If you go back a few years, Kyle Blanks was a pretty big thing in our fake baseball world. He raced through the early minors as a teenager and 20-something, eventually landing in San Diego for 54 games in 2009. Blanks clocked 10 homers and slugged .514 that summer, and the future looked bright.

Not much has gone right for Blanks since then. A busted elbow wrecked his 2010 season. Anthony Rizzo temporary blocked his path at first base. A labrum tear wrecked the 2012 campaign. Blanks wasn't on anyone's mixed-league draft list, or sleeper list, this spring.

Maybe 2013 is the season Blanks finally catches a break. He's still just 26. Plausible upside awaits you.

Blanks was centrally involved in Friday's delicious keg tapper at Coors Field, collecting three hits (single, double, homer), two runs and three RBIs. His slash line is up to .292/.374/.491, and he'll probably play a lot while Yonder Alonso rehabs his broken hand. (I don't view Jesus Guzman as a major playing-time threat, and neither should you.)


The pop is still there with Blanks: five homers in 106 at-bats, in addition to the zesty slugging percentage. Two more games in Colorado await. Blanks qualifies at first base and outfield in Yahoo! leagues, and he's free in 99 percent of our world. Let's see what he can do.

Have a look around the wire, then check back in the morning with more news and notes from the Friday slate.