One of the most efficient bullpens in baseball will be evaluating another arm this spring in Ronel Blanco. The Houston Astros reliever turned back to the Dominican Winter League following his first Major League action in 2022, and across 20.2 innings pitched, he hasn’t disappointed.
Over the last two seasons, Blanco hasn’t allowed an earned run through his last 44 innings, which includes the postseason, setting a Dominican Winter League record according to Ruben Andujar.
For the Estrellas Orientales, Blanco has made 19 appearances this winter in a closer role. The righty has struck out 27 batters to five walks in that span, posting a 5.40 strikeout-to-walk ratio — the best at any level in his career.
Blanco rose from the depths of mediocracy during the 2021 season. The Astros prospect started his fifth professional season with Triple-A Sugar Land, pitching the entirety of the season for the Skeeters.
Hurling a 3.40 ERA over 44.2 innings of work, Blanco was one of the most prominent closers in the Pacific Coast League, accounting for 22 saves in his first full Triple-A season. Heading into 2022 spring training, Blanco started to turn heads.
Coming off his fourth season in the Dominican Winter League, where he didn’t allow a run in 18 innings of work, Blanco was poised for an opportunity in the Major Leagues. The then 28-year-old prospect was added to the 40-man roster, starting the season in the Bigs with the roster set at 28 players.
In his first run at the highest level, Blanco was handed the ball seven times in April. He allowed five earned runs over 6.1 innings and was optioned during roster cuts in early May, being dubbed an odd man out.
In the small sample, there wasn’t much to write home about, and as Blanco carried a healthy season into Sugar Land once again, he made 44 appearances to the tune of a 3.63 ERA and an 11.69 K/9.
The Astros bullpen is all but set with all contributors returning, besides Will Smith, for the 2023 season. With Hunter Brown and Seth Martinez breaking into the staff this past season, Blanco is once again poised to join those youthful arms as a Major League option in 2023.
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