Tony

Blanco Jr.

The towering 6-foot-7, 243-pound slugger recorded some truly astronomical exit velocities during the showcase, including an eye-popping 122.9 mph laser beam to left field and a 19.7 mph moonshot as part of a 24-homer barrage, to edge teammate Esmerlyn Valdez — the hottest hitter in the entire AFL this fall — for the crown. He batted .259/.359/.500 with eight homers in 30 games this past season in the lower rungs of Pittsburgh’s system and is certainly a name to watch as he reaches the upper minors given his power potential. The 20-year-old power-hitter dedicated the derby win to his late father, former big leaguer Tony Blanco Sr., who passed away back in April during the nightclub tragedy in the Dominican Republic.

The headliner of the Pirates’ numerous international spending spree, Blanco Jr. will receive a $900,000 signing bonus. The 11th-ranked international prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, is the son of former major leaguer Tony Blanco Sr. The 16-year-old outfielder was recently described by Pirates international scouting director Junior Vizcaino as a “middle-of-the-lineup type hitter who will drive the baseball with power.” He projects long-term as a prototypical, rocket-armed corner outfielder and is worth monitoring for fantasy managers in keeper and dynasty league formats.