Joe Blanton: Ambassador

Joseph Matthew Blanton (born December 11, 1980) is an American former professional baseball pitcher, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Oakland AthleticsPhiladelphia PhilliesLos Angeles Angels of AnaheimKansas City RoyalsPittsburgh PiratesLos Angeles Dodgers, and Washington Nationals.

After playing college baseball for the University of Kentucky, the Athletics selected him in the 2002 MLB draft and later made his MLB debut in 2004. While pitching for the Phillies, he was a member of the 2008 World Series championship team. Blanton continued to pitch in MLB through 2013, when he retired in 2014. Blanton returned from retirement to pitch in MLB from 2015 through 2017.