Hank Blalock
Texas Rangers
Position: 3B Height: 6-1 Weight: 192 Born: 11/21/80 Bats: Left Throws: Right

Year	Team	Level	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	K	SB	CS	BA	OBP	SLG
1999	GCL	R	51	191	34	69	17	6	3	38	25	23	3	2	.361	.428	.560
1999	Savannah	A	7	25	3	6	1	0	1	2	1	3	0	0	.240	.286	.400
2000	Savannah	A	139	512	66	153	32	2	10	77	62	53	31	8	.299	.373	.428
2001	Charlotte	A	63	237	46	90	19	1	7	47	26	31	7	4	.380	.437	.557
2001	Tulsa	AA	68	272	50	89	18	4	11	61	39	38	3	3	.327	.413	.544

Background
Blalock was drafted in the third round in 1999, out of high school in San Diego. He played against advanced competition as an amateur, and comes from a baseball family: his little brother Jake will get drafted this year, and both his father and uncle are baseball coaches. Scouts always loved Blalock's instincts and feel for the game, but most felt his physicality wasn't great enough for him to be worthy of a premium draft pick. He quickly proved them wrong, hitting tremendously well in rookie ball, pretty well in his full-season debut in 2000, and exceptionally well in 2001. He was one of the youngest players in Double-A last year, and still hit .327 with excellent OBP and SLG marks.

The Rookies

Throughout spring training, John Sickels will provide in-depth reports on 10 of the hottest rookies to watch. Here's the complete schedule: Feb. 26: Josh Beckett, Marlins March 2: Carlos Pena, A's March 5: Nick Johnson, Yankees March 8: Sean Burroughs, Padres March 12: Juan Cruz, Cubs March 15: Mike Cuddyer, Twins March 19: Morgan Ensberg, Astros March 22: Kurt Ainsworth, Giants March 26: Hank Blalock, Rangers March 29: Jon Rauch, White Sox

Scouting report
Blalock has a picture-perfect swing. He handles pitches on the inner half as well as pitches on the outer half, hammers fastballs, and has never struggled against breaking pitches. His batting eye is excellent, he makes contact, and shows plus power to the gaps. He's added muscle and strength over the last year, boosting his home run production without cutting into his other numbers. Blalock does not have great speed, but is an instinctual runner who is aggressive on the bases. He has a quick release, above average range, and reliable hands at third base. Scouts absolutely love his feeling for and dedication to baseball.

Performance
It is impossible to find fault with Blalock's numbers. Even when he hit "just" .299 in 2000, he showed excellent strike zone judgment and solid gap power. His performance last year in the Florida State League was stunning, and he had no trouble adapting to the more advanced environment of Double-A. His strikeouts are low, his walks are high, he hits for average and power. It doesn't get better than that.

Health record
Blalock has had no serious injury problems.

What to expect
When spring training began, Blalock was given only an outside chance of making the major-league roster. He had played great in the Arizona Fall League, but the Rangers seemed intent on giving him at least some Triple-A exposure. But his performance this spring has been so good, that Rangers manager Jerry Narron announced a few days ago that Blalock has won the third-base job outright. Hank made the decision easy by hitting .361 with three homers and 12 RBI so far this spring, while also fitting in well in the clubhouse. His MLE says he is a .300 hitter right now, and from watching him play, I believe it. This kid is the real deal. If he stays healthy, Blalock has a great shot at American League Rookie of the Year. He has everything you look for in a young player: outstanding ability, superb confidence, and an excellent work ethic.

John Sickels is the author of the 2002 STATS Minor League Scouting Notebook. He is currently writing a biography of Bob Feller. He lives in Lawrence, Kansas, with his wife, son, and two cats. You can send John questions or comments at JASickels@aol.com, or you can visit his homepage at hometown.aol.com/jasickels/page1.html.