Travis earns promotion to Red Sox
First baseman found swing in May to earn call
PAWTUCKET – Perhaps it was the message Sam Travis received from the Red Sox scout who tracked him closely at the University of Indiana that helped the first baseman shake out of his early-season malaise.
“He knew he wasn’t being himself,” Blair Henry said upon reached Tuesday afternoon, not long after the Red Sox called up Travis, the only player on the PawSox roster who merited prospect consideration.
Henry was in Boston’s amateur scouting department when Travis was selected with the club’s second-round pick in 2014. They’ve built a pretty solid back-and-forth rapport through the years that when Henry says something to Travis, it’s not uncommon for Travis to reply in a sarcastic tone. That’s exactly how the exchange that centered on Travis’ slow start played out.
“Typical Sam. He got back to me in a funny way,” Henry said, “but he did it. I’m not taking any credit, but he knew.”
Now working as pro scout for the Red Sox, Henry had read enough reports to know that Travis was much better than the .233 hitter he was in 17 games with the PawSox in April.
“When you smell it and you’re that close, sometimes you try to be somebody that you’re not. Based on the coaches’ games reports I had read, that appeared to be what was going on with Sam,” Henry said.
The month of May saw Travis flourish. In 16 games with the PawSox, the 23-year-old batted .333 with a .389 onbase percentage. Just as noteworthy, he cut his strikeouts from 18 in 60 at-bats in April down to eight in 66 at-bats in May.
“Number one, he’s managed his effort level and his strike-zone manage- ment has improved because of it. I think he was trying to force the issue a little bit and trying to make up some numbers,” PawSox manager Kevin Boles said, referencing the knee injury that limited Travis to just 47 games in 2016. “He collected quite a few base hits to right field and right-center before he left. It’s more of a complete approach now.”
Added Henry, “Guys who have always hit don’t forget how to hit. Sometimes they go through things. This is a hard game.”
Henry is excited about a youngster he once kept close tabs on realizing his childhood dream of reaching the majors. Even though some of those scouting missions resulted in car rides that on a good day could last up to fiveand-a-half hours, Henry made it quite clear that he wants all the credit pointed in the direction of Travis.
“Our job … some guys get caught up in it, but I really don’t. At the end of day, it’s about the kid,” Henry said. “If he wasn’t with us, it probably would have happened someplace else. We just happened to be in the right spot at the right time to pick him.
“I’m proud of all the hard work he put in after last year,” Henry added.
Henry cautioned that Travis won’t be satisfied just because of his summons to the majors.
“He’ll tell you that this is nothing right now. Like I told him, ‘This is the start of your journey,’” Henry said.
Boles informed Travis of his promotion on Monday, which was an offday for the PawSox. Henry sent a congratulatory text message right before Travis took batting practice at Fenway Park.
“Just reiterated this is the start of it all,” Henry said. “He’s put the work in, but hopefully he keeps the foot on the pedal and keeps going. He’ll get his opportunities and we’ll see how it goes. Hopefully he’s the guy who can provide a spark.”