Watch former Indiana Hoosier Sam Travis hit his home run of Spring Training. The highly touted Boston Red Sox prospect came to camp ready to make the big leagues.
Spring Training brings a year of new beginnings. A fresh start for many players and the opportunity to prove their worth. The same can be said for former Indiana Hoosier Sam Travis.
Sam Travis spent the bulk of the 2016 season sidelined after suffering a left ACL tear in late May. Surgery to repair his ACL cost him the 2016 season. A season in which he began to look like the breakout prospect at first base for the Red Sox.
A fully healthy Sam Travis is now set his eyes to debut in the Majors sooner rather than later. The 23-year-old slugger is currently the No. 4 prospect in the Boston Red Sox system according to MLB.com. Spring has brought the opportunity to come back healthy, stronger, and hungry, all three which Travis has seemed to do.
One of the goals for this season was to return to the form he was in before the injury. His work ethic as a player has been put on notice recently. Red Sox Manager John Farrell praised his determination and hard work in the offseason. In his first game of Spring Training, Sam Travis mashed a three-run home run and the Red Sox the lead in the sixth inning.
The full highlight of Sam Travis courtesy of the Boston Red Sox Twitter:
The encouraging words from skipper John Farrell speak volumes about Sam Travis. He seems to be in high spirits and ready to take on the task of one day becoming the starting first baseman in Boston.
Christopher Smith of MassLive spoke with Travis about his drive for the upcoming season:
"“To tell you the truth, I just want to win. That’s it. Don’t matter if I go 0-for-4 with four strikeouts. Or If I’m sitting on the bench that day and we win, I’m walking off that field that day happy. Anything I do around here, I’m going as hard as I can all the time. There’s no excuses for me not to.”"
Winning should not be a problem in Boston this season. The offseason acquisition of All-Star Chris Sale from the White Sox highlights the push for another World Series run for the Red Sox. They managed to land one of the best left handed arms in the Majors, but it came with a cost. The trade included some of the best Red Sox prospects (Yoan Moncada, Michael Kopech), moving Travis into one of the more valuable assets for the future.
The Red Sox are looking for an answer after the iconic David Ortiz retired at the end of the season. The opportunity for Sam Travis is there for the taking. Hanley Ramirez is listed behind free agent pick up Mitch Moreland on the Red Sox depth chart. Ramirez will more than likely see most of the time in the designated hitter role with his history of nagging injuries. This leaves Moreland as the only real reliable first baseman on the Red Sox roster.
Next: Indiana Baseball: Opening weekend comes with many tests
A really strong spring from Sam Travis could easily convince the Red Sox to put him on their opening day roster. Even if he doesn’t start the season in Boston, you can bet it won’t be long before hearing his name being recalled to the Majors. If his motivation is winning, he should have no problem fitting in the Red Sox system.