Sam Travis, 1B: 2014 MLB Draft 67th Overall

mabrowndog

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Travis bloomed late in his high school career, belting 17 home runs to lead his team to a state runner-up berth. The Reds drafted him in the 40th round but he chose to attend Indiana, where he became a three-year starter. All he has done in three years is hit, though he’s also moved down the defensive spectrum from third to first base. A career .333 hitter with 29 home runs for Indiana, not even a broken hamate in his right hand could slow him down while helping the Hoosiers reach the College World Series in 2013. Travis, who also hit .339 with power in the Cape Cod League in 2012, doesn’t profile well as a 6-foot, 220-pound righthanded-hitting first baseman. Travis’ approach stands out, as he walks as much as he strikes out (which isn’t often) and impresses scouts with his line-drive batting-practice approach. He’s strong enough to drive the ball to all fields and has shown pull power, out-homering teammate Kyle Schwarber this season. A team that drafts Travis is buying a bat, though he is a sure-handed but not flashy defender at first and fringe-average runner.
 
 

StuckOnYouk

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A few weeks ago Keith Law said that Travis was a better pure hitting prospect between he and Schwarber, FWIW
 

The Boomer

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.347 average with .576 slugging pct.  Great SO to W ratio for any hitter.  Will only be a 1B or DH but he could move up quickly.  Good pick at this spot.  #53 for both MLB and Baseball America.  Could hit with the wood bats in the Cape league too.  BA scouting report:
 
Travis bloomed late in his high school career, belting 17 home runs to lead his team to a state runner-up berth. The Reds drafted him in the 40th round but he chose to attend Indiana, where he became a three-year starter. All he has done in three years is hit, though he’s also moved down the defensive spectrum from third to first base. A career .333 hitter with 29 home runs for Indiana, not even a broken hamate in his right hand could slow him down while helping the Hoosiers reach the College World Series in 2013. Travis, who also hit .339 with power in the Cape Cod League in 2012, doesn’t profile well as a 6-foot, 220-pound righthanded-hitting first baseman. Travis’ approach stands out, as he walks as much as he strikes out (which isn’t often) and impresses scouts with his line-drive batting-practice approach. He’s strong enough to drive the ball to all fields and has shown pull power, out-homering teammate Kyle Schwarber this season. A team that drafts Travis is buying a bat, though he is a sure-handed but not flashy defender at first and fringe-average runner.
 

mabrowndog

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StuckOnYouk said:
A few weeks ago Keith Law said that Travis was a better pure hitting prospect between he and Schwarber, FWIW
 
Based on what I've seen, I agree. The defensive limitations obviously make him a boom or bust 1B/DH for the club (I don't buy any of what the MLBN guys were saying about him possibly moving back to 3B), but the Sox have done a pretty pathetic job of bringing these types of hitters through the system. Hopefully this makes up for it.
 

mabrowndog

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Hee Sox Choi said:
MaBrownDog, where will someone like Travis start off in the minor leagues?  
 
Hopefully Greenville. I think he can handle that level out of the gate.
 

Tyrone Biggums

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Is Billy Butler a good comp for him? Kind of seems like him with the defensive limitations but good hit tool.
 

BosRedSox5

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He doesn't wear batting gloves? I wonder if he uses Moises Alou's hand hardening liquid. Seriously though, for the Sox to take a short, right handed 1B who is advertised as average defensively, they must really believe in his bat. He's definitely god some power potential. Here he is muscling an 84 mph pitch into Target field's upper deck with a wooden bat:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtBKJ1nLScM
 
Looks pretty impressive and I've got to think the staff really likes his offensive upside. It doesn't seem at all like them to draft someone with limited defensive potential. It'd be great to have a power hitting 1B who rarely strikes out. 
 

smokin joe wood

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I just finished producing the Bloomington regional for ESPN and this kid raked. Hit a couple bombs to left center. He's definitely an intense kid. Struck out against Cal Quantrill of Stanford (Paul's son) and slammed his bat at home plate nearly causing an incident. I've seen 7-8 of his games in the tournament in the last two years and he seems pretty solid at first as well. FWIW.
 

AlNipper49

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BosRedSox5 said:
He doesn't wear batting gloves? I wonder if he uses Moises Alou's hand hardening liquid. Seriously though, for the Sox to take a short, right handed 1B who is advertised as average defensively, they must really believe in his bat. He's definitely god some power potential. 
 
Unfortunately my first thought when watching his videos was that of another Lars Anderson.  We have to hit on one of those this millenia, right ?
 

AlNipper49

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The other weird thing is that 1B is usually a good place to pivot people to for defensive reasons, but the Sox are pretty freaking stocked at 2B, SS, 3B and C in the upper minors so it's kind of fun to take a flyer on someone who doesn't project strong defensively.  
 

smastroyin

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Hee Sox Choi said:
MaBrownDog, where will someone like Travis start off in the minor leagues?  
 
Some of it is going to depend on when he signs.
 
Two recent examples:
 
JBJ signed late, and split his first pro season between Lowell and Greenville, but only amassed 40 PA.  He started his first full season the next year in Salem.  
Kolbrin Vitek played almost the full Lowell season and then got some AB in Greenville.  He signed early.  He played in Salem the next year.
 
Traditionally Red Sox college players have gone to Lowell and gotten a cup of coffee in Greenville if they play in their drafted year.  I suppose we can hope that Travis with his singular hit skill goes to Lowell and tears the cover off the ball so they jump him to Salem or something.  But there is not a lot of difference, for draftees, between the NYPL and the Sally league.  My impression is that the NYPL is filled with college age draftees and often international players whereas the Sally typically has players that have been in the development system, for instance second year high school pros and second or third year internationals.
 

Puffy

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BosRedSox5 said:
 
Couldn't I just be happy for a few hours? 
 
My first thought was Jeff Bagwell (short RHH corner infielder, vaguely similar batting stance/swing), if it makes you feel better.
 

DJnVa

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From his twitter this morning, with tweet saying "I guess it was meant to be."
 

 
 
 
He also dropped a Boston Strong.
 

Drek717

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AlNipper49 said:
The other weird thing is that 1B is usually a good place to pivot people to for defensive reasons, but the Sox are pretty freaking stocked at 2B, SS, 3B and C in the upper minors so it's kind of fun to take a flyer on someone who doesn't project strong defensively.  
I think the pick is all about the bat, and the Red Sox need for bats.  Travis Shaw is the only age relative quality 1B above short season ball right now.  Devers (if he has to move off 3B) and Longhi are long term developmental types, but Sam Travis falls nicely between the two.
 
Also, the higher value positional guys are generally either not good enough bats to stick at 1B or good enough fielders to land somewhere higher on the spectrum than 1B.
 
Now the Sox have 2014 and 2015 with Napoli, at that point Travis Shaw should be as ready as he's ever going to be and they should have a good idea where Sam Travis, Rafael Devers, and Nick Longhi look to land.  If Shaw acquits himself well in AAA the job is his.  If not but Travis is coming on strong they could go with a veteran stopgap while he gets another season or two in the minors.  If neither of them are looking good by end of 2015 they can likely take on a bit longer deal for a veteran while seeing what Longhi and Devers futures look like.
 

mabrowndog

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Travis says he'll forego his senior year and sign with the Sox.
 
Sam Travis developed into one of the most productive hitters in college baseball at Indiana. Fenway Park, with the famed Green Monster in left field, is regarded as one of the most hitter-friendly professional ballparks.
 
Sounds like a match made in baseball heaven. At least that’s what Travis and the Boston Red Sox are hoping.
 
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“I grew up watching baseball on TV and getting an opportunity to play in one of the most historic ballparks is really exciting,” said Travis, an Orland Park resident. “When my name got called, it was a surreal experience. I’m ready to go and start moving on with my baseball career.”
 

Plympton91

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AlNipper49 said:
 
Unfortunately my first thought when watching his videos was that of another Lars Anderson.  We have to hit on one of those this millenia, right ?
Not really. Anderson was a raw high school draftee who always had worrisome strikeout rates. If I read correctly above, this guy is a good contact hitter with power. Looking forward to seeing how he does.