Dairon Blanco (baseball)

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.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Blanco and the second or maternal family name is LaMadrid.
Dairon Blanco
Blanco with the Omaha Storm Chasers in 2023
Kansas City Royals – No. 44
Outfielder
Born: (1993-04-26) April 26, 1993
Florida, Cuba
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
May 20, 2022, for the Kansas City Royals
MLB statistics
(through 2023 season)
Batting average.260
Home runs3
Runs batted in20
Stolen bases25
Teams

Career

Blanco 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

Blanco signed with the Oakland Athletics on April 2, 2018.[3][4] He spent the 2018 season with the Stockton Ports, hitting .291/.342/.406/.748 with 1 home run, 37 RBI, and 22 stolen bases. He opened the 2019 season with the Midland RockHounds, hitting .276/.342/.468/.811 with 7 home runs, 44 RBI, and 27 stolen bases.[5]

Kansas City Royals

On 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 5 RBI and 6 stolen bases.[5] Blanco did not play in 2020 due to the cancellation of the Minor League Baseball season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. 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.[7] He appeared in 5 games for Kansas City, going 2-for-7 in 7 plate appearances. On June 3, 2022, Blanco was designated for assignment by the Royals.[8] He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A Omaha on June 7.[9] 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 3 home runs, 19 RBI, and a career–high 47 stolen bases.[10] On June 12, 2023, Blanco was selected to the major–league roster.[11]

See also

References
  1. Gallegos, Martin (2017-12-19). "A's add to outfield with Cuban international free agent signing". The Mercury News. Retrieved 2022-05-21.
  2. Todd, Jeff (May 29, 2016). "Outfielder Dairon Blanco Leaves Cuba To Pursue MLB Career". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved 2022-05-21.
  3. Stiglich, Joe (December 19, 2017). "Cuban signee Dairon Blanco will be one of fastest players in A's organization". NBC Sports Bay Area. Retrieved 2022-05-21.
  4. Haft, Chris (December 19, 2017). "Athletics sign Cuban outfielder Dairon Blanco". MLB.com. Retrieved 2022-05-21.
  5. "Dairon Blanco Cuban, Winter & Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2022-05-21.
  6. Conway, Tyler (July 27, 2019). "Jake Diekman Traded to A's from Royals for Dairon Blanco, Ismael Aquino". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2022-05-21.
  7. Osen, Avery (May 21, 2022). "After debut brought TJ surgery, Griffin returns to Majors". MLB.com. Retrieved 2022-05-21.
  8. 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.
  9. "Royals' Dairon Blanco: Clears waivers". cbssports.com. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
  10. "Royals promote outfielder Dairon Blanco, part ways with Jackie Bradley Jr". royalsreview.com. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  11. "Jackie Bradley Jr cut by Kansas City Royals". Associated Press. June 12, 2023. Retrieved June 12, 2023. Republished by The Boston Globe
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