Tony Blanco

Tony Enrique Blanco (Cabrera)...wife's name is Kenya Rodriguez Blanco...the couple has one son.

2006

Missed final 2 months of minor-league season with right-shoulder strain, but prior to injury, combined to hit .260 with 10 home runs and 40 RBI in 63 games with Harrisburg of the Double-A Eastern League and Potomac of the Single-A Carolina League...averaged one homer every 22.7 at-bats...did not play the field all season while working way back from off-season shoulder surgery...41 percent of hits went for extra bases (14 doubles, 10 home runs)...missed season's first 10 days, but debuted on April 14 with Harrisburg at Akron...homered in 2nd game, April 15 at Akron...hit safely in 8 of 9 EL contests, and posted 8 RBI in the 9 games...made '06 Potomac debut on April 28...spent the remainder of season in the CL...batted .339 (19-for-56) withRISP while with Potomac, including .400 with RISP and 2 outs...homered in back-to-back games, June 17-18 vs. Frederick...went 12-for-31 (.387) with 3 doubles, 3 homers and 7 RBI during season-best 8-game hitting streak, June 8-22...batted .310 at Potomac's Pfitzner Stadium, just .200 on the road...posted season-best 15 RBI in May, then followed by hitting .309 with 4 homers and 10 RBI in June.

2005

The Nationals' 2nd of 2 selections in the 2004 Rule 5 Draft, showed flashes of potential, especially early in the season, in first big league campaign...drafted by Jim Bowden from CIN in the Rule 5 Draft's 2nd round (TOR outfielder Tyrell Godwin was the Nationals' first selection)...hit .268 with 3 doubles and 6 RBI in 23 Grapefruit League contests to earn a spot on the Nationals Opening Day roster...of the 17 Nationals to play in the inaugural contest, was the only one to have never played for the Montreal Expos or another big league team...recorded first big league hit with 9th-inning pinch-hit single (through the 5.5 hole), April 8 at FLA off Dontrelle Willis...the clean single came in 3rd big league at-bat...was placed on 15-Day DL on July 13, retro to July 11, with vertigo associated with a sinus infection...after rehab stint, was reinstated from the 15-Day DL on August 5...hit .250 (11-for-44) with one homer and 7 RBI prior to the injury, but went hitless in final 18 at-bats at the big league level after returning to the active roster...started games in both left (4 starts) and right field (one start, June 17 at TEX), as well as first base (one game, September 24 vs. NYM), for Washington...also appeared defensively at 3B (5 games, zero starts)...4 pinch hits tied for 2nd on club with Jamey Carroll and Marlon Byrd (only Carlos Baerga, 13, had more)...hit .400 with RISP...following the regular season, reported to the Arizona Fall League...hit .286 with a double, triple, 2 homers and 3 RBI in 8 games for the Peoria Saguaros, who were managed by Nationals bench-coach Eddie Rodriguez...with permission, left the AFL to shift to the Dominican Winter League.
Game-By-Game Highlights: Fanned in pinch-hitting appearance in first game in history of Washington Nationals, April 4 at PHI...in first big league start (in LF), recorded 2 hits, including a double, April 23 at NYM...first big league homer was a 3-run shot on May 22 at TOR off Vinnie Chulk...for his effort, was rewarded with pair of diamond earrings by teammate Jose Guillen, who promised to deliver if first major league long ball came within first 50 at-bats...the 3-run shot off Chulk came in career at-bat No. 22.
Rehab Assignment: Hit .281 (18-for-64) with 4 doubles, 2 home runs and 14 RBI in 16 Pacific Coast League contests during rehab stint from July 19-August 5...posted 3 hits, including a home run on both July 23 and 25 vs. Albuquerque...recorded 3 RBI, July 29 at Las Vegas...posted at least one RBI in 9 of 16 games during the rehab stint...played primarily 3B for the Zephyrs.

2004

In breakout season, emerged as the top power hitting prospect in CIN's organization...combined to hit .275 with 29 home runs and 78 RBI in 120 games for Potomac of the Single-A Carolina League and Chattanooga of the Double-A Southern League...led all Reds farmhands in home runs and tied for fourth in RBI...was selected to play in the Carolina League vs. California League All-Star Game...also played for the World Team in the Futures Game at HOU's Minute Maid Park...following the season, was selected the Carolina League's best power prospect by Baseball America...began the season at Potomac, where he batted .306 with 17 HR and 47 RBI in 62 games...was named the Carolina League's Batter of the Week for the period ending April 25...recorded a pair of 2-homer games for the Cannons: April 17 at Myrtle Beach and May 27 vs. Salem...was leading the Carolina League in home runs and slugging percentage (.588) upon being promoted to Chattanooga on July 1...batted .245 with 12 home runs and 31 RBI in 58 games at Chattanooga...was named the Southern League's Hitter of the Week for the period ending August 12.