Gregor Blanco facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gregor Blanco |
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Blanco with the San Francisco Giants in 2016
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| Outfielder | |||
| Born: December 24, 1983 Caracas, Venezuela |
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| debut | |||
| March 30, 2008, for the Atlanta Braves | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 30, 2018, for the San Francisco Giants | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .255 | ||
| Home runs | 26 | ||
| Runs batted in | 235 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Grégor Miguel Blanco Pedraza (born December 24, 1983) is a former professional baseball player from Venezuela. He played as an outfielder in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for teams like the Atlanta Braves, Kansas City Royals, San Francisco Giants, and Arizona Diamondbacks. His nickname was "White Shark". This is because "blanco" means "white" in Spanish. He also played for a team called Los Tiburones de La Guaira, which means "The Sharks of La Guaira".
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Early Life and Baseball Beginnings
Grégor Miguel Blanco Pedraza was born on December 24, 1983, in Caracas, Venezuela. He started his baseball journey early. Before joining MLB, he was a key player for Tiburones de La Guaira. This team plays in the Venezuelan Winter League. He was a great hitter for them for several seasons.
Playing in Major League Baseball
Grégor Blanco played for several teams during his time in Major League Baseball. He was known for his speed and great defense in the outfield.
Atlanta Braves (2008–2010)
Blanco first signed with the Atlanta Braves on July 4, 2000. He joined the team as a backup outfielder in 2008. He started playing more often when another player, Mark Kotsay, got injured.
Kansas City Royals (2010)
In July 2010, Blanco was traded to the Kansas City Royals. This trade involved a few players moving between the Braves and the Royals.
Washington Nationals (2011)
Blanco was traded again in May 2011, this time to the Washington Nationals. During the off-season of 2011, he played in the Venezuelan Winter League again. He was even named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) for that season.
San Francisco Giants (2012–2016)
Blanco joined the San Francisco Giants in November 2011. He quickly became an important part of their team.
Amazing Catches and No-Hitters
On June 13, 2012, Blanco made an incredible diving catch. This catch helped Matt Cain complete a "perfect game." A perfect game is when no opposing player reaches base. Blanco's catch was a highlight of that historic game.
On July 13, 2013, Blanco made another important catch. He caught the final out of Tim Lincecum's first "no-hitter." A no-hitter is when a pitcher doesn't allow any hits. This was the first no-hitter ever at Petco Park.
Blanco had a long streak of playing without making an error. This streak lasted for 306 games. It ended on September 5, 2014, when he dropped a ball. In 2016, he hit his first career pinch-hit home run.
Arizona Diamondbacks (2017)
In January 2017, Blanco signed a contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He played for them for one season.
Return to San Francisco Giants (2018)
Blanco returned to the San Francisco Giants in January 2018. He played for them again for part of the season.
New York Mets (2019)
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In December 2018, Blanco signed a contract with the New York Mets. He played for their Triple-A team, the Syracuse Mets. He played in 118 games for them, hitting 13 home runs.
After Playing Baseball
After his playing career, Grégor Blanco took on a new role. In February 2020, he retired from playing. He then started working in the baseball operations department for MLB.
Personal Life
Grégor Blanco is married to Mirna Castro de Blanco. They have three children: Grenyer Blanco, Gregor Blanco Jr., and Grecia Blanco. His father's name is Hernan Blanco, and he has two brothers named Gregory and Gregsman.
See also
In Spanish: Gregor Blanco para niños
- List of Major League Baseball players from Venezuela
