Ronel Blanco #56

Grew up in Santiago, DR, which is the second-largest city in the Dominican Republic...played amateur baseball as a light-hitting corner infielder and outfielder with a strong arm...did not hit enough to get a look by scouts so switched to pitching at the age of 18...worked on his pitching in the morning, and in the afternoon he worked at a car wash, to help support himself and his mother, Maria...Continued pitching in showcases and on the tryout circuit in the Dominican, where he was eventually seen at a workout by Astros scout Francis Mojica...Mojica attended the workout to get a look at the highly-touted prospect and eventual 2022 AL Rookie of the Year Julio Rodríguez, who shared the same trainer as Blanco...after seeing him throw, Mojica invited Blanco to the Astros academy and subsequently signed him at the age of 22 on April 27, 2016...Mojica, Oz Ocampo and Roman Ocumarez are all credited with his signing...Blanco joined a growing list of Astros pitchers who were signed at advanced ages out of Latin American countries...the Astros have also signed Framber Valdez (21 years old), Luis Garcia (20) and Cristian Javier (18) at ages that most teams would deem too old to sign...After signing, worked his way up the Astros system, eventually receiving non-roster invites to Spring Training in 2021 and 2022...after a strong Spring Training, made the Astros 2022 Opening Day roster...Was primarily a relief pitcher prior to the 2023 season, which all changed with the Astros hiring of GM Dana Brown...after observing another strong Spring Training performance in 2023, Brown identified Blanco as potential starter...he broke camp with the MLB team as a reliever, but was quickly optioned to Triple A to get extended...returned to make seven starts with the Astros in 2023...Has picked up 101 days of MLB service over the last two years, using two of his three options...is signed to a one-year contract for the 2024 season.

2023

Finished the season going 2-1 with a 4.50 ERA (26ER/52IP) in 17 games, including seven starts, with the Astros...also recorded 52 strikeouts and a .251 opponent batting average...Made the Opening Day roster as a reliever (for the second straight season) and made nine appearances before an option to Triple A on May 6...at Triple A, he worked to get extended, before being recalled on June 1...Blanco’s transition to a starter can be credited to Astros GM Dana Brown, who identified him in Spring Training as a potential starter...Bounced between Triple-A and the Majors on five occasions in 2023...was with the Major League club from Opening Day thru May 6, June 1-July 2, July 6-8, Aug. 2 and Aug. 25-27...Made his first career Major League start on June 1 vs. LAA (2ER/5.1IP)...recorded his first career quality start on June 7 at TOR...allowed two runs on three hits and five strikeouts in six innings...Had his best start of the season on July 6 vs. SEA (3ER/6IP)...In the postseason, appeared on the Astros ALCS roster but did not make an appearance...At Triple A, went 7-4 with a 3.68 ERA, 81 K’s and a .188 opponent average in 15 games (13 starts)...Was named the Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Month for September...across four starts in the month, he went 3-0 with a 0.82 ERA, giving up two runs over 22.0 IP...struck out 27 batters and held opponents to a .111 average against, surrendering only eight hits and recording a 0.95 WHIP...His 0.82 ERA led the PCL in September, the only ERA among qualified pitchers under 2.00, and he also led the league in strikeouts, batting average against and WHIP, was tied for the league lead in wins and finished fifth in innings pitched...also won the PCL Pitcher of the Week Award for Sept. 18-24.

2022

Began his season as a non-roster invite at Major League Spring Training and impressed, making five scoreless appearances, while allowing just one hit with seven strikeouts...After Spring Training, made the Astros Opening Day roster...pitched in seven relief appearances with Houston, tossing 6.1 innings, while striking out seven...made his Major League debut on April 8 at LAA (1ER/1.2IP), closing out the Astros 13-6 win...Spent a month in Houston before being optioned to Triple A on May 1...finished his season at Sugar Land, where he made 44 apps., posting a 3.63 ERA (18ER/44.2IP) with 58 strikeouts in 44.2 innings...Like his 2021 offseason, returned to the Estrellas for Winter Ball in 2022, and did not allow an earned run in his Winter Ball season...went 4-0 with six saves and a 0.00 ERA (0ER/20.2IP) for the Estrellas.

2021

Was an NRI at Astros Spring Training for the first time in his career in 2021 and ultimately made two scoreless appearances for the Astros (2.1IP)... reassigned to minor league camp on March 17... spent his entire regular season at Triple-A Sugar Land, appearing in 42 games, while posting a 5-3 record, 22 saves and a 3.40 ERA (17ER/45IP)... struck out 57 in his 45.0 innings pitched...following the regular season, had a stellar stint with the Estrellas in the Dominican Winter League...made 17 scoreless appearances for the Estrellas, pitching 18.0 innings...tacked on another two scoreless appearances in the Dominican League postseason.

2020

Trained at the Astros Alternate Training Site in 2020 during the pandemic-shortened season.

2019

Appeared at three levels in the Astros system in 2019, going 5-2 with a 4.96 ERA (27ER/49IP) and 57 strikeouts in 32 games between Triple A Round Rock (19g), Double A Corpus Christi (9g) and Class A Short Season Tri-City (4g).

2018

Posted a 5-1 record and a 1.73 ERA in 19 games at Class A Advanced Buies Creek in 2018, before going 2-0 with a 7.08 ERA in his first stint at Double A.