| Travis Snider | |
|---|---|
 Snider with theBaltimore Orioles in 2015 | |
| Outfielder | |
| Born: (1988-02-02)February 2, 1988 (age 37) Kirkland, Washington, U.S. | |
Batted: Left Threw: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| August 29, 2008, for the Toronto Blue Jays | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| October 4, 2015, for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .244 |
| Home runs | 54 |
| Runs batted in | 212 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
Travis James Snider (born February 2, 1988) is an American former professionalbaseballoutfielder. NicknamedLunchbox, he played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theToronto Blue Jays,Pittsburgh Pirates, andBaltimore Orioles.
Snider played for theMill CreekLittle League team at 1999 Little League Western Regional Tournament inSan Bernardino, California. He attendedHenry M. Jackson High School, where he played as anoutfielder for the baseball team and as arunning back andlinebacker infootball.
TheToronto Blue Jays selected Snider in the first round, with the 14th overall selection, of the2006 MLB Draft.[1] Snider began his professional career in 2006 with thePulaski Blue Jays in theAppalachian 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 ALansing Lugnuts, he spent the whole season in Lansing and ranked among the league leaders in many hitting categories, including RBI (93, first), doubles (35, first), hits (143, T-third), home runs (16, T-fifth) and batting average (.313, fifth).[2][3] He represented Lansing in the 2007Midwest League All-Star Game.[4]
Snider began the 2008 season with theDunedin Blue Jays of theFlorida 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-ANew Hampshire Fisher Cats of theEastern 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.[5] Snider was nicknamed "the Franchise" by New Hampshire Union Leader reporter Kevin Gray. On August 6, 2008, the Blue Jays promoted Snider to Triple-ASyracuse Chiefs of theInternational League. Snider continued to play well at Triple-A and would only play 18 games at that level before being promoted. Overall, in 133 combined minor league games, he batted .275 with 23 home runs and 91 RBI.[3]
Snider was promoted to theToronto 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 atYankee Stadium. FacingCarl Pavano, Snider lined out to shortstop in his first at-bat. He later doubled off Pavano for his first big-league hit.[6] On September 4, 2008, Snider launched his first career home run atRogers Centre offKevin Slowey of theMinnesota Twins, becoming the fourth-youngest Blue Jay to hit a home run.[7] After his first season with Toronto, he finished hitting .301 with twohome runs and 13RBI in 24 games.[8]
Baseball America ranked Snider sixth on their annual ranking of the best baseball prospects, moving him up five spots from the previous year's rankings.[9]
On April 6, 2009, Snider recorded a home run and double onOpening Day against theDetroit Tigers.[10] He had his first career two home run game on April 13, 2009, against theMinnesota Twins and became the youngest player in Blue Jays history to hit two home runs in a game.[11] He was sent back to Triple-ALas Vegas 51s in May, after a prolonged hitting slump,[12] but was recalled by the Blue Jays in August, going on to hit a home run in his first game back.[13]
On August 2, 2010, Snider became the first Blue Jays player since 1978 to hit two doubles in one inning against theNew York Yankees (pitchersA. J. Burnett andBoone Logan). This was part of anAL record tying six doubles in an inning by the Blue Jays.[14]
After opening the season with just a .184 batting average with a home run and 12 RBI through 25 games, Snider was optioned to Triple-ALas Vegas on April 28.[15] On July 3, he was recalled by the Blue Jays.[16] On the nights of July 8 and July 20, Snider had 5 RBI – a career best.[17][18]
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On August 4, Snider was optioned back to Triple-A Las Vegas to make room forBrett Lawrie.[19] He was diagnosed with tendinitis in his right wrist on August 25, ending his 2011 season.[20]
Snider was a spring training invitee, but was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas before the end of spring. He was in competition withEric Thames for the starting left field position. He was recalled to the Blue Jays on July 20.[21] Mid-game against theSeattle Mariners on July 30, Snider was traded to thePittsburgh Pirates in exchange for pitcherBrad Lincoln.[22]
In 50 games with the Pirates to finish 2012, Snider hit .250 with a home run and 9 RBI.[8]
Snider began 2013 in a platoon in right field withJosé Tábata, withGarrett Jones also getting occasional starts when he wasn't at first base. The platoon dissolved when Tábata went on the disabled list with a strained oblique, and Snider got most of the starts during Tábata's stint on the DL. To that point, Snider was hitting .252 with two home runs, 14 RBI and 31 strikeouts. After hitting .171 in June, Snider was relegated to a pinch-hitting role upon Tábata's return on July 3. On July 28, Snider was placed on the disabled list with discomfort in his left big toe, which had been bothering him for over a month.[23] Snider was activated from the disabled list when the rosters expanded on September 1, and was used in a pinch-hitting role to finish the season.[24] In 111 games (53 starts) in 2013, Snider hit .215/.281/.333 with five home runs and 25 RBI.[8]
On June 18, 2014, Snider pitched the top of ninth inning against theCincinnati Reds. He allowed two runs, one hit, and two walks in that inning but managed to strike outJoey Votto.[25] Snider finished the 2014 season with a .264 average with 13 home runs and 38 RBI in 140 games.[8]
On January 27, 2015, Snider was traded to theBaltimore Orioles in exchange for minor league pitcherStephen Tarpley and a player to be named later, eventually revealed as minor league pitcherSteven Brault.[26][27] He was designated for assignment on August 7,[28] and released on August 15.[29]
On August 19, 2015, Snider signed a minor league deal to return to the Pirates.[30] He elected free agency on October 22.
On January 30, 2016, Snider signed a minor league contract with theKansas City Royals, with an invitation to spring training.[31] He was released on March 30,[32] and re-signed to a minor league contract on April 1.[33] He was released on July 30.
On January 6, 2017, Snider signed a minor league contract with theTexas Rangers.[34]
On August 15, 2017, the Rangers traded Snider to theNew York Mets for cash.[35] In 17 games for the Triple–ALas Vegas 51s, Snider hit .308/.375/.415 with 1 home run and 8 RBI. He elected free agency following the season on November 6.[36]
On April 5, 2018, Snider signed with theLong Island Ducks of the independentAtlantic League of Professional Baseball.[37] He became a free agent following the 2018 season. In 94 games he hit .290/.374/.463 with 13 home runs, 71 RBIs and 4 stolen bases.
On January 9, 2019, Snider signed a minor league contract with theArizona Diamondbacks.[38] In 93 games for the Triple–AReno Aces, he batted .294/.402/.497 with 11 home runs and 41 RBI. Snider elected free agency following the season on November 4.[39]
On January 15, 2020, Snider re-signed with the Diamondbacks organization,[40] and was released on May 22 with having appeared in a game.[41]
On July 24, 2020, Snider signed a minor league contract with theMiami Marlins.[42] Snider did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of theCOVID-19 pandemic.[43] On August 27, Snider was released by the Marlins organization.[8]
On February 23, 2021, Snider signed a minor league contract with theAtlanta Braves organization.[44][45] Snider played in 63 games for the Triple-AGwinnett Braves, hitting .174 with four home runs and 15 RBI.[3] On September 12, Snider was released by the Braves.[8]
Snider announced his retirement from professional baseball on January 13, 2022.[46]
FromLynnwood, Washington,[47] Snider faced many challenges in his teen years. In a two-year span he had lost two grandparents, a coach, and a close friend. He then later lost his mother in an accident. Snider says this made his teen years tough but also helped him work hard to get to the major leagues.[48]
| Preceded by | Youngest Player in the American League 2008 | Succeeded by |