Former UK pitcher Joe Blanton has signed a three-year extension with the Philadelphia Phillies worth a reported $24 million.

The 29-yeard-old right-hander, who made 55 career appearances at UK from 2000-02, went 12-8 with a 4.05 ERA for the Phillies last season, including two postseason appearances.

“They came at me with the prospect of going long-term. I was thrilled,” Blanton said, according a a story in the Philadelphia Inquirer. “I’ve enjoyed my time here in the past year-and-a-half. I just feel the organization has gotten better and better.

“When you hit free agency, you want to go to a winner. I’m already with a winner, so I was thrilled.”

Blanton is best known for his heroics in the 2008 World Series. In addition to pitching six innings of two-run ball for the world champion Phillies, Blanton belted a solo home run vs. the Tampa Bay Rays, the first home by a pitcher in the World Series since 1974.

The Franklin, Ky., native went 5-7 with a 4.59 ERA in 14 starts in 2002 for UK, fanning 133 in 100 innings.