'Grateful for the opportunity': Blanco (2 HRs, 7 RBIs) has career night with crayon bat

CINCINNATI -- Dairon Blanco will never forget Players' Weekend. The Royals depth outfielder packed the game of his life into his first three at-bats while swinging a yellow crayon bat Saturday night at Great American Ball Park -- before doing something that left his teammates even more incredulous.

“They all wanted to start using his bat,” manager Matt Quatraro said. “Then he changed it, and he didn’t get a hit and they were all over him!”

Blanco struck gold with his bright neon bat, and turned in one of the best offensive performances by a Royal in the last decade from the No. 9 hole to power Kansas City’s 13-1 thrashing of the Reds. He hit two homers -- including his first career grand slam -- and drove in seven runs in his first three at-bats, all with the yellow bat, which he said he chose because it’s his mom’s favorite color.

“Once I hit the first home run, I just laughed,” Blanco said through interpreter Luis Perez. “I’ve never had [a game like that].”

The Royals hardly recognized Blanco, who entered play with only four career home runs in 142 big league games over the past three seasons. Kansas City mostly utilizes him as a defensive replacement and weapon on the bases, and he’s a good one -- with 21 stolen bases in 26 attempts this year.

The yellow bat morphed him into an impact slugger. Blanco’s seven RBIs tied the second most in a single game in Royals history, and were the most since Omar Infante drove in seven on Sept. 17, 2015, against Cleveland. He also became only the 14th player with a 7-RBI game out of the No. 9 spot in the lineup since RBIs became an official stat in 1920 and the second Royal to do it, joining Jerry Grote (June 3, 1981 vs. Mariners).

He became the fifth player in the Majors with a 7-RBI game this season and second to do it from the 9-hole, along with Red Sox outfielder Ceddanne Rafaela (April 27 vs. Cubs). No player has had more than 7 RBIs in a game from any lineup spot since Rangers slugger Adolis García had eight on April 22, 2023, against Oakland.

“He was incredible,” first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino said. “What he did tonight was unbelievably impressive for a guy in the role that he’s in. To step in tonight and do that is crazy impressive. He won us the game tonight.”

Blanco’s heroics Saturday put him in all kinds of rare company. He is the first Royal to hit a grand slam as part of a multi-homer game since Lorenzo Cain on June 10, 2017 vs. San Diego, the first Royal with a multi-homer game out of the 9-spot since Gregg Zaun on Sept. 21, 2001 (vs. White Sox), and was the first Royal to drive in seven runs through the first four innings of a game since Raul Ibañez on July 14, 2002 (vs. LAA).

Which is why Blanco’s teammates couldn’t believe their eyes when Blanco switched out the yellow bat later in the game only to watch the magic fizzle. Blanco cranked a two-run homer off Nick Lodolo in his first at-bat, socked his slam off Buck Farmer in his second and laced a run-scoring single in his third. But without the yellow bat, he struck out in his fourth at-bat and flew out to the warning track in his final plate appearance.

“He’s the only player in the world who would change his bat after two homers,” catcher Salvador Perez said. “After the game I told him, ‘You’re so stupid! Blanco, what are you doing?!’ … That’s OK. He’s a little different. People are different.”

Blanco explained his reason for the swap, saying that it “started feeling like the handle was wearing out” on the yellow bat, and that he decided he “liked the looser tape on the other bat and it felt better.” His teammates weren’t so convinced.

“When a bat’s hot, you use it,” Pasquantino said. “You don’t shy away from it. I guess he didn’t want to break it, either. So I get it. I don’t like it, but I get it. I wanted to see a third homer.”

In the end, what Blanco had already provided was more than enough. All the support made things easy for right-hander Michael Wacha, who logged six scoreless innings to earn a breezy victory in his 250th career start. The Royals have now won eight of Wacha’s last nine starts and nine of their last 12 road games overall.

“I’m just grateful for the opportunity,” Blanco said.