SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) -He was the youngest player in the major leagues when he made his debut with the Texas Rangers. A year later, he hit a game-winning home run in the first All-Star game that determined home-field advantage in the World Series.
In his first four full seasons, the two-time All-Star averaged 26 home runs and 95 RBIs. But after two injury-plagued years in which he was limited to 123 games by a variety of ailments, Blalock is feeling as good as he ever has.
“The goal is to stay that way throughout the season,” Blalock said Tuesday. “I feel like the last couple of years I’ve had some just random unlucky injuries that are in the past now. … I’m going to assume that everything I do is going to keep me healthy and I’m going to be a productive player.”
r his right shoulder.
Still only 28, the former regular third baseman is adjusting to a new role as the primary designated hitter.
“He’ll be fine. Hank loves playing defense, but once he’s locked into his routine as a DH, he’ll be fine,” said Michael Young, the five-time All-Star shortstop now playing third. “I think he’ll have an incredible season.”
Texas moved Young to third to make room for 20-year-old prospect Elvis Andrus at shortstop, and the Rangers have Chris Davis at first after he split his 77 games as a rookie last season between the infield corner spots. Five players other than Blalock started games at third base.
That left the DH spot for Blalock, who will make $6.2 million after the team exercised its option during the offseason.
“I’m very routine oriented as a person anyway,” Blalock said. “It’s something I’ll just kind of grow accustomed to. I’m not going to sit here and tell myself what my routine is going to be. I’m going to just do some games, then I’ll know what works and what doesn’t work.”
Manager Ron Washington figures that Blalock will be fine as long as he can swing the bat. But he still plans to get Blalock a few games at first base and maybe even a couple at third.
Washington says Blalock will play a few spring training games at third base after this week. Blalock has already started twice at first.
being two sides of the baseball-type guy,” Washington said. “Just to show how much of a pro he is, he just wants to fit into what we’re trying to do to be successful. He’s willing to do whatever it takes.”
Blalock was 21 and had never played above Double-A when he beat out incumbent third baseman Mike Lamb for the starting job during spring training in 2002. Six weeks later, Blalock was back in the minors after hitting .200 with only one homer his first 100 at-bats.
The following spring, Blalock regained the starting job and became and All-Star.
In his first All-Star game in 2003, Blalock hit a two-run, pinch-homer off Eric Gagne, who didn’t blow a save the entire regular season. That gave the AL champion New York Yankees home-field advantage in the World Series, which they lost in six games to Florida.
Blalock was seemingly a star on the rise, but the injuries sidetracked him.
“He’s a baseball rat. He likes being out there, he likes playing, he likes playing hard,” said Young, who is going into his eighth season and is the only position player that has been in Texas longer. “I pull for him I think more than anybody else because I’ve played with him so long.”
Blalock finished last season hitting .287 with 12 homers and 38 RBIs in 65 games. Just in September, he batted .337 with eight homers and 23 RBIs.
“That’s the way I expect myself to play all the time, the way I did the last part of last season,” he said. “It felt good to go out there and produce and show some people that I can still swing the bat well.”
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