Jeff Bianchi

Career

Jeff Bianchi earned the Frank White Award in 2008 as the top defensive player in the Kansas City Royals' minor league system while he was with the Wilmington Blue Rocks. After the 2009 season, the Royals added him to their 40-man roster to keep him safe from the Rule 5 draft. In March 2010, he had Tommy John surgery on his elbow, which kept him out for the entire 2010 season. He came back in 2011 and played 119 games for the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, hitting .259.

Milwaukee Brewers

The Royals designated him for assignment after that season. The Chicago Cubs picked him up off waivers on December 9, 2011, but then designated him for assignment on January 11, 2012, and the Milwaukee Brewers claimed him. The Brewers called him up on August 22 when they released Randy Wolf. Bianchi spent 2013 with Milwaukee, playing shortstop, second base, and third base.

On May 24, 2014, the Brewers outrighted him from the 40-man roster, but brought him back on June 29. He turned down a minor league assignment on October 12 and became a free agent. On January 11, 2015, he signed a minor league deal with the Boston Red Sox. He got called up on May 24 when Shane Victorino went on the 15-day disabled list, but was designated for assignment on May 28.

Boston Red Sox

He re-signed with Boston three days later, only to be designated again on June 15. He was sent back to the minors and became a free agent on October 5.

Colorado Rockies

On April 1, 2016, Bianchi signed a minor league contract with the Colorado Rockies. Playing 66 games for the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes, he batted .245 with a .314 on-base percentage and a .306 slugging percentage, hitting two home runs and driving in 19 runs. He elected free agency on November 7 after the season ended.

Did You Know?

• Bianchi was a Topps Short-season/Rookie All-Star.
• On March 16, 2021, Bianchi was named hitting coach for the Lancaster Barnstormers of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball for the 2021 season.