Outfielder Travis Blankenhorn has chosen to become a free agent rather than accept an outright assignment to the Nationals’ Triple-A affiliate, the club announced. The free agent route was available to the 27-year-old Blankenhorn because has previously been outrighted earlier in his career.
After signing a minor league deal with the Nats last winter, Blankenhorn spent much of his season at Triple-A Rochester before his contract was selected to the big league roster at the start of September. Blankenhorn appeared in 10 games, but a case of plantar fasciitis sent him to the 10-day injured list and prematurely ended his season.
Blankenhorn has appeared in each of the last four MLB seasons, though he played in just a single big league game in both 2020 and 2022. In total, the outfielder has a .581 OPS over the small sample size of 68 career plate appearances, though his Triple-A numbers are much stronger. Blankenhorn has a .261/.353/.485 slash line and 48 home runs over 1053 PA at the top minor league level, playing with five different organizations’ Triple-A affiliates over the last three seasons.
With that kind of offensive production and experience at first base, second base, and both corner outfield positions, it isn’t surprising that so many teams have taken an interest in Blankenhorn, even if he has been through the grind of moving from organization to organization with only a few cups of coffee at the MLB level. He’ll now test free agency yet again, and the complication of lingering foot pain due to his plantar fasciitis could certainly be a concern for Blankenhorn’s chances of quickly landing another minor league contract.
The perfect candidate for a job on an Japanese or Korean ballclub. He is AAAA more than ready, MLB so not much.
He sits with an .838 OPS in 3 years of AAA ball, and most of it in the IL not the inflated batting numbers from the PCL.
He should have his agent cash in overseas for him.
And as many who have gone and come back, learn some plate discipline over there, then take another shot in the US.
That does seem like the best path for him. But 68 MLB plate appearances is hardly enough to pass a final judgement.
But five weeks in MLB plus his AAA salary earned him over 180K this year. That doesn’t include the $7 or $8K he got for per diems, or the now free housing that minors leaguers now get under the new deal.
I also elected free agency!
who?
Travis Blankenhorn
Dark Horse move here, but I would approve of the Pirates signing him and being a potential 4th OF or platoon with Davis (only optional RF currently). I like the idea of him playing in the black and gold next year
I think this means that, with a decent Spring Training, Jacob Young has an excellent chance of making the Nationals’ roster at the start of 2024. Jacob’s defense is already elite and adding his speed alongside Abrams will pose challenges for opposing teams.
Exactly, who ? Afraid his Mom doesn’t know who he is. Save the venom I’m sure he’s a swell lil ballplayer n will make me rue the day I made fun of Travis Blankenship …
You can’t even get the dude’s name right when it is the headline of the article you took time out of your (I’m sure) very busy day to post your dumb little comment on. Maybe use your ample free time to learn some reading comprehension.