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Dairon Blanco (baseball)

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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 (age 31)
Florida, Cuba
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
May 20, 2022, for the Kansas City Royals
MLB statistics
(through 2024 season)
Batting average.259
Home runs7
Runs batted in33
Stolen bases56
Teams

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.

Career

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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

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

Kansas City Royals

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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 five RBI and six stolen bases.[5] Blanco did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[7] 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.[8] He appeared in five games for Kansas City, going 2–for–7 in seven plate appearances. On June 3, Blanco was designated for assignment by the Royals.[9] He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple–A Omaha on June 7.[10] 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 three home runs, 19 RBI, and a career–high 47 stolen bases.[11] On June 12, 2023, Blanco was selected to the major league roster.[12] In 69 games for the Royals in 2023, he slashed .258/.324/.452 with three home runs, 18 RBI, and 24 stolen bases.[13]

On August 17, 2024, Blanco had a career night, hitting two home runs, including his first career grand slam, and driving seven runs in against the Cincinnati Reds.[14]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Gallegos, Martin (December 19, 2017). "A's add to outfield with Cuban international free agent signing". The Mercury News. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
  2. ^ Todd, Jeff (May 29, 2016). "Outfielder Dairon Blanco Leaves Cuba To Pursue MLB Career". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
  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 May 21, 2022.
  4. ^ Haft, Chris (December 19, 2017). "Athletics sign Cuban outfielder Dairon Blanco". MLB.com. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
  5. ^ a b c "Dairon Blanco Cuban, Winter & Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
  6. ^ Conway, Tyler (July 27, 2019). "Jake Diekman Traded to A's from Royals for Dairon Blanco, Ismael Aquino". Bleacher Report. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
  7. ^ "2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled". mlb.com. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  8. ^ Osen, Avery (May 21, 2022). "After debut brought TJ surgery, Griffin returns to Majors". MLB.com. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ "Royals' Dairon Blanco: Clears waivers". cbssports.com. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  11. ^ "Royals promote outfielder Dairon Blanco, part ways with Jackie Bradley Jr". royalsreview.com. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  12. ^ "Jackie Bradley Jr cut by Kansas City Royals". Associated Press. June 12, 2023. Retrieved June 12, 2023. Republished by The Boston Globe
  13. ^ "2023 Season in Review: What is Dairon Blanco's future?". royalsreview.com. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  14. ^ "'Grateful for the opportunity': Blanco (2 HRs, 7 RBIs) has career night with crayon bat". mlb.com. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
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