Blanks was born in Sellersville, Pennsylvania and grew up in Moriarty, New Mexico where he was a stand-out for the Moriarty High Pintos. Blanks attended Yavapai College.\n', '

Blanks was selected by San Diego Padres in the 42nd round (1241st overall) of the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft. He was the Padres\' Minor League Player of the Year in 2008. Though he was a standout first baseman, he started playing in the outfield in April 2009. He was called up to the majors for the first time after only 66 Triple-A games when Cliff Floyd was placed on the disabled list on June 19, 2009. He played left field for the Padres after only 15 games in the outfield for Portland. He hit 10 home runs in 148 at bats in his first MLB season as he continued to be the Padres\' highest-rated prospect. He hit only .150 in his first 40 at-bats, but finished with 10 homers with a .287 average. His season ended on August 28 with a case of plantar fasciitis. During the offseason, the Padres traded away third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff in order to move Chase Headley to the infield to open a position for Blanks in left field.\n', '

Blanks began the 2010 season as the Padres cleanup hitter behind Adrian Gonzalez. Blanks\' season ended in May with an elbow that required reconstructive surgery. He finished batting only .157 with three homers, 15 RBI and an alarming 46 strikeouts in 102 at-bats. After Gonzalez was traded in the offseason, Padres General Manager Jed Hoyer expected either newly acquired Anthony Rizzo or Blanks to eventually be the Padres starting first baseman.\n', '

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