Hank Blalock

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Hank Blalock
Position Third Base
Team Texas Rangers
Years of Experience 5 years
Age 26
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight 190 lb (86 kg)
Bats Left
Throws Right
College None
2007 Salary $4,750,000
Place of Birth San Diego, California
Selection 3rd round amateur draft, 1999.
Drafted by Texas Rangers
Major League Debut April 1, 2002

Hank Joe Blalock (born November 21, 1980 in San Diego, California) is a Major League baseball third baseman who currently plays for the Texas Rangers.

Contents

[edit] High School

Blalock attended Rancho Bernardo High School in San Diego, California, was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 3rd round of the 1999 amateur draft.

[edit] Minor Leagues

After a solid but unspectacular 2000 campaign at low-A Savannah, Blalock burst into the public's consciousness with a huge 2001 season. Splitting time between Charlotte in the Florida State League and Tulsa in the Texas League, Blalock put up huge offensive numbers and hit for the cycle twice in one week, establishing himself as one of the top prospects in the game.

Blalock started the 2002 season as the Rangers' starting third baseman, but after a slow start was sent back to the minors, and spent most of the year playing for the AAA Oklahoma Redhawks.

[edit] Major Leagues

In 2003 Blalock had a breakthrough hitting 29 home runs and 90 RBIs with a .300 batting average. A combination of being able to hit for power and for average drew early comparisons to George Brett and helped him to get voted to the All-Star Game in his first full season as a Ranger, where he hit the game winning home run off of Los Angeles Dodgers closer Éric Gagné.

Blalock finished the 2004 season with 32 home runs and over 100 RBIs and was voted to his second All-Star Game. A disappointing 2005 season made Blalock the center of many trade rumors, though none were made and he played 2006 with the Rangers.

On Mother's Day, May 14, 2006, Blalock was one of more than 50 hitters who brandished a pink bat to benefit the Breast Cancer Foundation. He hit his 100th career home run on June 23, 2006 in the sixth inning of a game against the Colorado Rockies.

Blalock's decreasing performance since his breakout 2003 season led many to believe that he would be traded to make room for Mark DeRosa to take a full-time position in the Rangers' infield. However, the hiring of new manager Ron Washington nearly guaranteed that Blalock would not be traded. Washington's influence in improving Eric Chavez's game have led some to believe that Washington will be able to keep Blalock's performance from falling further and will get him back to his 2004 numbers.

Blalock's approach the plate song is "Animals" by Nickelback.

[edit] Trivia

Hank's younger brother, Jake Blalock, is also playing in the Rangers' minor league system, after being acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies along with Robinson Tejeda in exchange for outfielder David Dellucci on the eve of the 2006 season. Hank's father, Sam, is a well known high school baseball coach who has helped numerous others develop towards major league baseball careers.

[edit] External links

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