Red Sox: Sam Travis will have a breakout 2017 season
Throughout each season, young players get called up and given a chance to shine in the Majors for the Boston Red Sox. This season, that player will be Sam Travis.
The Boston Red Sox have one of the best young cores in baseball with a lineup full of up-and-coming stars. These players have been rolled out over the past few seasons, and it seems like a new top prospect makes it to the big leagues and thrives each season.
Xander Bogaerts was called up late in 2013 and was instrumental in the Red Sox’ World Series run. Mookie Betts was a late call-up in 2014 and has emerged as one of the best players in baseball. Last season we saw Andrew Benintendi jump straight from Double-A Portland to Boston in August, cementing himself as a popular pick to win the 2017 Rookie of the Year Award.
This season, that player will be Sam Travis. After being drafted in the second round of the 2014 draft, Travis flew through Single-A and Double-A ball. He had a promising 2015 season in the minors, hitting a slash line of .307/.351/.452 between High-A and Double-A, which earned himself a spot in Pawtucket beginning last season. His line through 47 games was .272/.332/.434 before an ACL injury sidelined him for the rest of the season.
Had it not been for the injury, it is likely that Travis would be the projected started at first base this year rather than unheralded new signing Mitch Moreland. In one of the most well-rounded lineups in the MLB, a weak spot lies at first base. Moreland is slated as the Opening Day starter, with Hanley Ramirez to get some reps as well if a player like Chris Young takes his DH spot in order to create better lefty-righty matchups.
Moreland is a new addition to the Sox, but not a marquee signing by any meaning of the word. Moreland signed a 1-year, $5.5 million contract in December, and although he adds a good glove and a bat with a promising ceiling, he is one of the more expendable pieces of the roster.
Since his hiring in August 2015, Dave Dombrowski and the Red Sox front office have cleaned house, trading away almost every sought-after prospect. Although Travis does not even headline the list of Red Sox prospects still with the organization, the trust in him and his future with the Red Sox has been shown as other infielders such as Travis Shaw, Yoan Moncada, and Mauricio Dubon have said goodbye to Boston.
Before his injury, Travis was regarded as the first baseman of the future. Hunter Noll of Outside Pitch MLB said in March of 2016, “All signs pointed to Travis being the Red Sox first baseman of the future. If this Spring Training has taught us anything, it’s that the future may not be that far away.”
Travis got off to a blazing start this Spring Training as well, hitting a 3-run home run in the Sox’s first game.
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Whether he gets called up during the summer or as a September call-up, Travis will have a real opportunity to impact both the Red Sox season and his own stock. He is still just 23 years old, and his future in Boston looks bright.