Tony Blanco

Tony Enrique Blanco Cabrera (November 10, 1981 – April 8, 2025) was a Dominican professional baseball player. He was mainly a first baseman, third baseman, and outfielder. Blanco played one season in the Major Leagues for the Washington Nationals but had more success playing in Japan for several teams. He died in April 2025 in the Jet Set nightclub roof collapse in Santo Domingo.

Blanco was picked up by the Nationals as a Rule 5 Draft in the offseason and made the big league club's opening day roster in 2005. He collected his first MLB hit on April 8 and hit his only big league home run on May 22. Blanco only played sporadically and ended his first and only MLB season with a .177 average.

Personal life and death Blanco's son, Tony Blanco Jr., plays in the Pittsburgh Pirates minor league system.

Blanco died on April 8, 2025, from injuries sustained in the Jet Set nightclub roof collapse in Santo Domingo. He was 44. Fellow Dominican baseball player Octavio Dotel was also killed in the incident. Blanco died saving his friend Esteban Germán.