Not a Prospect: Travis Blankenhorn, OF / 1B

[imref]

Born: 8/03/1996 in Pottsville, PA
Draft: 2015, Minnesota Twins, Round: 3, Overall Pick: 80
High School: Pottsville Area, Pottsville, PA
MLB Debut: 9/15/2020
B/T: L/R
6' 0"/238

https://www.milb.com/player/travis-blankenhorn-663905

Signed as a MiLFA in March of 2023

.269 /  .373 / .906, 21 HRs in 349 ABs so far in Rochester

[Natsinpwc]

No doubt he grew up knowing the legend of King Corcoran.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_uRAp5q07M&pp=ygUUUG90dHN2aWxsZSBmaXJlYmlyZHM%3D

[welch]

No doubt he grew up knowing the legend of King Corcoran.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_uRAp5q07M&pp=ygUUUG90dHN2aWxsZSBmaXJlYmlyZHM%3D

Hey, now! I remember Jimmy Corcoran, the QB that Tom Nugent prepared to replace Dick Shiner. That's a name...

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Modified the title. He's played just about as much at first as he has the outfield this year. Some DH as well.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Contrary to some forecasts, the rain stayed away from Innovative Field on Saturday. Instead, it was left fielder Travis Blankenhorn who brought the thunder in Rochester’s 4-1 victory against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, hitting a 461-foot home run in the first for the longest round-tripper of the season by a Rochester hitter so far.

...Blankenhorn got the Red Wings on the board with authority. The 27-year-old worked a seven-pitch at-bat, fouling the ball off four times to work a 2-2 count against IronPigs’ starter Shaun Anderson. On the seventh pitch, Blankenhorn found a hanging slider going down the middle and smashed it. The ball was seemingly gone as soon as he hit, rocketing at 105.7 MPH well over the ESL-sponsored event space near the righ -field scoreboard. The home run, Blankenhorn’s 20th of the season, gave the home team a 1-0 lead.
...
Blankenhorn continues to swing a hot bat in August, hitting .411 on the month so far, including an eight-game hit streak that he extended with the home run.

https://pickinsplinters.com/2023/08/12/blankenhorn-hits-longest-rochester-hr-of-year-as-wings-beat-ironpigs-4-1/

[imref]

I assume he'll get a chance to compete for the 1B job next year on the assumption that we aren't bringing back Smith.

[Natsinpwc]

I assume he'll get a chance to compete for the 1B job next year on the assumption that we aren't bringing back Smith.

If there is any hope to contend next year really need to upgrade the 1B position offensively. Having 4A types battle for the position is a sign of tanking. Which I’m ok with to get another high draft pick in 2025!!

[JCA-CrystalCity]

he will be a minor league free agent again next year, so I assume he will go somewhere where he thinks he'll have a shot at the majors. We can hope for signings that are better than him and he ends up elsewhere.

As for Smith, I would not bet against using that additional year of control to bring back Mr. Hat Glove

[imref]

Channeled his inner Howie last night and hit a walk-off HR off the RF foul pole last night

[imref]

@nats_playerdev

What a week for Travis Blankenhorn on his way to being named International League Player of the Week!

Blankenhorn launched two homers for the @RocRedWings on Sunday to give him four in his last three games. He went 10-for-21 (.476) with two doubles, a triple, five HRs, eight RBI, two walks and seven runs this week (6 games).

[JCA-CrystalCity]

See you August 1. Let's go, new guy!

[JCA-CrystalCity]

buried in a story about Phillip Glasser's PotW award for the Carolina league is news about Blankenhorn winning International League (AAA) player of the week ending on 4/21.

https://www.mlb.com/nationals/news/phillip-glasser-nationals-prospect-historic-day-at-the-plate?t=mlb-pipeline-coverage

Outfielder Travis Blankenhorn was honored as International League Player of the Week (April 15-21). He belted five home runs in six games during that stretch. Blankenhorn, 27, appeared in 10 games with the Nationals last season.

[nobleisthyname]

Age: 27
Team rank: Not a prospect
Current level: AAA

March/April recap
Games played at position
RF: 12
DH: 9
1B: 3

PA

|

AVG

|

OBP

|

SLG

|

HR

|

SB

|

K%

|

BB%

|

ISO

|

OPS

|

wRC+

103

|

.300

|

.388

|

.622

|

7

|

2

|

24.3%

|

10.7%

|

.322

|

1.011

|

154

[imref]

Uh, maybe he needs to be called up?

.286 / .981 OPS with 8 HRs this season so far (and 2 SBs too!)

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Uh, maybe he needs to be called up?

.286 / .981 OPS with 8 HRs this season so far (and 2 SBs too!)

a DFA of Rosario to add Blankenhorn to the roster makes sense. He can even play 1st as a lefty.