Travis Snider

Travis Snider
Travis Snider
	File:Travis-snider.jpg
Toronto Blue Jays – No. 45
	Right Fielder
	Bats: Left Throws: Left
debut
	August 29, 2008, for the Toronto Blue Jays
Career statistics ; (through September 2, 2009)
Batting average	.245
Home runs	8
Runs batted in	28
Teams
	Toronto Blue Jays (2008–present);

Travis James Snider (born February 2, 1988 in Template:City-state) is a Major League Baseball player for the Toronto Blue Jays. He hits and throws left-handed. He played baseball at Henry M. Jackson High School, where he also played running back and linebacker in football. Snider played for the Mill Creek Little League team at 1999 Little League Western Regional Tournament in San Bernardino, California.

Minor leagues

Snider began his professional career in 2006 with the Pulaski Blue Jays in the Appalachian League. He excelled in his debut and ended up winning the Short Season Player of The Year honors for Appalachian League.

In 2007, he was promoted to the Class A Lansing Lugnuts, he spent the whole season in Lansing and led the league in many hitting categories and he represented Lansing in the 2007 Midwest League All-Star Game.

He began the 2008 season with the Dunedin Blue Jays of the Florida State League. Coming out of spring training he had suffered an injury to his throwing elbow so for the first portion of the season he was the team's designated hitter exclusively. Snider performed well in High A and he was promoted to the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats of the Eastern League on May 21, 2008. Initially at Double-A, Snider struggled but as he regained his health and started to play in the outfield again he began hitting well. Snider won the Eastern League Home Run Derby with an impressive performance, hitting 10 home runs in the semifinals in front of a record crowd at the Fisher Cats stadium. Snider was nicknamed "the Franchise" by New Hampshire Union Leader reporter Kevin Gray. On August 6, 2008 the Blue Jays promoted Snider to Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs of the International League. Snider continued to play well at Triple-A and would only play 18 games at that level before being promoted.

Major leagues

Toronto Blue Jays

2008–present

Snider was promoted to the Toronto Blue Jays on August 29, 2008, and became the youngest position player in the majors. He made his debut later that day, playing left field and batting ninth at Yankee Stadium. Facing Carl Pavano, Snider lined out to shortstop in his first at-bat. He later doubled off Pavano for his first big-league hit. On September 4, 2008, Snider launched his first career home run at Rogers Centre off Kevin Slowey of the Minnesota Twins. Snider is the fourth youngest Blue Jay to hit a home run. After his first season with Toronto, he finished hitting .301 with two home runs and 13 RBI in 24 games.

He had a home run and double on Opening Day, 2009. He had his first two home run game on April 13, 2009 against the Minnesota Twins and became the youngest player in Blue Jays' history to hit two home runs in a game. He was sent back to Triple-A Las Vegas 51s in May, after a prolonged hitting slump, but was recalled by the Blue Jays in August, going on to hit a home run in his next at-bat.

Awards

2008 - Eastern League All-Star Team
2008 - Eastern League Home Run Derby Champion
2007 - Arizona Fall League All-Prospect Team
2007 - AFL Rising Stars
2007 - Baseball America Low Class A All-Star
2007 - Baseball America Minor League All-Star
2007 - Midwest League Post-Season All-Star
2007 - MID Mid-Season All-Star
2007 - MID Player of the Week
2007 - MID Player of the Week
2006 - Topps Short-Season/Rookie All-Star
2006 - Topps APP Player of the Year
2006 - Baseball America Rookie All-Star
2006 - Topps APP Player of the Month
2006 - Appalachian League Player of the Year
2006 - APP Post-Season All-Star
2006 - APP Player of the Week
2006 - APP Player of the Week

References