Travis Blankenhorn: Mets Utility Player (2021)

Travis Blankenhorn was born August 3rd, 1996, in Pottsville, Pennsylvania. The six foot two, left-handed hitter throws right & can play outfield as well as second base.

He was signed by the Minnesota Twins in the third round of the 2015 draft. He spent five seasons in Twins minor leagues, reaching AAA by 2019. 

MLB Debut: He made his MLB debut the next season, playing one game with the Twins, getting his first big league hit in a September 15th game at Chicago.

 Blankenhorn, started out 2021 with the Twins, playing in just one game, but was placed on waivers, three times. 

He went to the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Seattle Mariners & finally the New York Mets.

Trivia: His name consists of eleven letters, filling up across the back of his uniform. The eleven letters tied with Noah Syndergaard for second most on the club, as pitcher Trevor Hildenberger's twelve letters were first. He only appeared in two games in 2021.

Mets Career: Blankenhorn made his Mets debut on June 2nd, as a pinch hitter, in a 7--6 win over the d-backs in Arizona. On June 5th, he collected his first Mets hit, a double in a 4-0 win at San Diego.

On June 8th, he went 0-1 in a game against  the Orioles in Baltimore. This was the first time his parents saw him play an MLB game in person. He was optioned to AAA Syracuse on June 11th, but returned on June 25th, playing in five more games before getting sent back down. In 11 games, he was 1-11 with a .091 average.

On July 17th, he was brought back up when Francisco Lindor went down with an oblique injury. In a 7th inning pinch hit appearance in Pittsburgh, he doubled just under the right field HR line, driving in his first career run. The Mets lost the game when Edwin Diaz blew another save, with a walk off grand slam.

The next game the Mets overcame a six-run deficit & salvaged a win, to avoid getting swept by the last place Pirates. 

First Career HR: Blankenhorn, came to bat as a pinch hitter in the top of the 4th inning with two men on. He hit his first career HR, a three-run shot off JT Brubaker, bringing the Met to within two runs as they went on to a 7-6 win.

In the crazy ups & downs of his season, he was sent down to AAA Syracuse on July 18th & recalled on July 20th, when the Mets had another injury on the club.

When he returned, he was used mostly as a pinch hitter but went just 1-10 through August 21st when he was sent back down. 

2022: He spent the year at AAA Syracuse hitting .267 with 15 HRs & 55 RBIS in 91 games played. He made it to the Mets squad for one game, playing in the DH role on July 22nd going 0-3 in a 4-1 loss to the Padres.

At the end of the season, he was granted free agency & signed a deal with the Washington Nationals.

In his three-year career Blankenhorn is batting .172 with one HR three doubles & four RBIs.

Family: Travis married his wife Marci in 2020.