Blake Thomas Lalli (born May 12, 1983) is an American former professional baseball first baseman and catcher and current third base coach for the Miami Marlins of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played in MLB for the Chicago Cubs, Milwaukee Brewers, and Atlanta Braves.
Lalli graduated from Pine-Richland High School in Gibsonia, Pennsylvania, in 2001. He attended Gardner–Webb University from 2002 through 2006, where he played for the school's baseball team. Lalli was named to the All-Atlantic Sun Conference's first team as a third baseman in 2005 and as a catcher in 2006. In 2005, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod Baseball League.
Undrafted out of college, Lalli signed with the Chicago Cubs as a free agent in 2006. He was named a Southern League All-Star in 2009, 2010, and 2011. The Cubs promoted Lalli to MLB on May 18, 2012, and he made his MLB debut that day. He became the first GWU alumnus to appear in MLB.
On August 27, 2012, the Athletics acquired Lalli from the Chicago Cubs in exchange for catcher Anthony Recker.
On November 14, 2012, the Milwaukee Brewers signed Lalli to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training. On April 9, 2013, Lalli's contract was purchased and he was added to the Major League roster by the Brewers. He was designated for assignment on September 19, 2013, and became a free agent on October 1.
On October 28, 2013, Lalli signed a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He became a minor league free agent after the 2014 season.
On November 26, 2014, Lalli reâÂÂsigned with the Diamondbacks organization on a minor league contract.
On February 3, 2016, Lalli signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves. On September 11, Lalli was called up from the TripleâÂÂA Gwinnett Braves. He was released by Atlanta on May 13, 2017.
On June 7, 2017, Lalli signed a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
For the 2018 season, Lalli was named the manager for the Kane County Cougars, the SingleâÂÂA affiliate of the Diamondbacks.
After one year in the Chicago suburbs, he left to become manager of the Jackson Generals for the 2019 season. In one season with the Generals, Lalli led the team to their third championship in the last four seasons in the Southern League.
On February 1, 2021, Lalli was announced as the new manager for the Reno Aces. He became the youngest manager in Aces history and first to be a former Aces player.
On January 17, 2025, the Miami Marlins hired Lalli to serve as their third base coach.
Lalli resides in Boiling Springs, North Carolina during the baseball offseason.