Pittsburgh Pirates Prospects: All-International Free Agent Team

Right Field – Tony Blanco Jr.

With the last of the 2021-2022 international amateur free-agent class we will be looking at today, we have outfielder Tony Blanco Jr. Blanco Jr. received $900,000, the second-highest signing bonus by any of the Pirates’ international signees. Impressively, the Pirates were the only team to sign two top 15 ranked international free agents per MLB Pipeline’s rankings.

The Pittsburgh Pirates signed Blanco Jr., knowing they might get a massive power bat in the future. He’s already as large as some of MLB’s best sluggers. Standing at 6’5, 230-LBS at just 16-years-old, he’s just an inch shorter and 15 pounds lighter than New York Yankees’ DH/LF Giancarlo Stanton, an inch taller, but 35 pounds lighter than Minnesota Twins 1B/DH Miguel Sano, and both taller and heavier than AL MVP runner up, Vlad Guerrero Jr.

Blanco Jr. has also displayed a solid hit tool and a strong eye at the plate to go along with his prodigious power potential. So not only can he hit the ball a very long way, but he can also make contact at a fair rate and draw walks. He isn’t just a three-true-outcome slugger.

Although Blanco Jr. might have a future as a guy who could consistently hit 40 home runs a year, his size leaves many to question his long-term position. Right now, he’s a corner outfielder. He has a strong arm and, despite his size, moves well. But range will always be a question with someone his size. Plus, many players that big, like the aforementioned Stanton and Sano, have suffered injuries in the past and have had to move to less physically demanding positions. Stanton has played mostly DH since being acquired by the Yankees. Sano moved over to first base in 2020 to accommodate Josh Donaldson and because he averaged 97 games a year from 2017 to 2019 as a primary third baseman.

For now, I have Blanco Jr. penciled into right field. While his defensive home is still to be determined, his raw power is already off the charts. If he further refines his hitting, he could be the best hitter in the Bucs’ system by the time he’s 21-22-years-old.