TRAVIS IS QUICK TO IMPRESS AT PLATE

BALTIMORE — Nobody, least of all Sam Travis, is about to declare Travis has this Major League Baseball gig all figured out.

It’s only been a day shy of two weeks since he got placed on the big league roster, and he’s only started four games and had 16 plate appearances.

But let’s not ignore the obvious, either, with Travis.

He’s making the act of hitting big league pitching look pretty easy.

He’s batting .500 (7-for-14) with two doubles. He’s been on base and scored a run in each of his four starts and has three multi-hit games.

Not since 1913 has a Red Sox player scored three times and hit a pair of doubles in his first four games.

So, yeah, Travis is off to a hot start all right.

But the low-key youngster is not the type to do backflips.

“It’s still early,” he said. “I’ve only played a few games, it’s a long season and you’re going to have your ups and downs, but you just stay the course and work every day.”

Travis said his teammates and coaches have made his transition as easy as possible. The new clubhouses, airplanes, buses, hotels, the food — “it doesn’t even compare to the minor leagues, it’s unbelievable,” he said — have not been tough to adjust to at all.

“It’s different but this is what you live for, this is where you want to be,” said Travis, a right-handed hitter who for now is in an unofficial platoon at first base with left-handed-hitting Mitch Moreland. “You don’t think much about it. It helps that the guys in the clubhouse have been very welcoming, and shown me what to do around here and to keep doing what you’re doing. It’s been great so far.”

The message Travis keeps receiving is not to change a thing. Considering his reputation always has been for superb offense, he looks to be a quick learner.

“All around, the staff and even the players, they just remind you not to do too much because you’re here, you’re here for a reason and that’s because you’re ready — don’t go out and try to do something that you haven’t done before, that’s not who you are,” he said. “Stay within yourself and play your game and things will take over.”

Hitting is Travis’ forte and, since arriving with the Red Sox, he said, “people don’t really tell me anything with hitting — maybe as far as what the pitcher’s got, what to look for and how he’s going to work you, but as far as mechanics and stuff, no one’s really told me anything.”

Travis’ defense is different.

His footwork, glovework and throws are not nearly as progressed as his offense, and he is a person of interest when it comes to early and extra work with infield coach Brian Butterfield.

Just as it’s too soon to say he’s all set as a hitter, it’s too soon to say his defense has arrived as well. Although he seems to be a natural replacement for Hanley Ramirez as the team’s designated hitter some day, Travis wants broader acclaim.

“Absolutely,” he said, “I want to be an all-around guy, I don’t want to be a one-type-of-deal guy. I want to help the team all around, you know what I mean?”