Andres Blanco Stats & Scouting Report

AB	1191
AVG	.256
OBP	.31
SLG	.378
HR	18

Full name Andrés Eloy Blanco
Born 04/11/1984 in Urama, Venezuela
Profile Ht.: 5'10" / Wt.: 192 / Bats: S / Throws: R
School El Carmen
Debut 04/17/2004

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

The Royals still rate Blanco's defensive abilities as better than Angel Berroa's. They underlined that point when they promoted Blanco to replace the former American League rookie of the year in the lineup twice in 2004, first when Berroa was hurt in April and again when he was demoted briefly in August. Blanco has exceptional hands, arm strength and range. While there's no question he can play shortstop in the majors, the jury is still out on his bat. He possesses what Kansas City calls offensive survival skills--he can bunt and make consistent contact from both sides of the plate. Blanco needs to get stronger because he can be overpowered at the plate. He also needs to play more of the small man's game. He often takes long swings to lift balls, though he's still looking for his first professional home run. He has above-average speed, but he hasn't shown the instincts to steal bases. Blanco has to start making these offensive adjustments at Triple-A in 2005 if he's to emerge as anything more than a defensive-minded utilityman. The Royals believe that can happen, pointing to the minor league career path of Omar Vizquel, and like Blanco enough to consider trading Berroa.
American League rookie of the year Angel Berroa is an exceptional defender, but the Royals say Blanco possesses a better arm and range. He earned all-star honors in high Class A as an 18-year-old last season after spending most of 2002 in Rookie ball. Blanco plays shortstop like Omar Vizquel with his tremendous hands, arm strength and range. He makes errors, but many happen because he gets to more balls than his peers. Bat control isn't a problem for Blanco, who can bunt and make contact with ease. His quick hands and wrists allow him to shoot balls through the infield for hits. Blanco must get stronger in order to hit enough to play regularly in the majors. He's a career .259 hitter with no homers and a .299 slugging percentage. He needs to become less flashy and erratic, remembering to set his feet properly to reduce throwing errors and raising his basestealing percentage by running in better counts. Blanco's bat will determine when he reaches the big league. He'll need to hone his offensive survival kit--walking, bunting and hitand- run skills--this year in Double-A.
Angel Berroa should have Kansas City's shortstop job for at least a few years. Blanco is the only player in the system with the skills to challenge him, and he's not nearly as advanced. For all the defensive accolades Berroa earns, Blanco might be even better. Blanco has the hands, range, actions and instincts for shortstop. He's steadier than Berroa while making the flashy diving stops and deep-in-the-hole throws. He's an above-average runner who can steal bases, with good bat speed and the strength to become a pesky, slap-hitting leadoff batter with gap power. For all his tools, Blanco is still weak offensively at this point and needs to add muscle to his slight frame. He also could stand to improve his pitch selection, as he's a bit of a free swinger. Gomez made the jump from the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League to high Class A in 2000, and the Royals will see if Blanco can pull off the same feat in 2003. He held his own in a brief stint there in 2002. If he learns to walk more and can hit in the .275 range, Blanco will enjoy a productive career as a major league shortstop.

Minor League Top Prospects

Blanco's glove was as exciting in the infield as Taveras' was in the outfield. He has the defensive skills to eventually push Angel Berroa to second base. "He's got it all defensively," one scout said. "He'll make plays on either side of the bag that he has no business getting to. He attacks balls. He'll hang in there when a runner is gunning for him at second." Also like Taveras, Blanco has work to do offensively. He can put the ball in play but too often has the bat knocked out of his hands. Since coming to the United States last year, he has hit just .247 with 23 extra-base hits in 170 games.