Ronel Blanco relieved to return to the majors
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Ángel Cantú, Contributor
- August 6, 2026
Ronel Blanco aims to bolster rotation
HOUSTON – Before Ronel Blanco throws the first pitch of a game, he steps off the mound and takes a deep breath. He fixes his hat, throws the ball into his glove, and does the Sign of the Cross before returning to the mound.
During these short reflections, the Santiago, Dominican Republic, native usually gives thanks for the opportunity to pitch in the major leagues. He continues the gratitude by kissing his glove and pointing to the sky as he exits the mound and heads toward the dugout.
Blanco, 32, followed his same routine when he returned to the mound on July 20 after a 14-month absence. This time he was grateful to return to the Astros after his full recovery from elbow surgery.
“I felt good being back,” Blanco said. “ I had a lot of energy and heartfelt feelings. My goal when I started my rehab was to get back on the major league mound. It was an inexplicable feeling and sensation. ”
A supportive cast
The 6-foot-3 right-hander never lost contact with his teammates. He talked to them on the phone or at the stadium when he made an appearance. When he wasn’t in the dugout, he watched the Astros on television.
He watched from the sidelines as Houston tried to make a late playoff run last September. Ronel Blanco witnessed the Astros’ second half collapse as they missed the playoffs for only the second time since 2016.
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It was gut wrenching for Blanco to see his team fail to reach their goal and not having the capability to help. However, in the midst of a tough season for Houston, his teammates never stopped reminding Blanco of his ultimate goal – getting healthy.
“The most difficult part was seeing my teammates play and not being able to do my part,” he said. “My wish was to return back at 100 percent”
“My agent, my trainers, the coaching staff, and my teammates kept cheering me on. They always asked how I was doing and how I was feeling and what I needed. That motivated me to continue pushing on.”
The Astros rank 25th in team ERA (4.61) in the majors, and they have allowed the fifth most runs (522). Yet, the AL-West leaders failed to acquire a starting pitcher at the trade deadline in part because Blanco and Hayden Wesneski were back from the injured list.
Revive the rotation
So, the hope is that Blanco can help bolster the starting rotation. The Astros have won two of his three starts. In his first outing Blanco kept the Astros in the game to sweep the Miami Marlins.
Astros manager Joe Espada liked what he saw from Blanco.
“Number one, he looked healthy and strong,” Espada said. “He walked in today and feels pretty good. The amount of work he put into getting back on the field, I was just excited about. I wanted to see his stuff and for him to play well, which he did. He threw a ton of strikes, which is who he is. I’m excited to have him back and ready for his next start.”
Blanco aims to complete his season goals as the Astros recaptured first place. His goals are to return to the postseason, but this time he wants to pitch in a World Series game. He’ll definitely have to pitch well to make his goals a reality.
Ángel Cantú
Contributor
Our Esquina contributor Ángel Cantú is a co-host for the Full Seam Ahead podcast. He joined Teach for America after graduating from Texas A&M University. He is currently a fourth grade teacher at KIPP Public Schools in Houston.
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