The 22-year-old first baseman has been the hit of the Padres' spring training camp. With Adrian Gonzalez away most of March playing for Mexico in the World Baseball Classic, Blanks made the most of his added playing time, hitting .327 with four homers and 11 RBIs in 52 at-bats through March 20.

Because of Gonzalez, Blanks' immediate path to the major leagues is blocked because he's purely a first baseman. The only time he's played outfield professionally was briefly after signing out of high school in 2005.

Speed is not a concern. For a man of his size (6-foot-6, 285 pounds), Blanks has better than average speed.

But he's rarely played in the outfield. And the decision to look at him there appears to be more of a reconnaissance effort than a plan toward a switch. Blanks isn't scheduled to start taking flyballs until he reaches the minor league camp and his 2009 destination.

"We're not going to stick him in the outfield," Padres general manager Kevin Towers said. "We may hit him some flyballs in pregame drills and see how he does."

Even before his strong spring, Blanks was ticketed to play the 2009 season as Class AAA Portland's first baseman.

Last year, Blanks was the Class AA Texas League player of the year, as he hit .325 with 20 homers and 107 RBIs with San Antonio. He also had a .404 on-base percentage and .514 slugging percentage.

"I'll do whatever the Padres think I should do," said Blanks, who has 61 homers and a .307 average in 1,429 minor league at-bats. "I think I could play the outfield."

Towers said Blanks "has truly been one of the bright spots of spring training. The guy is legit."