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Blue Jays expected to sign IFA Kennew Blanco for lower bonus in 2025 period after age falsification
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Ryley Delaney
Jan 25, 2024, 15:00 ESTUpdated: Jan 25, 2024, 14:52 EST
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Well, a Blue Jays mystery has been solved.
According to Marcos Grunfield (@thebeatwriter on Twitter), the Kennew Blanco deal fell through because he falsified his age. The Blue Jays thought they were signing a 16-year-old, not a 17-year-old. However, it’s still expected that the Jays will sign Blanco in 2025 for a lesser bonus than the $1.7 million he would have made this season.
So yeah, that’s not great. Blanco ranked as MLB Pipeline’s ninth-best international free agent prospect. They noted that he was one of the youngest players in the class, which is ironic with the information we have now. On top of that, he has a “loose stroke” that allows him to spray the ball. Blanco’s bat speed and swing decisions are advanced and as he fills out his 6’2”, 160 lbs frame, he’ll unlock even more power.
Defensively, he’s athletic and has great instincts that allow him to stick at shortstop. While the arm strength is considered average according to MLB Pipeline, it’s something that he can improve as he adds more muscle.
The big question is, does Blanco being older than what they thought he was actually affect his development? In short, yes. The tools he has for a 16-year-old are very impressive, you could even call him advanced for his age. However, it’s a little less impressive as a 17-year-old.
It’s expected he’ll still sign with the Jays, but for a lesser bonus during the 2025 International Free Agency period. He’ll be 18 years old before the first month of the Dominican Summer League is finished and despite being a year older than initially thought, there’s still a lot to like in Blanco’s game.
Either way, it will be interesting to see what his new bonus will be and how quickly the Jays promote him through the minor leagues. With a year of development against actual competition down the drain, it’ll be interesting to see how Blanco does professionally.
As always, you can follow me on Twitter, Instagram, and Threads @Brennan_L_D.

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