Star on the rise: third baseman Hank Blalock: rangers left-handed slugger dodges the spotlight, but his talent will lead him on the path of greatness.

WITHOUT QUESTION, HE was the most influential player in major league baseball last year, more so than Barry Bonds or then-teammate Alex Rodriguez. He was the star of Stars, the player whose late-inning home run not only decided the Midsummer Classic, but home-field advantage for the World Series.

Put it this way: Hank Blalock beat Eric Gagne last year. Who else did that? Nobody.

As it turned out. Blalock's gift mattered not to the New York Yankees, who lot to the Florida Medias in six games in the World Series. Didn't seem to matter much to Blalock, either.

"I went back to San Diego over the winter," said Hank Blalock, "and nobody said anything."

Meaning, even back in Blalock's hometown, his recognition value went up zero percent. Just as well. Just the way he wanted.

For a guy who hates to bring attention to himself, though, Blalock sure does things with a baseball that keep bringing attention to him. Through the first few weeks of the 2004 season, he had a .339 average, having already brutalized Anaheim with eight RBI in a four-game series at Texas.

Last year, the only American League third baseman to bat for a higher average than Blalock's .300 was batting champion Bill Mueller of the Boston Red Sox (.326). Blalock had the same number of homers (29) as Eric Chavez of the Oakland Athletics, a three-time Gold Glove recipient who is generally considered the A.L.'s best all-around third baseman, and the consensus is that Blalock has been defending the corner as well as Chavez since last year's All-Star break.