Hank Blalock | |
---|---|
Third baseman | |
Born: San Diego, California, U.S. | November 21, 1980|
Batted: Left Threw: Right | |
MLB debut | |
April 1, 2002, for the Texas Rangers | |
Last MLB appearance | |
June 27, 2010, for the Tampa Bay Rays | |
MLB statistics | |
Batting average | .269 |
Home runs | 153 |
Runs batted in | 542 |
Teams | |
Career highlights and awards | |
Hank Joe Blalock (born November 21,1980) is an American former professional baseball third baseman. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers and Tampa Bay Rays.
Blalock attended Rancho Bernardo High School in San Diego,California. He was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 3rd round of the 1999 Major League Baseball Draft.
Blalock broke into professional baseball with the Gulf Coast League Rangers of the Rookie League in 1999. Blalock ended 1999,and spent all of 2000 with the Low-A Savannah Sand Gnats. Blalock burst into the public's consciousness with a huge 2001 season. Splitting time between the Charlotte Rangers of the Florida State League and the Tulsa Drillers of the Texas League,Blalock put up huge offensive numbers and hit for the cycle twice in one week,establishing himself as one of the top prospects in the game.
Blalock began the 2002 season as the Rangers' starting third baseman,but after a slow start was sent back to the minors,and spent most of the year playing for the Triple-A Oklahoma Redhawks of the Pacific Coast League.
In 2003,Blalock had a breakthrough year,hitting 29 home runs and 90 RBIs with a .309 batting average. A combination of being able to hit for power and for average drew early comparisons to George Brett and helped him to get voted to the All-Star Game in his first full season as a Ranger,where he hit the game-winning home run off Los Angeles Dodgers closer Éric Gagné in the bottom of the 8th inning to give the American League a 7-6 victory.
Blalock finished the 2004 season with 32 home runs and over 100 RBIs,and was voted to his second All-Star Game,when he participated in the Home Run Derby. A disappointing 2005 season made Blalock the center of many trade rumors. He was not traded,however,and he played 2006 with the Rangers.
Hank had his own fan club called Hank's Homies during his time with the Rangers. They were a group of guys who wore cowboy hats,eyeblack,and Blalock jerseys to the games. The Rangers even installed hooks for the Homies to hang their sign to support Hank.
On Mother's Day,May 14,2006,Blalock was one of more than 50 hitters who brandished a pink bat to benefit the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. He hit his 100th career home run on June 23,2006,in the sixth inning of a game against the Colorado Rockies.
Blalock's decreasing performance since his breakout 2003 season led many to believe that he would be traded to make room for Mark DeRosa to take a full-time position in the Rangers' infield. However,the hiring of new manager Ron Washington,who was credited with improving the play of Oakland Athletics third baseman Eric Chavez,seemed to guarantee that Blalock would not be traded;and in fact,the Rangers declined to sign DeRosa,allowing him to file for free agency.
Blalock was diagnosed with Thoracic outlet syndrome during the 2007 season and underwent surgery in May 2007 to remove his first rib. He returned to the lineup in September,but did not take the field at third base until 2008 in spring training.
During the 2008 season,Blalock injured a hamstring,placing him on the disabled list again for the second time in two seasons. On May 18,2008,Blalock and the Rangers announced that upon his return to the team,he would return as a first baseman. Blalock had never played first base as a professional,but he felt it was the best move for the team,as the Rangers had not seen much offensive production from their first basemen in 2008. Blalock worked with Ron Washington and spoke with Phil Nevin (who made a similar switch from third to first with San Diego in 2002) to start learning the position. With the emergence of Chris Davis at first base,Blalock temporarily returned to third, [1] but eventually switched positions with Davis to avoid more shoulder problems.
Blalock signed a minor league deal with the Tampa Bay Rays for the 2010 season. [2] His contract was purchased on May 15. [3] He was designated for assignment on June 29,2010 to make room for Gabe Kapler,and was released on July 8.
Blalock retired after the 2010 season,and currently resides in San Diego. [4]
Hank's younger brother,Jake Blalock,played in the Texas Rangers organization from 2006–2007,after being acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies along with Robinson Tejeda in exchange for outfielder David Dellucci on the eve of the 2006 season. Jake returned to the Phillies system in July 2007 as a free agent.
Hank's uncle,Sam,is a high school baseball coach.
Patrick Brian Burrell,nicknamed "Pat the Bat",is an American former professional baseball outfielder and current hitting coach for the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played in MLB for the Philadelphia Phillies,Tampa Bay Rays,and San Francisco Giants. Burrell won two World Series championships. During his playing days,he stood 6 feet 4 inches (1.93 m) tall,weighing 235 pounds (107 kg). He batted and threw right-handed.
Michael Brian Young is an American former professional baseball infielder who played 14 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers,Philadelphia Phillies,and Los Angeles Dodgers. Since 2014,Young has worked in the Rangers’front office as a Special Assistant to the General Manager. Originally a second baseman,the versatile Young was a five-time All-Star at shortstop,once at third base,and once as a combination designated hitter / utility infielder. He was the 2005 American League (AL) batting champion.
Jorge Luís CantúGuzmán is an American-born Mexican former professional baseball infielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays,Cincinnati Reds,Florida Marlins,Texas Rangers,and San Diego Padres,and in the KBO League for the Doosan Bears.
Fernando Gabriel Tatís Medina Sr. is a Dominican former professional baseball third baseman. Over his 11-year Major League Baseball (MLB) career,Tatís played for the Texas Rangers,St. Louis Cardinals,Montreal Expos,Baltimore Orioles,and New York Mets. He holds the major league record for runs batted in (RBI) in an inning,a feat that he achieved by hitting two grand slams in one inning during a game on April 23,1999,becoming the only player in MLB history to do so. His son,Fernando Jr.,plays for the San Diego Padres.
William Henry Robinson,Jr. was an American professional baseball outfielder,who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1966 to 1983,for several teams. He also played some first and third base. Robinson batted and threw right-handed.
Adrián González Savín,also known by his nicknames "A-Gon" and "Titán",is a Mexican-American former professional baseball first baseman. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers,San Diego Padres,Boston Red Sox,Los Angeles Dodgers,and New York Mets.
David Wayne Roberts is an American former professional baseball third baseman and catcher,who played all or part of ten seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) with the San Diego Padres,Texas Rangers,Houston Astros,and Philadelphia Phillies,between 1972 and 1982.
Asdrúbal JoséCabrera is a Venezuelan-American former professional baseball infielder. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cleveland Indians,Washington Nationals,Tampa Bay Rays,New York Mets,Philadelphia Phillies,Texas Rangers,Arizona Diamondbacks and Cincinnati Reds. Cabrera,a switch hitter,is a two-time All-Star. He was primarily a middle infielder for most of his career,but transitioned to playing more third base during the 2017 season and began playing first base late in the 2019 season.
The 2007 Major League Baseball season began on April 1 with a rematch of the 2006 National League Championship Series;the St. Louis Cardinals and New York Mets played the first game of the season at Busch Stadium in St. Louis,Missouri,which was won by the Mets,6–1. The regular season concluded with seven teams entering the postseason who had failed to reach the 2006 playoffs including all National League teams,with only the New York Yankees returning;a dramatic one-game playoff between the Colorado Rockies and San Diego Padres;and the largest September collapse for a leading team in baseball history,with the Mets squandering a 7-game lead with 17 to play,losing on the final day of the regular season,and the Philadelphia Phillies capturing the National League East for the first time since 1993. The season ended on October 28,with the Boston Red Sox sweeping the World Series over the Rockies,four games to zero.
Roy Lee Howell is an American former professional baseball third baseman,who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1974–1984 for the Texas Rangers,Toronto Blue Jays,and Milwaukee Brewers.
The Texas Rangers finished the 2006 season,third in the American League West. They had two players feature in the 2006 All-Star Game:Michael Young who in his 3rd appearance was named the All Star Game's Most Valuable Player;and Gary Matthews Jr. making his first appearance.
The Texas Rangers finished the 2004 season,third in the American League West. Five Rangers were All Stars,Francisco Cordero,Kenny Rogers,Hank Blalock,Michael Young and All-Star Game MVP Alfonso Soriano.
Christopher Lyn Davis,nicknamed "Crush Davis",is an American former professional baseball first baseman. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers and Baltimore Orioles. He batted left-handed and threw right-handed. While primarily a first baseman throughout his career,Davis also spent time at designated hitter,third baseman,and outfielder.
The following are the baseball events of the year 2009 throughout the world.
The following are the baseball events of the year 2010 throughout the world.
The Tampa Bay Rays' 2010 season was their 13th season in Major League Baseball. They improved on their 84–78 record from 2009 by finishing the regular season 96–66,and qualifying for the postseason for the second time in history by winning their second American League East championship in three years.
John Logan Forsythe is an American former professional baseball infielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Diego Padres,Tampa Bay Rays,Los Angeles Dodgers,Minnesota Twins,Texas Rangers and Miami Marlins. While primarily a second baseman,Forsythe has played at least one game at every position except for center field and catcher.
Bradley Austin Miller is an American professional baseball utility player who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Seattle Mariners,Tampa Bay Rays,Milwaukee Brewers,Cleveland Indians,Philadelphia Phillies,St. Louis Cardinals,and Texas Rangers.
Allan Christopher Dykstra is an American former Major League Baseball (MLB) first baseman who played for the Tampa Bay Rays in 2015. He was the starting first baseman for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons during his college career,and was drafted 23rd overall by the San Diego Padres in the first round of the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft.
David Nathaniel Lowe Jr. is an American professional baseball first baseman for the Texas Rangers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played in MLB for the Tampa Bay Rays.