will continue to monitor his ability to maintain strike-throwing consistency and refine his offspeed offerings, but the trajectory is clear.
“I’m not a finished product,” Blair said. “I think I can still get stronger, still throw a little harder, and keep developing my pitches.”
For now, Blair’s focus remains on finishing the season strong and letting the results speak for themselves.
Dan Zielinski III has covered the MLB draft for 11 years. He has interviewed 613 of the top draft prospects in that period, including four No. 1 overall picks. Multiple publications, including Baseball America, USA Today, MLB.com, The Arizona Republic and The Dallas Morning News, have quoted his work, while he has appeared on radio stations as an “MLB draft expert.” Follow him on Twitter @DanZielinski3.
