16/12/2023
that today is the 9-year anniversary of Kyle Blanks signing a deal with the Texas Rangers? It's true!
Earlier this week, I had the absolute honor of speaking with Kyle about his life and baseball journey over the phone. When I told him about today's anniversary, he said "I did not know that." So don't feel bad if you forgot that today was the 9-year anniversary because Kyle did too, fellas!
Listed at 6'6", 265 lbs, Kyle didn't have many peers when it came to size at the MLB level. On a human level, I can assure you that Kyle doesn't have many peers when it comes to just being an awesome dude!
Kyle was a 42nd round pick out of Moriarty HS in NM in the 2004 Draft by the Padres. He told me that as an amateur player, he used a wooden bat as opposed to the metal bats because he wanted to prepare himself for the next level.
Whenever his teammates were able to convince him to use metal, these ABs were almost guaranteed to end in a homer! It was a real-life Aluminum Power Bat from Backyard Baseball scenario!
Kyle first reached the bigs with the Padres in 2009, and launched 10 HRs in his rookie year. He went on to play 7 years in the bigs with 3 different teams. He had tons of great stories, but it was his story about being teammates with Matt Stairs which really stood out to me.
In 2010, Blanks and Stairs were teammates in SD. Before a game, Kyle had given Matt some sunflower seeds. A few moments later, Kyle was informed by Chase Headley that Stairs had been laying down, sick as a dog from the seeds. Stairs, unbeknownst to Blanks, is allergic to pickles and the dill pickle seeds left him in rough shape!
Kyle was scared to death that he had just taken out Stairs. He approached Stairs to apologize and he said to Kyle, "You think you got me good? I got you better because you thought you had killed me!" What a good sport! Who would've thought Matt Stairs' kryptonite was dill pickle seeds, fellas?!
Nowadays, Kyle is hoping to better people's lives through the use of CBD products. Kyle's desire to help others is second to none and it was a true pleasure speaking with him. Give his pages a follow, fellas!
Thanks again, Kyle!