Kyle Blanks facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kyle Blanks
Blanks with the San Diego Padres
Outfielder / First baseman
Born: (1986-09-11) September 11, 1986 (age 38) Souderton, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Batted: Right Threw: Right
debut
June 19, 2009, for the San Diego Padres
Last appearance
June 16, 2015, for the Texas Rangers
MLB statistics
Batting average	.241
Home runs	33
Runs batted in	111
Teams
San Diego Padres (2009–2014) Oakland Athletics (2014) Texas Rangers (2015)

Kyle Nathaniel Blanks (born September 11, 1986) is a former American professional baseball player. He was an outfielder and first baseman in Major League Baseball (MLB). Blanks played for the San Diego Padres, Oakland Athletics, and Texas Rangers. He was known for wearing the unusual uniform number 88. Blanks was a tall player, standing at 6 feet 6 inches (198 cm) and weighing 285 pounds (129 kg). He batted and threw with his right hand.

Early Life and Baseball Beginnings

Blanks was born in Souderton, Pennsylvania. He grew up in Moriarty, New Mexico, where he was a star player for the Moriarty High Pintos team. He also attended Yavapai College.

Professional Baseball Career

Playing for the San Diego Padres

Blanks hitting his 6th career home run

The San Diego Padres chose Blanks in the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft. In 2008, he was named the Padres' Minor League Player of the Year. He started playing in the outfield in 2009, even though he was a great first baseman.

Blanks was called up to the major leagues for the first time on June 19, 2009. He hit 10 home runs in his first MLB season. He was considered the Padres' top young player. His first season ended early in August due to a foot injury.

In 2010, Blanks started as the Padres' cleanup hitter. However, his season ended in May because of an elbow injury that needed surgery. He struggled with hitting that year. After the Padres traded their star first baseman, the team hoped Blanks would become their main first baseman.

Blanks started the 2011 season on the disabled list (injured list). He played well in the minor leagues before being called back up to San Diego in July. He finished the season with seven home runs. In 2012, he had another season-ending surgery in April for a shoulder injury.

Blanks played well in 2013 spring training. He was called up to the Padres in April when another player was suspended. He stayed with the team after that because of other injuries. Blanks also played first base when the regular first baseman was injured. He himself went on the disabled list in July with a heel injury. He returned in August and played the rest of the season. In 2013, he played a career-high 88 games and hit 8 home runs.

In 2014, Blanks began the season in the minor leagues. He was called up to the Padres in May but only played 5 games before being traded.

Time with the Oakland Athletics

On May 15, 2014, the Padres traded Blanks to the Oakland Athletics. He was with the Athletics for the rest of the 2014 season.

Playing for the Texas Rangers

On December 15, 2014, the Texas Rangers signed Blanks to a minor league contract. He played in 18 games for the Rangers in 2015, hitting well.

Later Career Teams

Blanks signed with the San Francisco Giants in November 2015. He missed time in 2016 due to injury. The Giants re-signed him for the 2017 season but released him in May 2017.

On June 13, 2017, Blanks signed with the Acereros de Monclova in the Mexican Baseball League. He was released just nine days later after playing only 3 games.

Awards and Honors

Kyle Blanks received several awards and honors during his baseball career:

Images for kids

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  Blanks hitting his 6th career home run