Pirates Top 30 Prospects No. 24: Big, Powerful Tony Blanco Jr.

This is one in a series of stories breaking down PBN’s Top 30 Pittsburgh Pirates prospects.

At 6-foot-7 and 243 pounds, the Pittsburgh Pirates are hoping prospect Tony Blanco Jr. can one day turn into an Aaron Judge-type player. OK, those expectations are extreme, but it’s fun to compare the powerful Blanco to one of the sport’s biggest bodies.

Though he’s only 19 years old, Blanco already possesses a frame that translates to effortless power. Two separate stints on the injured list this season limited the big right-handed hitter to 30 games in the Florida Complex League this season, but when he played, Blanco showed off his ability to impact the ball.

10 of his 29 hits on the season went for extra-bases: five doubles, one triple and four home runs. He finished with a .505 slugging percentage and a .200 ISO to go along with a superb .305 batting average and a .385 on-base percentage.

It was the first time in his brief minor league career that Blanco really tapped into his power potential. Blanco’s first extended opportunity came in the Dominican Summer League in 2023 and he slashed .235/.325/.397 with five home runs in 40 games.

As he ascends through the ranks of the Pirates’ system, Blanco will have to cut down on strikeouts, but he took a step forward this past season. After striking out in a whopping 38% of his plate appearances in 2023, he dropped his strikeout rate to 28.4% in 2024. For his career, Blanco possesses a healthy 10.2% walk rate.

In the field, Blanco has worked almost exclusively as a first baseman, where he has a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage in 25 games. However, he saw more time at designated hitter this season as scouts have questions over his defensive abilities.

But it’s the power that the Pirates are banking on in getting Blanco to the big leagues. If he does end up playing in the Major Leagues, Blanco will follow in the footsteps of his father, Tony, who played 56 games with the Washington Nationals in 2005. Eight days after Blanco was born, his father hit his first and only MLB home run.

Still yet to reach Bradenton, it will be a while before Blanco has to think about his first big league homer. But if the Pirates could help him realize his potential, Blanco could one day be responsible for quite a few long balls at PNC Park.