Topic: Hank Blalock

Hank Joe Blalock (born November 21, 1980, in San Diego, California) is a Major League Baseball third baseman, currently with the Tampa Bay Rays.

Blalock attended Rancho Bernardo High School in San Diego, California. He was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 3rd round of the 1999 Major League Baseball Draft.

Blalock broke into professional baseball with the Gulf Coast League Rangers of the Rookie League in 1999. Blalock ended '99, and spent all of 2000 with the Low-A Savannah Sand Gnats. Blalock burst into the public's consciousness with a huge 2001 season. Splitting time between the Charlotte Rangers of the Florida State League and the Tulsa Drillers of the Texas League, Blalock put up huge offensive numbers and hit for the cycle twice in one week, establishing himself as one of the top prospects in the game.