Tony Blanco, Jr.
Tony Blanco, Jr.
Position: 1B
Height: 6’6”
Weight: 243 lbs
Bats/Throws: R/R
Born: 05/14/2005
Country: Dominican Republic
How Acquired: International Free Agent, 2022
Bonus: $900,000
40-man Roster: No
Rule 5 Eligible: 2026
Minor League Free Agency: 2028
Options Left: 3
Overview
Blanco is a huge guy with prodigious power potential. He was born in Boston, but signed out of the Dominican. According to Baseball America, his speed is only a little below average and his arm is above average, but he’s played only one inning in the outfield as a pro, instead playing first. Injuries have hampered him so far.
2022-23
Blanco’s debut season never got off the ground, as injuries limited him to eight games. He did at least hit his first pro home run. He returned to the DSL in 2023, serving mostly as DH and playing first when he played in the field. He hit for good power, but strikeouts were a huge issue. He fanned 59 times in 157 plate appearances. In August, he struck out a disastrous 38 times in 74 PAs and batted just .105.
2024
Blanco made it to the FCL in 2024 and made a great deal of progress when he was able to play. He batted 305/385/505 and cut his K rate from 38% in 2023 to 28%, although that’s still high. Blanco was on the IL twice and played in only 30 games, just a dozen at first. It seems unlikely he’ll play the outfield going forward. Even when he was healthy, the Pirates seemed reluctant to play him in consecutive games. He missed the last several weeks of the season with a hamstring injury.
Stats
Transactions
January 15, 2022: Signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates as an international free agent.