Travis Snider | |
---|---|
Outfielder | |
Born: Kirkland, Washington, U.S. | February 2, 1988|
Batted: Left Threw: Left | |
MLB debut | |
August 29, 2008, for the Toronto Blue Jays | |
Last MLB appearance | |
October 4, 2015, for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |
MLB statistics | |
Batting average | .244 |
Home runs | 54 |
Runs batted in | 212 |
Teams | |
Travis James Snider (born February 2,1988) is an American former professional baseball outfielder. Nicknamed Lunchbox,he played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays,Pittsburgh Pirates,and Baltimore Orioles.
Snider played for the Mill Creek Little League team at 1999 Little League Western Regional Tournament in San Bernardino,California. He attended Henry M. Jackson High School,where he played as an outfielder for the baseball team and as a running back and linebacker in football.
The Toronto Blue Jays selected Snider in the first round,with the 14th overall selection,of the 2006 MLB Draft. [1] Snider began his professional career in 2006 with the Pulaski Blue Jays in the Appalachian League. He excelled in his debut and ended up winning the Short Season Player of The Year honors for Appalachian League.
In 2007,he was promoted to the Class A Lansing Lugnuts,he spent the whole season in Lansing and ranked among the league leaders in many hitting categories,including RBI (93,first),doubles (35,first),hits (143,T-third),home runs (16,T-fifth) and batting average (.313,fifth). [2] [3] He represented Lansing in the 2007 Midwest League All-Star Game. [4]
Snider began the 2008 season with the Dunedin Blue Jays of the Florida State League. Coming out of spring training he had suffered an injury to his throwing elbow so for the first portion of the season he was the team's designated hitter exclusively. Snider performed well in High-A and he was promoted to the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats of the Eastern League on May 21,2008. Initially at Double-A,Snider struggled but as he regained his health and started to play in the outfield again he began hitting well. Snider won the Eastern League Home Run Derby with an impressive performance,hitting 10 home runs in the semifinals in front of a record crowd at the Fisher Cats stadium. [5] Snider was nicknamed "the Franchise" by New Hampshire Union Leader reporter Kevin Gray. On August 6,2008,the Blue Jays promoted Snider to Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs of the International League. Snider continued to play well at Triple-A and would only play 18 games at that level before being promoted. Overall,in 133 combined minor league games,he batted .275 with 23 home runs and 91 RBI. [3]
Snider was promoted to the Toronto Blue Jays on August 29,2008,and became the youngest position player in the majors. He made his debut later that day,playing left field and batting ninth at Yankee Stadium. Facing Carl Pavano,Snider lined out to shortstop in his first at-bat. He later doubled off Pavano for his first big-league hit. [6] On September 4,2008,Snider launched his first career home run at Rogers Centre off Kevin Slowey of the Minnesota Twins,becoming the fourth-youngest Blue Jay to hit a home run. [7] After his first season with Toronto,he finished hitting .301 with two home runs and 13 RBI in 24 games. [8]
Baseball America ranked Snider sixth on their annual ranking of the best baseball prospects,moving him up five spots from the previous year's rankings. [9]
On April 6,2009,Snider recorded a home run and double on Opening Day against the Detroit Tigers. [10] He had his first career two home run game on April 13,2009,against the Minnesota Twins and became the youngest player in Blue Jays history to hit two home runs in a game. [11] He was sent back to Triple-A Las Vegas 51s in May,after a prolonged hitting slump, [12] but was recalled by the Blue Jays in August,going on to hit a home run in his first game back. [13]
On August 2,2010,Snider became the first Blue Jays player since 1978 to hit two doubles in one inning against the New York Yankees (pitchers A. J. Burnett and Boone Logan). This was part of an AL record tying six doubles in an inning by the Blue Jays. [14]
After opening the season with just a .184 batting average with a home run and 12 RBI through 25 games,Snider was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas on April 28. [15] On July 3,he was recalled by the Blue Jays. [16] On the nights of July 8 and July 20,Snider had 5 RBI –a career best. [17] [18]
On August 4,Snider was optioned back to Triple-A Las Vegas to make room for Brett Lawrie. [19] He was diagnosed with tendinitis in his right wrist on August 25,ending his 2011 season. [20]
Snider was a spring training invitee,but was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas before the end of spring. He was in competition with Eric Thames for the starting left field position. He was recalled to the Blue Jays on July 20. [21] Mid-game against the Seattle Mariners on July 30,Snider was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for pitcher Brad Lincoln. [22]
In 50 games with the Pirates to finish 2012,Snider hit .250 with a home run and 9 RBI. [8]
Snider began 2013 in a platoon in right field with JoséTábata,with Garrett Jones also getting occasional starts when he wasn't at first base. The platoon dissolved when Tábata went on the disabled list with a strained oblique,and Snider got most of the starts during Tábata's stint on the DL. To that point,Snider was hitting .252 with two home runs,14 RBI and 31 strikeouts. After hitting .171 in June,Snider was relegated to a pinch-hitting role upon Tábata's return on July 3. On July 28,Snider was placed on the disabled list with discomfort in his left big toe,which had been bothering him for over a month. [23] Snider was activated from the disabled list when the rosters expanded on September 1,and was used in a pinch-hitting role to finish the season. [24] In 111 games (53 starts) in 2013,Snider hit .215/.281/.333 with five home runs and 25 RBI. [8]
On June 18,2014,Snider pitched the top of ninth inning against the Cincinnati Reds. He allowed two runs,one hit,and two walks in that inning but managed to strike out Joey Votto. [25] Snider finished the 2014 season with a .264 average with 13 home runs and 38 RBI in 140 games. [8]
On January 27,2015,Snider was traded to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for minor league pitcher Stephen Tarpley and a player to be named later,eventually revealed as minor league pitcher Steven Brault. [26] [27] He was designated for assignment on August 7, [28] and released on August 15. [29]
On August 19,2015,Snider signed a minor league deal to return to the Pirates. [30] He elected free agency on October 22.
On January 30,2016,Snider signed a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals,with an invitation to spring training. [31] He was released on March 30, [32] and re-signed to a minor league contract on April 1. [33] He was released on July 30.
On January 6,2017,Snider signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers. [34]
On August 15,2017,the Rangers traded Snider to the New York Mets for cash. [35] In 17 games for the Triple–A Las Vegas 51s,Snider hit .308/.375/.415 with 1 home run and 8 RBI. He elected free agency following the season on November 6. [36]
On April 5,2018,Snider signed with the Long Island Ducks of the independent Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. [37] He became a free agent following the 2018 season. In 94 games he hit .290/.374/.463 with 13 home runs,71 RBIs and 4 stolen bases.
On January 9,2019,Snider signed a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks. [38] In 93 games for the Triple–A Reno Aces,he batted .294/.402/.497 with 11 home runs and 41 RBI. Snider elected free agency following the season on November 4. [39]
On January 15,2020,Snider re-signed with the Diamondbacks organization, [40] and was released on May 22 with having appeared in a game. [41]
On July 24,2020,Snider signed a minor league contract with the Miami Marlins. [42] Snider did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. [43] On August 27,Snider was released by the Marlins organization. [8]
On February 23,2021,Snider signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves organization. [44] [45] Snider played in 63 games for the Triple-A Gwinnett Braves,hitting .174 with four home runs and 15 RBI. [3] On September 12,Snider was released by the Braves. [8]
Snider announced his retirement from professional baseball on January 13,2022. [46]
From Lynnwood,Washington, [47] Snider faced many challenges in his teen years. In a two-year span he had lost two grandparents,a coach,and a close friend. He then later lost his mother in an accident. Snider says this made his teen years tough but also helped him work hard to get to the major leagues. [48]
Matthew Wade Stairs is a Canadian former professional baseball outfielder, first baseman, and designated hitter, who holds the record for most pinch-hit home runs in Major League Baseball (MLB) history with 23. His pinch-hit home run in the eighth inning of Game 4 in the 2008 National League Championship Series off the Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Jonathan Broxton was called "one of the most memorable home runs in Phillies history".
Christopher Michael Woodward is an American former professional baseball utility player, coach and manager. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays, New York Mets, Atlanta Braves, Seattle Mariners, and Boston Red Sox, from 1999 through 2012. He then served as a coach for the Mariners and Los Angeles Dodgers, from 2014 through 2018 and managed the Texas Rangers from 2019 to 2022. He is currently a special assistant and roving instructor for the Dodgers.
Louis Benjamin Francisco, is an American former professional baseball outfielder, who is currently a major league scout for the Los Angeles Angels. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cleveland Indians, Philadelphia Phillies, Toronto Blue Jays, Houston Astros, Tampa Bay Rays, and New York Yankees.
Robinzon Díaz Henriquez is a Dominican former professional baseball catcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays and Pittsburgh Pirates. He was the bullpen catcher for the Milwaukee Brewers from 2017 to 2020.
Ezequiel Manuel Carrera Reyes is a Venezuelan former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cleveland Indians, Philadelphia Phillies, Detroit Tigers, and Toronto Blue Jays.
Moisés Sierra is a Dominican professional baseball outfielder who is a free agent. He previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays, Chicago White Sox, and Washington Nationals and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Chunichi Dragons.
Eric Allyn Thames is an American former professional baseball first baseman and outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays, Seattle Mariners, Milwaukee Brewers, and Washington Nationals, in the KBO League for the NC Dinos, and in the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Yomiuri Giants.
Matthew Donald Hague is an American former professional baseball first baseman and current assistant hitting coach for the Toronto Blue Jays. Between 2012 and 2016, he played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Toronto Blue Jays, and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Hanshin Tigers. Prior to beginning his professional career, he played college baseball at the University of Washington and Oklahoma State. In early 2020, he joined the Blue Jays organization as a coach.
John Dwight Smith Jr. is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Charros de Jalisco of the Mexican League. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays and Baltimore Orioles.
Reese Jackson McGuire is an American professional baseball catcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays, Chicago White Sox, and Boston Red Sox.
William Landis McKinney is an American professional baseball outfielder who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays, Milwaukee Brewers, New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, Oakland Athletics, and Pittsburgh Pirates. McKinney was a first-round draft pick of the Athletics in 2013. He was traded to the Chicago Cubs in 2014, and the Yankees in 2016. He made his MLB debut with the Yankees in 2018, and was traded to the Blue Jays during the season, with whom he played for until 2020.
Kevin Andrew Pillar is an American professional baseball outfielder who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays, San Francisco Giants, Boston Red Sox, Colorado Rockies, New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta Braves, Chicago White Sox and Los Angeles Angels.
Devon Anthony Travis is an American professional baseball coach and former second baseman. He was originally drafted by the Detroit Tigers, and made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut on April 6, 2015 with the Toronto Blue Jays, playing with the team from 2015 to 2018. Travis began his coaching career in 2021 with the GCL Braves.
Michael Livingston Ohlman is an American former professional baseball catcher who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays during the 2017 season.
Anthony Joseph Alford is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Piratas de Campeche of the Mexican League. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays and Pittsburgh Pirates. He has also played in the KBO League for the KT Wiz.
Teoscar José Hernández is a Dominican professional baseball outfielder who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Houston Astros, Toronto Blue Jays, Seattle Mariners, and Los Angeles Dodgers. Hernández has won two Silver Slugger Awards and was an All-Star in 2021 and 2024. Hernández signed a one-year deal with the Dodgers in 2024 and later won the World Series with the team.
Joshua John Palacios is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Toronto Blue Jays and Washington Nationals.
Jordan Thomas Luplow is an American professional baseball outfielder in the Philadelphia Phillies organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Cleveland Indians, Tampa Bay Rays, Arizona Diamondbacks, Toronto Blue Jays, and Minnesota Twins. He was drafted by the Pirates in the third round of the 2014 MLB draft, and made his MLB debut with them in 2017.
Edward Olivares is a Venezuelan professional baseball outfielder who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Diego Padres, Kansas City Royals, and Pittsburgh Pirates.
Vincent James Capra is an American professional baseball infielder for the Milwaukee Brewers of Major League Baseball. He has previously played in MLB for the Brewers, Toronto Blue Jays and Pittsburgh Pirates.