Padre Power: Kyle Blanks

I am very disappointed that I haven't heard much about this player until recently. His potential is awesome!

Kyle Blanks looks to be the starting left fielder for the San Diego Padres. He is viewed though as the eventual replacement at first for Adrian Gonzalez (whom everyone assumes will be traded soon). Normally, you don't replace a guy like Gonzalez, he's just too good, but Blanks may actually succeed. Blanks swings a power bat and has shown the potential of a .300 AVG. Power and AVG? Yea, I like it too.

Last year, Blanks played in 54 games. He accumulated a .250 AVG, 10 HR, and 22 RBI during that stretch. Not great, but not bad. However, his minor league record has him batting a consistent .300+. Also, at 6'6" and 285, he has power to spare. 30-40 HR this year is my prediction. One other thing, he has pretty cool hair.

Granted, there are a lot of up and comers in the outfield this year, but few carry the power that Blanks boasts. As a full time player this season he should out perform most rookies and quite a few established player. Bonus, Blanks should be available during the later portion of your draft. I just picked him up in my keeper league (surprised he was available - really, why don't I know more about this kid). I suggest you do the same.

-Scout Monkey

( scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Oakland is buying?

Oakland acquired Scott Hairston from the padres today for two low level prospects. So Oakland is in buying mode? Maybe, but either way Hairston 29 is under contract until 2011. Hairston has 20-20 ability and he was finally starting to get full time at bats in San Diego. Well now he is guaranteed full time AB's because he is better then Oakland's other options. Also gaining value from this deal is rookie Kyle Blanks. He will now be a full time outfielder in San Diego as they begin their rebuilding process. Blanks has struggled in limited AB's so far hitting 181 and knocking in 3 runs but he is the Padres top prospect and they are going to give him the opportunity to be successful in the bigs. What this means for Oakland is either Travis Buck or Ryan Sweeney are going to the bench or the minors and Hairston will be starting and hitting in a much better lineup. Bottom line: BUY HAIRSTON The Bay State Scout

Fill In The Blanks

At 6'6" 285, Padres new call-up Kyle Blanks, is a mountain of a man. A firstbaseman by trade, he will quickly become one of the largest outfielders in the bigs when he mans left-field for the San Diego. He is certainly not being called up for his defense (or his hair - check his Yahoo Profile, it is quite the 'do), Blanks is the Padres top hitting prospect and has been raking in the Minors Leauges for several years.

Blanks played 66 games this year for the Portland Beavers producing a .283 / 12 HR / 38 RBI line. Those numbers line up with his prior two years when he went for 20+ HRs, 100+ RBI, and hit over .300, so he should produce some deep league numbers over the last 100 games.

He should slide into a run producing spot in the Padres line-up. Of course the Padres have proved that they are a bit offensively challenged and Petco Park is not exactly a hitters haven, so his run producing opportunities will not be abundant. He has a decent K/AB rate for a power hitter of around 1/5, and that is usually a good indicator of how Minor League numbers translate to Major League numbers.

2009 has not proved to be a great year for rookie call ups, and I do not expect Blanks to put up Braun or Longoria rookie numbers, but he should stand to be a decent option as a fourth outfielder in deep mixed or NL only leagues.