Blanco (leg) went 1-for-3 with an RBI on Saturday after being reinstated from Single-A Bradenton's 60-day injured list.
Blanco made his debut in full-season ball after a spring leg injury had kept him on the shelf all season. The 20-year-old first baseman appeared in two games in the rookie-level Florida Complex League last week before he was cleared to join Bradenton.
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Pirates' Tony Blanco: Beginning rehab assignment
Rotowire
Blanco (leg) began a rehab assignment with the Florida Complex League Pirates on Saturday, Anthony Murphy of DKPittsburghSports.com reports.
Blanco has been sidelined all season with a leg injury, but he should be nearing a return to Single-A Bradenton. He has excellent power potential but will need to display the ability to make more consistent contact to eventually make an impact in the majors.
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Pirates' Tony Blanco: Out with leg injury
Rotowire
Single-A Bradenton placed Blanco on the 60-day injured list with a leg injury, Jonathan Mayo of MLB Pipeline reports.
We didn't get any clarity beyond the fact it's a leg injury and Blanco won't return until June at the earliest. He's got as much raw power as any prospect in the minors but can be susceptible to breaking balls. The 6-foot-7 Blanco hit .305/.385/.505 with four home runs and a 28.4 percent strikeout rate in 30 games in the Florida Complex League last year.
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Pirates' Tony Blanco: Flashing mammoth power
Rotowire
Blanco slashed .305/.385/.505 with four home runs and a 28.4 percent strikeout rate in 30 games for the Florida Complex League Pirates before a hamstring injury ended his season at the beginning of July, MLB Pipeline reports.
It's unlikely Blanco makes enough contact to turn into an everyday big leaguer, but he's a fun prospect to dream on because of his 6-foot-7, 243-pound frame and 70-grade raw power. Blanco struck out 37.6 percent of the time as an old-for-the-level 18-year-old in the Dominican Summer League last year and struck out a decent amount again this year as an older player in a rookie league. However, if he's able to maintain his conditioning while improving his hit tool next year in his full-season debut, Blanco's prodigious power would make him a sought after prospect in dynasty leagues.
