Dairon Blanco LaMadrid (born April 26, 1993) is a Cuban professional baseball outfielder for the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2022.
| Dairon Blanco | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Blanco with the Omaha Storm Chasers in 2023 | |
| Kansas City Royals – No. 44 | |
| Outfielder | |
| Born: April 26, 1993 Florida, Cuba | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| May 20, 2022, for the Kansas City Royals | |
| MLB statistics (through August 25, 2024) | |
| Batting average | .263 |
| Home runs | 7 |
| Runs batted in | 33 |
| Stolen bases | 48 |
| Teams | |
| |
Career
editBlanco began his professional career in the Cuban National Series, playing for the Ganaderos de Camaguey, Industriales de La Habana, and the Alazanes de Granma from 2012 through 2016.[1] He defected from Cuba to the United States in May 2016.[2]
Oakland Athletics
editBlanco signed with the Oakland Athletics on April 2, 2018.[3][4] He spent the 2018 season with the High–A Stockton Ports, hitting .291/.342/.406 with one home run, 37 RBI, and 22 stolen bases. He opened the 2019 season with the Double–A Midland RockHounds, hitting .276/.342/.468 with seven home runs, 44 RBI, and 27 stolen bases.[5]
Kansas City Royals
editOn July 27, 2019, Blanco and Ismael Aquino were traded to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for Jake Diekman.[6] He finished the 2019 season with the Double–A Northwest Arkansas Naturals, hitting .230/.282/.302 with five RBI and six stolen bases.[5] Blanco did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[7] Blanco split the 2021 season between Northwest Arkansas and the Triple–A Omaha Storm Chasers, hitting a combined .277/.350/.441 with 14 home runs, 53 RBI, and 41 stolen bases.[5]
On May 19, 2022, Kansas City selected Blanco's contract to the active roster as a COVID-19 replacement. He made his MLB debut on May 20, recording his first career hit.[8] He appeared in five games for Kansas City, going 2–for–7 in seven plate appearances. On June 3, Blanco was designated for assignment by the Royals.[9] He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple–A Omaha on June 7.[10] He spent the remainder of the year in Omaha, hitting .301/.367/.486 with 14 home runs, 61 RBI, and 45 stolen bases across 107 games.
Blanco was assigned to Triple–A Omaha to begin the 2023 season. In 49 games, he batted a stellar .347/.444/.451 with three home runs, 19 RBI, and a career–high 47 stolen bases.[11] On June 12, 2023, Blanco was selected to the major league roster.[12] In 69 games for the Royals in 2023, he slashed .258/.324/.452 with three home runs, 18 RBI, and 24 stolen bases.[13]
On August 17, 2024, Blanco had a career night, hitting two home runs, including his first career grand slam, and driving seven runs in against the Cincinnati Reds.[14]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Gallegos, Martin (December 19, 2017). "A's add to outfield with Cuban international free agent signing". The Mercury News. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
- ^ Todd, Jeff (May 29, 2016). "Outfielder Dairon Blanco Leaves Cuba To Pursue MLB Career". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
- ^ Stiglich, Joe (December 19, 2017). "Cuban signee Dairon Blanco will be one of fastest players in A's organization". NBC Sports Bay Area. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
- ^ Haft, Chris (December 19, 2017). "Athletics sign Cuban outfielder Dairon Blanco". MLB.com. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
- ^ a b c "Dairon Blanco Cuban, Winter & Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
- ^ Conway, Tyler (July 27, 2019). "Jake Diekman Traded to A's from Royals for Dairon Blanco, Ismael Aquino". Bleacher Report. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
- ^ "2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled". mlb.com. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
- ^ Osen, Avery (May 21, 2022). "After debut brought TJ surgery, Griffin returns to Majors". MLB.com. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
- ^ Worthy, Lynn (May 19, 2022). "Kansas City Royals promote Dairon Blanco to fill Michael A. Taylor's roster spot". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
- ^ "Royals' Dairon Blanco: Clears waivers". cbssports.com. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
- ^ "Royals promote outfielder Dairon Blanco, part ways with Jackie Bradley Jr". royalsreview.com. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
- ^ "Jackie Bradley Jr cut by Kansas City Royals". Associated Press. June 12, 2023. Retrieved June 12, 2023. Republished by The Boston Globe
- ^ "2023 Season in Review: What is Dairon Blanco's future?". royalsreview.com. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
- ^ "'Grateful for the the opportunity': Blanco (2 HRs, 7 RBIs) has career night with crayon bat". mlb.com. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
External links
edit- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet
- Dairon Blanco on Instagram