Travis Blankenhorn finally gets an opportunity
After getting a cup of coffee with the Nationals last summer, Travis Blankenhorn is looking to make the most of his opportunity with the club this summer following the departure of several key players at the Trade Deadline.
The Nationals are calling up Travis Blankenhorn, per source. They’ll be a man short tonight, but he’ll join the team tomorrow.
— Andrew Golden (@andrewcgolden) July 30, 2024
With every trade deadline, especially with how the deadline has gone in the Nation's Capital the past 4 seasons, veteran minor leaguers have gotten a unique opportunity to prove they belong at the Major League Level. In 2021, Alcides Escobar replaced Trea Turner. In 2022, Joey Meneses replaced Juan Soto & Josh Bell. Last season, Carter Kieboom replaced Jeimer Candelario. Now, Travis Blankenhorn gets a well-deserved shot at playing regularly in the bigs this season.
Blankenhorn, the 80th overall pick in 2015 to the Minnesota Twins, was a top prospect in their organization from 2016 to 2019, including their #7 prospect in 2017. Travis made his MLB debut during the COVID season with Minnesota in 2020 and went 1-3 with a double. Blankenhorn would eventually be DFA'd by the Twins in 2021 and be claimed by the Mets. After 2 seasons in New York's system, Blankenhorn was released. Blankenhorn only amassed 26 games over that span. Mike Rizzo signed Blankenhorn to a MiLB deal in the 2023 offseason. Since being acquired, Blankenhorn has been steering his career in a better direction. The 27-year-old slashed .262 with 23 homers, 75 RBI, and a .877 OPS in Triple-A. Blankenhorn would eventually be a September call-up and hit .161 with a homer in his first Nationals at-bat, but would only play 10 games before an injury ended Blankenhorn's season.
Blankenhorn would miss the remainder of the 2023 season and elect free agency. But after a weak market, Blankenhorn returned to DC on a Minor League deal in 2024. In 94 Triple-AAA games, Blankenhorn has hit .246 with a career-high 24 homers, 69 RBI, and .846 OPS. Blankenhorn led the Nationals' farm system in every major stat category. With players like Nasim Nunez on the roster, Blankenhorn not being on the 26-man roster was a questionable decision for a while. However, with Lane Thomas being traded to the Guardians, Blankenhorn is now getting a real opportunity to prove he belongs.
Blankenhorn will likely be inserted as a platoon player, as he can play RF and platoon with OF Alex Call for the remainder of the season. If they decide to DH Blankenhorn, he can platoon with fellow DH Harold Ramirez. Nonetheless, most players are now playing the placeholder role until OF Dylan Crews gets the call. Crews is expected to be a September call-up when rosters expand to 28.
After going hitless in his first two games back with the Nationals, Blankenhorn finally broke through last night with a 2 RBI double that ended up being key runs in the Nationals 6 to 4 victory over the Brewers in game two of their series with Milwaukee, Hopefully it is the big hit Blankenhorn needed to get his season, and his current roster audition, going on the right track.
The outfield position is loaded for the Nationals, with Jacob Young, James Wood, and Alex Call being the presumed MLB starters, which leaves Blankenhorn, 2023 fan-favorite Stone Garrett, and Dylan Crews vying for a spot to either start or platoon. Blankenhorn is possibly heading into his last big-league opportunity before hitting the free-agent market again in 2025.