Ronel Blanco

Last updated

50+2⁄3 innings. [3] Blanco split the 2017 season between the Quad Cities River Bandits and the Buies Creek Astros, going a combined 6–5 with a 3.38 ERA and 79 strikeouts over 88 innings. [3] He split the 2018 season between Buies Creek and the Corpus Christi Hooks, going a combined 7–1 with a 3.65 ERA and 71 strikeouts over 56+2⁄3 innings. [3] Blanco split the 2019 season between the Tri-City ValleyCats, Corpus Christi, and the Round Rock Express, going a combined 5–2 with a 4.96 ERA and 57 strikeouts over 49 innings. [3] Blanco did not play in 2020 due to the cancellation of the Minor League Baseball season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Blanco spent the 2021 season with the Sugar Land Skeeters. [4] [5]

On April 7, 2022, the Astros selected Blanco's contract and placed him on the major league roster. On April 9, he made his major league debut in the eighth inning against the Los Angeles Angels. On March 28, 2023, it was announced that Blanco had made the Astros' Opening Day roster for a second consecutive season. [6] Blanco debuted as a starting pitcher in the major leagues on June 1, 2023, earning the win in a 5–2 final over the Angels after tossing 5+1⁄3 innings with seven hits, three walks, two earned runs allowed and five strikeouts. [7]

2024

Blanco threw the first no-hitter of the 2024 MLB season on April 1, 2024, against the Toronto Blue Jays. [8] The eighth start of his career, [9] it was the seventeenth no-hitter in franchise history, [10] and the tenth thrown by a Dominican pitcher. [11] In his next start on April 7, Blanco tossed another 5+2⁄3 no-hit innings until a single hit by Adolis García of the Texas Rangers ended 14+2⁄3 consecutive no-hit innings. Blanco set an expansion-era record (since 1961) of 44 outs recorded to begin a season before allowing a hit. [12] He was named the American League (AL) Player of the Week for the first time for the week ended April 7, 2024. Opposing batters went 1-for-46 in the same week. [13] On May 14, during a game against the Oakland Athletics, Blanco was ejected due to a sticky substance found on his glove. [14] The following day, he was suspended 10 games as a result of the ejection. [15] In his first game back from suspension, he tossed 7 innings with only one run.

Blanco exited after seven hitless innings versus the Detroit Tigers on June 16 before Ryan Pressly allowed a single by Wenceel Pérez with two outs in the eighth. [16] In August 2024, Blanco surpassed his previous career high as a professional in innings pitched (125+1⁄3), split between AAA and MLB in 2023. [17] He remained unbeaten in his final nine starts of the season and posted a 0.75 ERA in four September starts. [18]

For the 2024 season, Blanco posted a record of 2.80 ERA, 13–6 win–loss record, and 166 strikeouts in 1671⁄3 innings over 30 games pitched with 29 pitching starts and 14 quality starts. He finished the 2024 season in 4th place of the list of ERA leaders, which he finished the regular season in the top 5. [19] Blanco led the major leagues in batting average against (BAA, at .190) [20] and hits per nine innings pitched (H/9, at 6.131), was third in the AL win–loss percentage (.684), and sixth in walks plus hits per inning pitched (WHIP, at 1.088). He also surrendered the fourth-most walks in the league (68) [21] and the highest base-on-balls percentage in the major leagues (10.1%). [20] Blanco was named the Astros' Pitcher of the Year by the Houston chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA). [22]

Blanco made his major league postseason debut on October 1, 2024, in Game 1 of the AL Wild Card Series (WCS). Tossing two scoreless innings in relief, he maintained the Astros' deficit at 3–1 versus Detroit, who held on to win and eventually sweep the best-of-3 series. Blanco surrendered one hit, three walks, and struck out four. [23]

Awards

Ronel Blanco
Houston Astros – No. 56
Pitcher
Born: (1993-08-31) August 31, 1993 (age 31)
Santiago, Dominican Republic
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
April 8, 2022, for the Houston Astros
Awards won by Ronel Blanco
AwardCategoryResult /
section		YearRef.
Houston AstrosPitcher of the Year2024 [22]

Personal life

Blanco is married to wife Yanissa. Their second child was born in March 2024. [24]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gustavo Chacín</span> Venezuelan baseball player (born 1980)

Gustavo Adolfo Chacín is a Venezuelan former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays and Houston Astros.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Justin Verlander</span> American baseball pitcher (born 1983)

Justin Brooks Verlander is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Detroit Tigers and New York Mets. A three-time Cy Young Award winner as well as an AL MVP recipient, Verlander is considered one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lance McCullers Jr.</span> American baseball player (born 1993)

Lance Graye McCullers Jr. is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB). The Astros selected McCullers in the first round of the 2012 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut in 2015, and was an All-Star in 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dallas Keuchel</span> American baseball player (born 1988)

Dallas Keuchel is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Houston Astros, Atlanta Braves, Chicago White Sox, Arizona Diamondbacks, Texas Rangers, Minnesota Twins, and Milwaukee Brewers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ryan Pressly</span> American baseball player (born 1988)

Thomas Ryan Pressly is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has also played in MLB for the Minnesota Twins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Héctor Neris</span> Dominican baseball player (born 1989)

Héctor Neris is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago Cubs. He signed with the Phillies as an international free agent in 2010, and made his MLB debut with them in 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Musgrove</span> American baseball player (born 1992)

Joseph Anthony Musgrove is an American professional baseball pitcher for the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played in MLB for the Houston Astros and Pittsburgh Pirates.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adrian Houser</span> American baseball player (born 1993)

Adrian David Houser is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Baltimore Orioles organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Milwaukee Brewers and New York Mets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Devenski</span> American baseball player (born 1990)

Christopher Michael Devenski, also known as "Devo", is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Houston Astros, Arizona Diamondbacks, Philadelphia Phillies, Los Angeles Angels, and Tampa Bay Rays. Prior to playing professionally, Devenski played college baseball for Golden West College and California State University, Fullerton. The Chicago White Sox selected Devenski in the 25th round, with the 771st overall selection, of the 2011 MLB draft. He was named an MLB All-Star in 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Houston Astros season</span> Major League Baseball team season

The 2018 Houston Astros season was the 57th season for the Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise in Houston, Texas, their 54th as the Astros, sixth in both the American League and American League West, and 19th at Minute Maid Park. The Astros were the defending World Series champions, after winning the 2017 World Series four games to three over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Houston began the season March 29 against the Texas Rangers and finished the season on September 30 against the Baltimore Orioles, capping off an unprecedented second consecutive 100-win season.

Framber Valdez is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB). Valdez signed with the Astros as an international free agent in 2015, and made his MLB debut in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 Houston Astros season</span> Major League Baseball team season

The 2019 Houston Astros season was the 58th season for the Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise in Houston, Texas, their 55th as the Astros, seventh in both the American League and American League West, and 20th at Minute Maid Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brandon Bielak</span> American baseball player (born 1996)

Brandon Michael Bielak is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Houston Astros and Oakland Athletics. Bielak played college baseball at the University of Notre Dame. He was selected by the Astros in the 11th round of the 2017 MLB draft, and made his MLB debut in 2020.

Cristian Javier is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB). Javier signed with the Astros as an international free agent in 2015 and made his MLB debut in 2020. During the Astros' World Series championship season in 2022, Javier was the starting pitcher of two combined no-hitters—including Game 4 of the World Series—the first player in MLB history to do so. The World Series no-hitter was just the second in baseball history, and the only combined no-hitter.

Luis Heibardo García is a Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB). García signed with the Astros as an international free agent in 2017, and made his MLB debut in 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Solomon (baseball)</span> American baseball player (born 1996)

Peter Joseph Solomon is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Texas Rangers organization. He played college baseball at the University of Notre Dame. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Houston Astros and Arizona Diamondbacks.

Hunter Noah Brown is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played college baseball at Wayne State University. The Astros selected him in the fifth round of the 2019 MLB draft, and he made his MLB debut in 2022.

Seth Antonio Martinez is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB). From Sierra Vista, Arizona, Martinez attended Arizona State University and played college baseball for the Sun Devils. The Oakland Athletics selected Martinez in the 17th round of the 2016 MLB draft. Martinez remained in the Oakland organization until the Astros selected him in the 2020 Rule 5 draft, and he made his MLB debut in 2021.

Spencer Zane Arrighetti is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2024 Houston Astros season</span> Major League Baseball team season

The 2024 Houston Astros season was the 63rd season for the Houston Astros, a Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise located in Houston, Texas, their 60th as the Astros, 12th in both the American League (AL) and AL West division, and 25th at Minute Maid Park. They entered the season as the defending AL West champions and runners-up of the American League.

References

  1. ↑ DeRosa, Theo (April 1, 2024). "Who is Ronel Blanco, newest member of no-hit club?". MLB.com. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  2. ↑ "Ronel Blanco stats & scouting report". Baseball America . Archived from the original on December 9, 2021. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Ronel Blanco minor & winter leagues statistics & history". Baseball-Reference.com . Archived from the original on July 12, 2021. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  4. ↑ Longenhagen, Eric (August 25, 2021). "Daily Prospect Notes: AL Postseason Pitching On the Way". FanGraphs.com . Archived from the original on September 8, 2021. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  5. ↑ "Skeeters Clinch Divisional Title with Win over Albuquerque | SportsTalk 790". The A-Team w/ Wexler & Clanton. Archived from the original on September 18, 2021. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  6. ↑ Rome, Chandler (March 28, 2023). "Prospects Corey Julks, César Salazar make Astros' roster for opening day". Houston Chronicle . Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  7. ↑ Lerner, Danielle (June 1, 2023). "Astros 5, Angels 2: Ronel Blanco shines in first MLB start". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Houston Astros' Ronel Blanco no-hits Toronto Blue Jays". ESPN.com. Associated Press. April 2, 2024. Retrieved April 1, 2024.
  9. ↑ McTaggart, Brian. "In 8th MLB start, Astros righty Ronel Blanco fires 1st no-no of '24". MLB.com. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  10. ↑ McTaggart, Brian (April 1, 2024). "'The play had to be made': How Abreu saved Blanco's no-no". MLB.com. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  11. ↑ DeRosa, Theo; Langs, Sarah; Maguire, Brent; Jacobson, Cole (April 1, 2024). "9 fun facts about Ronel Blanco's no-hitter". MLB.com. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  12. ↑ McTaggart, Brian (April 7, 2024). "Astros cruise as Blanco makes another run at no-hit history". MLB.com. Retrieved April 7, 2024.
  13. ↑ Kawahara, Matt (April 8, 2024). "Houston Astros' Ronel Blanco named American League Player of the Week after historic opening stretch". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  14. ↑ McTaggart, Brian (May 14, 2024). "Blanco ejected due to sticky substance in glove". MLB.com. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  15. ↑ "Houston Astros pitcher Ronel Blanco receives 10-game suspension after 'sticky stuff' found on gloves". CNN.com. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
  16. ↑ Rieken, Kristie (June 16, 2024). "Astros' Ronel Blanco pulled after 7 no-hit innings against Tigers. Ryan Pressly allows single in 8th". AP News . Retrieved September 22, 2024.
  17. ↑ Kawahara, Matt (August 21, 2024). "Implementation of 6-man rotation might benefit Ronel Blanco most - Astros insider". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  18. ↑ "Houston pitchers combine for 3-hitter, Astros down Guardians 5–2 in matchup of AL division champs". ESPN.com. September 28, 2024. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
  19. ↑ "2024 MLB Player Pitching Stat Leaders". MLB.com. October 1, 2024. Retrieved October 1, 2024.
  20. 1 2 "Major League Baseball advanced pitching–Player advanced pitching". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
  21. ↑ "Ronel Blanco stats, height, weight, rookie status & more". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
  22. 1 2 McTaggart, Brian [@brianmctaggart] (October 1, 2024). "The Houston Chapter of the Baseball Writers' Associations of America has announced the 2024 Astros award winners" (Tweet). Houston. Retrieved October 7, 2024– via Twitter.
  23. ↑ de Jesus Ortiz, José (October 1, 2024). "Astros righty Ronel Blanco shines in relief". Our Esquina. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
  24. ↑ Rome, Chandler (April 1, 2024). "From working at a car wash to throwing a no-hitter, Astros' Ronel Blanco makes MLB history" . The Athletic . Retrieved October 12, 2024.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by No-hitter pitcher
April 1, 2024		Succeeded by
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.