Henry Blanco

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Henry Blanco

Free Agent — No. 24
Catcher
Bats: Right	Throws: Right
Major League Baseball debut
July 25, 1997 for the Los Angeles Dodgers
Selected MLB statistics (through 2006)
AVG	.225
HR	49
RBI	225
SB	4
SLG	.367
Teams
Los Angeles Dodgers (1997) Colorado Rockies (1999) Milwaukee Brewers (2000-2001) Atlanta Braves (2002-2003) Minnesota Twins (2004) Chicago Cubs (2005-2006)

Henry Ramón Blanco (born August 29, 1971 in Caracas, Venezuela) is a Major League Baseball catcher and right-handed batter who plays in the National League for the Chicago Cubs. Basically a backup catcher most of his career, Blanco also played with the Los Angeles Dodgers (1997), Colorado Rockies (1999), Milwaukee Brewers (2000-2002), Atlanta Braves (2003) and Minnesota Twins (2004). Before the 2005 season, Blanco signed a two-year, US$2.7 million contract with the Cubs to be their backup catcher. After the 2006 season, Blanco renewed his contract for two years with a mutual option for 2009.

Blanco is currently one of the best defensive catchers in baseball. He is a good handler of pitchers and game caller, and he is quick behind the plate and no one blocks in the dirt better, but his rifle arm is what brought him to the major leagues. Throughout his career, he has thrown out more than 40 percent of opposing base stealers, a significant number since he caught mostly for Greg Maddux, who virtually ignores the runners on base.

In the batter's box, Blanco is an extreme pull hitter who makes fair contact but hits for extrabases (a 39% career). At 224 pounds, he is more valued for his occasional power and excellent defense.

Blanco is a career .225 hitter with 49 home runs and 225 RBI in 666 games. His career batting average is lowest among active players with 1000 or more at-bats. However, in 2005 he hit much better than usual, posting a .242 average with six home runs and 25 RBIs and was very hot in his last 85 at-bats of the season (incidentally (or not?) it was the period of time after he changed from number 24 to number 9), hitting .318 with four home runs and 19 RBIs.

In the 2006 Caribean World Series, he had a walkoff hit off the top of the opposing shortstop's head in the championship game to give the Venezulan team the championship.

He is a cult favorite among Cub fans, among whom he is often affectionately termed "Hank White".

[edit] Fact

• In the 2000 season Blanco was one of the top defensive catchers in the majors, throwing out 59 percent of attempted stealers. That was the highest percentage for a catcher since 1982, when California Angels' Bob Boone posted a 56.4 percent success rate.

• Blanco gets a $750,000 signing bonus and will recieve $1.4 million in 2007 and $2.8 million in 2008. Also, the mutual option for 2009 is worth $3 million with a $300,000 buyout. His 2009 option will be guaranteed if Henry meets proformance levels. If so the option might get as much as $4.5 million.

[edit] See also

• List of players from Venezuela in Major League Baseball

[edit] External links

• Henry Blanco at:
  • ESPN - profile and daily updates
  • Baseball Reference - career statistics and analysis
  • Encyclopedia of Baseball Catchers
  • Hank White Fan Club - a page dedicated to Henry Blanco