After last season's Japan Series, there were questions about whether or not Tony Blanco would be back with the Chunichi Dragons this year. When the club signed veteran first baseman Takeshi Yamasaki, who spent years starring for other teams after coming up in the Dragons' system, many wondered how much playing time Blanco would get.

Undeterred, the slugger has silenced the naysayers, cemented his place in the field and, probably most satisfying of all, earned himself a spot on the Central League All-Star team.

"I'm really happy about that," Blanco said on Saturday at Tokyo Dome.