Henry Blanco

Blanco began his professional baseball career in 1989 when, he was signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers as an amateur free agent. He didn't begin to play as a catcher until {{Baseball year|1995}}. After 7 years in the minor leagues, he finally blossomed in {{Baseball year|1997}} when he hit for a .313 batting average in 91 games for the Albuquerque Dukes of the Pacific Coast League.{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=blanco001hen |title=Henry Blanco minor league statistics |publisher=Baseball Reference |access-date=23 January 2011 }} At the age of 25, Blanco made his major league debut with the Dodgers on July 25, 1997. He returned to play for Albuquerque in {{Baseball year|1998}} and was granted free agency in October of that year.

In December 1998, Blanco signed a contract to play for the Colorado Rockies and won the starting catcher's role for the 1999 season.{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/COL/1999.shtml |title=1999 Colorado Rockies |publisher=Baseball Reference |access-date=24 January 2011 }} Hitting for a .232 batting average, he embellished his defensive credentials by leading National League catchers with 39 baserunners caught stealing.{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1999-fielding-leaders.shtml |title=1999 National League Fielding Leaders |publisher=Baseball Reference |access-date=24 January 2011 }} In December 1999, he was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers as part of a three-team trade.{{cite web |url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/trades.php?p=blanche01 |title=Henry Blanco Trades and Transactions |publisher=Baseball Almanac |access-date=24 January 2011 }} Blanco caught the majority of the Brewers' games in 2000, posting a .236 batting average with 7 home runs, 31 runs batted in.{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/MIL/2000.shtml |title=2000 Milwaukee Brewers |publisher=Baseball Reference |access-date=24 January 2011 }} He led National League catchers with a 58.2% baserunners caught stealing percentage, the highest percentage since {{Baseball year|1982}} when Bob Boone also had a 58.2% success rate.{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/caught_stealing_perc_leagues.shtml |title=Yearly League Leaders & Records for Caught Stealing Percentage |publisher=Baseball Reference |access-date=24 January 2011 }} His batting average fell to .210 in the 2001 season and, in March 2002, he was traded to the Atlanta Braves for Paul Bako and José Cabrera.{{cite news |title=Braves land Blanco, deal Bako, Cabrera |agency=Associated Press |work=The Fayetteville Observer |page=6 |date=21 March 2002 |access-date=10 January 2011 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Rm05AAAAIBAJ&pg=867,18374405&dq=henry+blanco&hl=en}}

While Blanco served as a reserve catcher with the Braves working behind Javy Lopez, he also became known as Greg Maddux' personal catcher, a role he inherited from fellow Venezuelan catcher, Eddie Pérez. Although he only produced 22 runs batted in, he had 5 game-winning RBIs and provided solid defense, helping the Braves win the National League Eastern Division title.{{cite web |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20030117&content_id=192378&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=null |title=Maddux asks for $16 million |publisher=mlb.mlb.com |access-date=24 January 2011 }} Blanco was the starting catcher for the Braves in Game 3 of the 2002 National League Division Series and was a late-inning replacement in Game 5 as the Braves were defeated by the San Francisco Giants.{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SFN/SFN200210050.shtml |title=2002 National League Division Series Game 3 box score |publisher=Baseball Reference |access-date=24 January 2011 }}{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/ATL/ATL200210070.shtml |title=2002 National League Division Series Game 5 box score |publisher=Baseball Reference |access-date=24 January 2011 }} In January {{Baseball year|2003}}, Blanco signed a $1.3 million, one-year contract with the Braves.

File:Henry Blanco 2009.jpg

The Braves repeated as Eastern Division champions in 2003 however, Blanco's batting average dropped to .199 and he was left off the post-season roster in favor of catcher Johnny Estrada as, the Braves lost to the Chicago Cubs in the 2003 National League Division Series.{{cite news |title=Large crowds expected at Turner Field |agency=Associated Press |work=The Albany Herald |page=3 |date=30 September 2003 |access-date=10 January 2011 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5h5EAAAAIBAJ&pg=5100,5079325&dq=henry+blanco&hl=en}}{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/2003_NLDS2.shtml |title=2003 National League Division Series |publisher=Baseball Reference |access-date=24 January 2011 }} When the Braves assigned him to the Triple-A Richmond Braves at the end of the season, Blanco opted for free agency and, in December 2003, he signed a one-year, $750,000 contract to play for the Minnesota Twins.{{cite news |title=Twins sign ex-Brave Blanco |agency=Associated Press |work=Rome News-Tribune |page=2 |date=19 December 2003 |access-date=24 January 2011 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=q_ouAAAAIBAJ&pg=4257,827538&dq=henry+blanco&hl=en}}

Blanco became a valuable member of the Twins when rookie catcher Joe Mauer was injured early in the 2004 season.{{cite news |title=Twins no longer interested in Blanco |agency=Associated Press |work=ESPN.com |date=24 November 2004 |access-date=24 January 2011 |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=1931314}} He was credited for helping the Twins pitching staff with his game-calling skills, guiding them to the lowest team earned run average in the league.{{cite news |title=Twins decline option on Guzman |work=mlb.com |date=15 October 2004 |access-date=24 January 2011 |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20041015&content_id=895741&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=null}}{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/2004.shtml#teams_standard_pitching::7 |title=2004 American League Pitching Statistics |publisher=Baseball Reference |access-date=19 March 2011 }} Twins pitcher, Johan Santana, gave Blanco credit for helping him win the {{Baseball year|2004}} American League Cy Young Award.{{cite news |title=Back up Blanco is perfect catch for Mets |work=newsday.com |date=21 February 2010 |access-date=24 January 2011 |url=http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/mets/backup-blanco-is-the-perfect-catch-for-mets-1.1773683}} He caught the majority of the Twins' games helping them to clinch the American League Central division title.{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/MIN/2004.shtml |title=2004 Minnesota Twins |publisher=Baseball Reference |access-date=24 January 2011 }} Blanco posted career-highs with 10 home runs and 37 runs batted in, while leading the American League catchers with a 49.2% caught stealing percentage. He started all four games of the 2004 American League Division Series, hitting 1 home run along with a .250 batting average as the Twins lost to the New York Yankees.{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/2004_ALDS2.shtml |title=2004 American League Division Series |publisher=Baseball Reference |access-date=24 January 2011 }}

After failing to reach a contract agreement with the Twins after the {{Baseball year|2004}} season, Blanco opted for free agency again and, in December 2004 he signed a two-year, $2.7 million contract to play for the Chicago Cubs.{{cite news |title=Garciaparra sticking with Cubs |agency=Associated Press |work=USA Today |date=7 December 2004 |access-date=24 January 2011 |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/nl/cubs/2004-12-07-garciaparra-signs_x.htm?POE=SPOISVA}} He worked as a backup catcher to Michael Barrett although, many of the Cubs pitchers preferred pitching to Blanco as his 2005 catcher's earned run average of 3.58 was almost 1 run lower than the 4.45 average posted by Barrett.{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/blanche01-field.shtml#advanced_fielding_c::none |title=2005 Henry Blanco advanced fielding statistics |publisher=Baseball Reference |access-date=24 January 2011 }}{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/barremi01-field.shtml#advanced_fielding_c::none |title=2005 Michael Barrett advanced fielding statistics |publisher=Baseball Reference |access-date=24 January 2011 }}

In the 2006 Caribbean Series, Blanco had a walk off double off the top of the opposing shortstop's head in the championship game to give the Leones del Caracas the series championship win over the Tigres del Licey.{{cite news |title=The whole country celebrates together |agency=ESPN |work=ESPN.com |date=14 February 2006 |access-date=24 January 2011 |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/worldclassic2006/columns/story?id=2323567}} In the 2006 major league season, he hit for a .266 batting average with a career-high 37 runs batted in and, in November, signed a two-year contract for $5.25 million to remain with the Cubs.{{cite web |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20061115&content_id=1740928&vkey=hotstove2006&fext=.jsp |title=Blanco renews deal to stay in Chicago |publisher=mlb.mlb.com |access-date=24 January 2011 }} Blanco appeared in only 22 games for the Cubs in 2007, missing two months of the season due to a herniated disc.{{cite news |title=Cubs place Blanco on DL |agency=United Press International |work=UPI.com |date=2 June 2007 |access-date=24 January 2011 |url=http://www.upi.com/Sports_News/2007/06/02/Cubs-place-Blanco-on-DL/UPI-39881180816378/}} The Cubs went on to win the National League Central division although, Blanco did not appear in any post-season games. In 2008, Blanco hit a career-high .292 while serving as backup and mentor to rookie catcher Geovany Soto, who went on to win the {{Baseball year|2008}} National League Rookie of the Year Award.{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_2008.shtml#NLroy |title=2008 National League Rookie of the Year Award voting |publisher=Baseball Reference |access-date=24 January 2011 }}

After the 2008 season, Blanco's option was declined making him a free agent. In January 2009, he signed a $750,000, one-year contract to play for the San Diego Padres.{{cite news |title=Padres, Henry Blanco agree to $750K, 1-year deal |agency=Associated Press |work=USA Today |date=21 January 2009 |access-date=24 January 2011 |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/nl/2009-01-21-1615665443_x.htm}} During the 2009 season, he was a pinch-hitter, late-inning defensive replacement, and a mentor for Padres starting catcher Nick Hundley.{{cite web |url=http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20090121&content_id=3761810&vkey=pr_sd&fext=.jsp&c_id=sd |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120310081027/http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20090121&content_id=3761810&vkey=pr_sd&fext=.jsp&c_id=sd |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 10, 2012 |title=Padres agree to terms on a one-year contract with catcher Henry Blanco |work=mlb.com |access-date=24 January 2011 }} Blanco signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the New York Mets on December 3, 2009. On May 8, 2010, Blanco hit a walk-off home run to help the Mets defeat the San Francisco Giants 5–4.{{cite news |title=Platoon paying dividends for Mets |agency=Associated Press |work=USA Today |date=8 May 2010 |access-date=24 January 2011 |url=https://www.espn.com/new-york/mlb/news/story?id=5174072}}

Blanco signed a one-year contract on December 15, 2010, with the Arizona Diamondbacks.{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=5926482&campaign=rss&source=MLBHeadlines |title=D-Backs reportedly add depth to team |date=December 16, 2010 |publisher=ESPN |access-date=January 24, 2011 }} He played in 37 games, hitting .250 and was re-signed following the season. He played in 21 games in the 2012 season.

Blanco signed a non-guaranteed contract on January 11, 2013, with the Toronto Blue Jays.{{cite web|url=http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130111&content_id=40933724&vkey=pr_tor&c_id=tor|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130123231456/http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130111&content_id=40933724&vkey=pr_tor&c_id=tor|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 23, 2013|title=Blue Jays sign Blanco|work=MLB.com|date=January 11, 2013|access-date=June 14, 2013}} Blanco made the opening day roster for Toronto as the batterymate to recently acquired 2012 NL Cy Young winner R. A. Dickey. Blanco and Dickey previously played together for the New York Mets during the 2010 season, and Dickey had said Blanco was "the best [Dickey's] had seen at catching the knuckleball".{{cite web|url=http://www.bluebirdbanter.com/2013/1/16/3883112/would-you-rather-have-henry-blanco-or-josh-thole|title=Would you rather have Henry Blanco or Josh Thole?|last=Dakers|first=Tom|publisher=BlueBirdBanter.com|date=January 16, 2013|access-date=June 14, 2013}} Blanco was designated for assignment on June 7, 2013,{{cite web|url=https://www.tsn.ca/mlb/story/?id=424939|title=Blue Jays designate Blanco; recall Thole, LaRoche|publisher=TSN.ca|date=June 7, 2013|access-date=June 7, 2013}} and released on June 10. He batted .184 with the Blue Jays in 15 games played, with no home runs or RBI.

File:Henry_Blanco_on_August_4,_2013.jpg

Blanco was signed by the Seattle Mariners on June 14, 2013, to be a mentor to Mike Zunino.{{cite web|url=http://www.king5.com/sports/mariners/Mariners-sign-catcher-Blanco--211600271.html|title=Mariners sign catcher Blanco; DFA Shoppach|work=KING 5 Sports|date=June 14, 2013|access-date=June 14, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214021132/http://www.king5.com/sports/mariners/Mariners-sign-catcher-Blanco--211600271.html|archive-date=December 14, 2013|df=mdy-all}} In Blanco's first game with the Mariners on June 15 (against the Oakland Athletics), he hit a grand slam down the left field line.{{cite news|url=http://www.timescolonist.com/sports/grand-slam-by-henry-blanco-backs-felix-hernandez-s-third-straight-win-mariners-beat-a-s-4-0-1.322991 |title=Grand slam by Henry Blanco backs Felix Hernandez's third straight win, Mariners beat A's 4-0 |first=Janie |last=McCauley |agency=Associated Press |date=June 15, 2013 |access-date=June 15, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130619035619/http://www.timescolonist.com/sports/grand-slam-by-henry-blanco-backs-felix-hernandez-s-third-straight-win-mariners-beat-a-s-4-0-1.322991 |archive-date=June 19, 2013 |df=mdy-all }} On July 25, Zunino broke his left hand, and Blanco began splitting the catching duties with recently signed Humberto Quintero.{{cite web |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130726&content_id=54845976¬ebook_id=54846464&vkey=notebook_sea&c_id=sea |title=Zunino placed on DL, to have surgery |work=Mariners.com |first=Greg |last=Johns |date=July 26, 2013}} On August 1, 2013, Blanco hit his second grand slam since becoming a Mariner. This one also down the left field line, against the Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Ryan Dempster which gave the Mariners a 7–1 lead, but the bullpen allowed seven runs in the final two innings in an 8–7 loss.

In 35 games with the Mariners, Blanco hit .125/.215/.240 with 3 HR and 14 RBI, while throwing out 6 of 16 would-be base stealers. He played in his final major league game on September 23, 2013, at the age of 41. He was designated for assignment on October 8, 2013, after the Mariners claimed outfield prospect Travis Witherspoon off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels.{{cite web |url=http://blogs.seattletimes.com/mariners/2013/10/08/mariners-do-some-housecleaning-part-ways-with-henry-blanco/ |title=Mariners do some housecleaning, part ways with Henry Blanco |work=The Seattle Times |first=Geoff |last=Baker |date=October 8, 2013}} He elected free agency the next day.

In a sixteen-year major league career, Blanco played in 971 games, accumulating 615 hits in 2,761 at bats for a .223 career batting average along with 72 home runs, 298 runs batted in and an on-base percentage of .288. Blanco's .994 career fielding percentage ranks 27th all-time among major league catchers.{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/fielding_perc_c_career.shtml |title=Career Leaders & Records for Fielding Percentage as Catcher |publisher=Baseball Reference |access-date=January 3, 2013 }} Although he was a light-hitter, Blanco had an extended major league career due to the value of his excellent defensive abilities. He has credited former catcher Mike Scioscia, who was the catching coordinator during his time with the Dodgers, with helping him develop his catching skills.{{cite news |title=There's No E in Blanco, Even After Two Years |work=The New York Times |date=July 23, 2010 |access-date=February 16, 2011 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/24/sports/baseball/24citifield.html}}

Blanco signed a minor-league contract, with an invitation to spring training, with the Arizona Diamondbacks on December 13, 2013.{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/mlb/d-backs-signed-daniel-hudson-and-henry-blanco-to-minor-league-deals?ymd=20131213&content_id=64664352&vkey=news_mlb|title=D-Backs sign Hudson, Blanco to Minor League deals|last=Gilbert|first=Steve|work=MLB.com|date=December 13, 2013|access-date=December 18, 2013}} He was released on March 31, 2014, and immediately re-joined the Diamondbacks as a coach.{{cite web|url=http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140331&content_id=70534652&vkey=pr_ari&c_id=ari|title=Blanco released from Minor League contract; joins D-backs coaching staff|work=MLB.com|date=March 31, 2014|access-date=April 1, 2014}}{{dead link|date=October 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} On November 22, 2014, Blanco was hired by the Chicago Cubs to be their quality assurance coach.{{cite web|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-henry-blanco-fills-cubs-coaching-vacancy-20141122-story.html|title=Henry Blanco fills Cubs' coaching vacancy|last=Sullivan|first=Paul|work=chicagotribune.com|date=November 22, 2014|access-date=November 22, 2014}} He won the 2016 World Series with the Cubs as a coach. After three seasons as a Chicago coach, Blanco joined former Cubs bench coach Dave Martinez on the staff of the Washington Nationals as the team's bullpen coach. His hiring was announced November 15, 2017.{{cite news|url=http://www.masnsports.com/nationals-pastime/2017/11/nats-new-staff-complete-with-hiring-of-blanco-as-bullpen-coach.html|agency=MASN Sports|title=Nats' new staff complete with hiring of Blanco as bullpen coach|first=Mark|last=Zuckerman|date=November 15, 2017|access-date=November 15, 2017}} On November 4, 2021, Blanco was transitioned to the role of catching and strategy coach.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2021/11/03/nationals-coaching-staff-2022-season/ |title=Nationals unveil 2022 coaching staff |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=2021-11-03 |accessdate=2022-06-11}}

Blanco made his managerial debut with the Bravos de Margarita club of the Venezuelan League in the 2014–2015 season.[http://www.bravosdemargarita.com/noticias.php?codnotc=5211 Bravos de Margarita Official Website] (Spanish)

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Blanco, Henry}}

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