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Hank Blalock | Designated Hitter

Team: Tampa Bay Rays
Age / DOB:  (32) / 11/21/1980
Ht / Wt:  6'1' / 200
Bats / Throws: Left / Right
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Recent News

Rays designated DH Hank Blalock for assignment.
The Rays needed to make a roster move with Gabe Kapler expected to return from the disabled list on Wednesday, so Blalock gets the boot. Blalock batted .254/.319/.349 with one home run and seven RBI in 63 at-bats with the Rays. He'll drum up some interest somewhere, but he's not of much use in the field. Tue, Jun 29, 2010 11:05:00 PM

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Player News

Date:
Hank Blalock - DH - Rays

Hank Blalock belted a solo homer and walked twice in the Rays' 10-6 win over the Astros on Sunday.

Blalock started at third base as Evan Longoria was given a day off. He'll play primarily at DH going forward, however, and if he can have more outings like he did today Blalock should establish himself as the club's primary option at the position. He should be owned in AL-only leagues.
Sun, May 23, 2010 06:05:00 PM
Hank Blalock - DH - Rays

Hank Blalock made his Rays debut Sunday, going 0-for-3 with two strikeouts.

Blalock started at first base and batted sixth, with Carlos Pena replacing him in the ninth inning. Sunday aside he'll likely see most of his action at designated hitter now that Pat Burrell is out of the picture.
Sun, May 16, 2010 11:30:00 PM
Hank Blalock - DH - Rays

Hank Blalock gets his first start as a member of the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday.

Blalock will play first base as Carlos Pena takes the day off. Blalock is expected to start primarily as the designated hitter, but Willy Aybar will fill that role Sunday.
Source: St Petersburg Times
Sun, May 16, 2010 11:38:00 AM
Hank Blalock - DH - Rays

Rays purchased the contract of DH Hank Blalock from Triple-A Durham.

DRaysBay was right on when they broke this story Saturday morning as the Rays have indeed called Blalock up to replace Pat Burrell as the team's DH. Blalock was hitting .349/.405/.505 for Durham, production the Rays would love to get from a spot in the order that simply has not produced for them since Burrell's arrival.
Sat, May 15, 2010 12:51:00 PM
Hank Blalock - DH - Rays

According to the St. Petersburg Times' Marc Topkin, Hank Blalock will join the Rays Saturday, though the team has declined to confirm the report.

The report originated with DRaysBay.com on Saturday morning before Topkin reached out to the team to confirm the story. Blalock does have an opt-out clause in his contract, which could force the team's hand in the next few days. The Rays have not announced this move or made a corresponding move to make room on the roster for him, but it's certainly a situation worth monitoring as it will reach its head soon as the Rays will either call Blalock up or let him become a free agent.
Source: St Petersburg Times
Sat, May 15, 2010 12:12:00 PM
Hank Blalock - DH - Rays

Agent Scott Boras indicated that Hank Blalock would activate the out-clause in his contract sometime within the next week.

The move would force the Rays to either call him up to the majors or allow him to become a free agent. "I would imagine that we’ll probably know something about Hank in the next seven days," said Boras. "The time has come. The time has come. He's playing third base, obviously he's hitting well, he's a young guy." Blalock, 29, is currently hitting .375/.435/.552 with four homers and 23 RBI with Triple-A Durham. He didn't drum up much interest as a free agent, but there would likely be a few takes if the Rays cut him loose.
Source: St Petersburg Times
Tue, May 11, 2010 11:47:00 PM
Hank Blalock - DH - Rays

Rays reassigned 1B Hank Blalock to minor league camp.

It took a few days, but Blalock finally realized that accepting the Rays' offer of a minor league assignment was his best bet. The 29-year-old will be the first player called up if there's an injury on the Tampa Bay infield. He hit 25 homers in 462 at-bats last season for the Rangers.
Mon, Apr 5, 2010 08:45:00 AM
Hank Blalock - DH - Rays

Hank Blalock will accept an assignment to Triple-A Durham, reports the Tampa Tribune.

The 29-year-old corner infielder batted just .234/.277/.459 with the Rangers last season and subsequently drew very little interest on the open market this winter. Signed by the Rays to a minor league deal in March, Blalock swore earlier in the week that he would not accept a minor league assignment by the club after he failed to make the team. Obviously finding out that a major league gig was not out there for him, he changed his mind and will hope for either a scorching start in the minors or a major league injury to return to the bigs.
Source: Tampa Bay Tribune on Twitter
Sun, Apr 4, 2010 06:58:00 PM
Hank Blalock - DH - Rays

Hank Blalock has until Monday to either find a major league gig with another organization or accept a minor league assignment with the Rays.

Blalock drew very little interest on the open market this winter and there's no reason to think he'll be able to land a big league gig over the weekend. The 29-year-old corner infielder batted just .234/.277/.459 with the Rangers last season despite smacking 25 home runs in 462 at-bats.
Source: St. Petersburg Times
Fri, Apr 2, 2010 04:00:00 PM
Hank Blalock - DH - Rays

Hank Blalock said Wednesday morning that he has no plans of accepting a minor league assignment with the Rays.

Blalock, 29, inked a minor league contract with the Rays in early March. He's just 7-for-34 (.206) this spring with one home run and four RBI in 12 Grapefruit League games. "I don’t have any plans on playing minor-league baseball this year,’’ Blalock said. "At this time in my life, if there’s no major-league opportunities for me then I’ll find something else to do.’’
Source: St. Petersburg Times
Wed, Mar 31, 2010 10:01:00 AM
Hank Blalock - DH - Rays

Hank Blalock will make his Rays' debut against the Marlins on Saturday.

He'll play first base in the contest. Blalock was signed to a minor league contract by the Rays earlier this week.
Source: Tampa Tribune on Twitter
Thu, Mar 11, 2010 11:35:00 AM
Hank Blalock - DH - Rays

Hank Blalock's minor league contract with the Rays contains an out-clause.

"It's convoluted," said Rays general manager Andrew Friedman. "What I will say is that at the end of spring if there’s not a 25-man spot for him and there is somewhere else we’re not going to stand in his way." Starting on April 1, Blalock can ask for his release and give the Rays a set period of time to either put him on the 25-man roster or let him go. If he makes the team, Blalock will earn a $925,000 base salary with a chance to earn another $350,000 in performance-based incentives.
Source: St Petersburg Times
Tue, Mar 9, 2010 02:45:00 PM
Hank Blalock - DH - Rays

Rays signed 1B Hank Blalock to a minor league contract.

Blalock will earn a $925,000 base salary and can make another $350,000 in performance-based incentives. The 29-year-old batted just .234/.277/.459 with the Rangers last season, but still managed to collect 25 home runs in 462 at-bats. He's likely to see regular time at designated hitter in Tampa, possibly in a lefty-righty platoon with Pat Burrell.
Tue, Mar 9, 2010 10:43:00 AM
Hank Blalock - DH - Rays

The Rays have signed first baseman Hank Blalock to a minor league contract, reports Jon Heyman of SI.com.

According to Heyman, Blalock will earn a $925,000 base salary if he makes the team plus a chance for $350,000 in performance incentives. The two sides were rumored to be working on a "complicated deal," likely with an out-clause if he doesn't make the majors. Blalock, 29, batted just .234/.277/.459 with the Rangers last season, but managed to slug 25 home runs in 462 at-bats. The lefty-swinging Blalock could be part of a designated hitter platoon with Pat Burrell.
Related: Rays
Source: Jon Heyman on Twitter
Mon, Mar 8, 2010 09:32:00 PM

Depth Charts

Batters
PosRoleName
C1Jose Molina
2Jose Lobaton
1B1James Loney
2B1Kelly Johnson
2Sean Rodriguez
SS1Yunel Escobar
3B1Evan Longoria
LF1Matt Joyce
2Sam Fuld
CF1Desmond Jennings
RF1Ben Zobrist
DH1Luke Scott
2Ryan Roberts
Starting Pitcher
PosRoleName
S1David Price
2Jeremy Hellickson
3Matt Moore
4Alex Cobb
5Roberto Hernandez
6Jake Odorizzi
Relief Pitcher
PosRoleName
R1Fernando Rodney
2Joel Peralta
3Kyle Farnsworth
4Jake McGee
5Cesar Ramos
6Jamey Wright
7Brandon Gomes
8Josh Lueke
9Jeff Niemann
10Juan Carlos Oviedo