Blake DeWitt
A gritty infielder who jumped directly from Double-A to become the Dodgers' opening day third baseman, embodying a prospect's sudden dream.
Born 1985 (age 41)·American baseball player·Birthday: August 20·Millennials
Biography
Blake DeWitt's Major League debut was the stuff of Hollywood scriptwriting. In 2008, with the Los Angeles Dodgers' lineup ravaged by injuries, the 22-year-old rookie got a call that bypassed Triple-A entirely. Just days later, he was starting at third base on opening day. The Missouri native, a first-round draft pick known for his polished bat and steady glove, handled the pressure with remarkable poise, holding down the hot corner for much of the season. While his career settled into that of a reliable utility player across several teams, that electrifying entrance never faded. DeWitt was the embodiment of organizational depth and readiness, a player whose moment arrived suddenly and who proved he belonged, providing clutch hits and solid defense when his team needed it most.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Blake was born in 1985, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Blake Was Born
The biggest hits of 1985
#1 Movie
Back to the Future
Best Picture
Out of Africa
#1 TV Show
Dynasty
Blake's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1985Born
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1990Started school
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1998Became a teenager
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2001Could drive
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2003Could vote
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Turned 21
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2015Turned 30
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2025Turned 40
AI agents go mainstream
Gas: $3.10/galHome: $385,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"APT." — Rose & Bruno Mars
2026Age 41 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Made his MLB debut as the Los Angeles Dodgers' starting third baseman on Opening Day in 2008, skipping the Triple-A level entirely.
- Hit his first major league home run in his second career game.
- Played in the 2008 and 2009 National League Championship Series with the Dodgers.
- Recorded a career-high 52 RBIs during the 2010 season split between the Dodgers and Chicago Cubs.
Did You Know?
He was drafted by the Dodgers in the first round (28th overall) of the 2004 MLB draft.
In his major league debut, he got his first hit off of future Hall of Famer Randy Johnson.
He was traded from the Dodgers to the Cubs in a deal that sent Ted Lilly and Ryan Theriot to Los Angeles.
“I was just a kid from Missouri ready to take a swing.”
