SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – If Tony Blanco Jr. hits got here with a tagline, it will possible be that whereas he could not acquire them usually, when he does, they’re hit extraordinarily arduous. And go extremely far.
One of many extra attention-grabbing prospects within the 2025 Arizona Fall League, the 6-foot-7, 243-pound Pirates outfielder has gargantuan energy. There’s a hum of anticipation on the sector when he’s forward within the depend and everybody is aware of he’s going to chop his swing unfastened.
Such was the case Thursday night time when the 20-year-old demolished a 464-foot three-run homer off the bat at 112.2 mph for Salt River within the fourth inning far up onto the berm in left-center subject throughout a 12-11 slugfest loss to Shock at Salt River Fields.
It’s one factor to clobber a center-cut fastball such a distance. However it’s one other totally to have the ability to get the bat head out on a slider that completed exterior the strike zone.
After spitting on three breaking balls from Saguaros right-hander Rorik Maltrud (Guardians) and taking a 3-0 known as strike, Blanco honed in. Through the common season, Blanco feasted with the depend in his favor with a .435 common and 1.754 OPS.
Blanco’s wallop — his first of the autumn — gave him the furthest-hit ball so far within the fledgling marketing campaign. Sitting atop such a leaderboard is previous hat for Pittsburgh’s No. 30 prospect, who delivered each the hardest-hit and farthest ball within the Single-A Florida State League this season when he clobbered a 119.8 mph, 450-foot walk-off homer for Bradenton on Aug. 2.
Regardless of enjoying in simply 28 video games for the Marauders, Blanco owned the league’s prime two highest exit velocities and three of the highest 12. He struck out a healthy dose — 33.6 % — at Single-A, however he blistered the ball when he did make contact. Blanco posted a 33.9 % line-drive charge, the very best of any participant on the stage with a minimum of 120 plate appearances.
A leg damage value Blanco the primary three-plus months of the common season, making the Fall League the proper place for him to get extra at-bats whereas additionally dealing with superior pitching.
Exhibiting what he can do within the skinny desert air doesn’t damage both.
