Nationals' Travis Blankenhorn: Placed on 10-day IL
Rotowire
The Nationals placed Blankenhorn on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with plantar fasciitis, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.
Blankenhorn hasn't appeared in a game since Thursday, and now at least there is an explanation for the extended absence. This 10-day IL stint is retroactive to Friday, so the 27-year-old outfielder will be eligible to return as early as next Tuesday. Blake Rutherford is joining the active major-league roster in a corresponding move.
... See More... See Less
Nationals' Travis Blankenhorn: Playing time fading
Rotowire
Blankenhorn is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the White Sox, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.
Blankenhorn will take a seat for the fourth game in a row, with his last three absences coming against right-handed starting pitchers. Jake Alu is making a third straight start in left field and looks to have emerged as the Nationals' preferred option at the position versus righties.
... See More... See Less
Nationals' Travis Blankenhorn: On bench again
Rotowire
Blankenhorn is out of the lineup Sunday versus the Brewers.
Blankenhorn is on the bench for the third consecutive game. With Sunday's contest against right-hander Brandon Woodruff, the 27-year-old will be out of the lineup for the second straight game against a righty. Jake Alu will start in his place again.
... See More... See Less
Nationals' Travis Blankenhorn: Out of lineup
Rotowire
Blankenhorn will be on the bench for Saturday's game against the Brewers, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Prior to Saturday's game, Blankenhorn had started against every righty the Nationals had faced in September while sitting against all but one lefty, but his off day here comes against righty Corbin Burnes. Blankenhorn's .555 OPS through 10 games this season certainly doesn't make much of a case for a large role down the stretch, though he could continue to see the field on a regular basis due to Washington's lack of reliable alternatives. Jake Alu will be the left fielder Saturday.
... See More... See Less
Nationals' Travis Blankenhorn: Sitting versus lefty
Rotowire
Blankenhorn isn't in the Nationals' lineup Friday against the Brewers, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
Left-hander Wade Miley will start on the mound for Milwaukee on Friday, so the lefty-hitting Blankenhorn will retreat to the dugout to begin the game. Alex Call will fill in as the Nats' left fielder and bat eighth.
... See More... See Less
Nationals' Travis Blankenhorn: Sitting against lefty
Rotowire
Blankenhorn is not in the lineup Tuesday versus the Pirates.
Alex Call, Jacob Young and Lane Thomas will start across the outfield for the Nationals as they match up against southpaw Bailey Falter. The left-handed-hitting Blankenhorn has slashed just .200/.333/.320 in 30 overall plate appearances since earning a Sept. 1 call-up to Washington.
... See More... See Less
Nationals' Travis Blankenhorn: Getting regular run in left field
Rotowire
Blankenhorn will start in left field and bat cleanup in Sunday's game against the Marlins, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Blankenhorn will get a third consecutive start and looks as though he could get an extended run as the Nationals' everyday left fielder in September so long as he's swinging a hot bat. The 27-year-old held his own through his first two starts since his call-up from Triple-A Rochester on Friday, going 2-for-5 with a solo home run and three walks.
... See More... See Less
Nationals' Travis Blankenhorn: Added to roster
Rotowire
The Nationals selected Blankenhorn's contract from Triple-A Rochester on Friday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.
The 27-year-old has put up an .877 OPS with 23 home runs over 108 games for Rochester this season to earn a look with the big club. Blankenhorn will provide depth at several positions for the Nationals.
... See More... See Less
Nationals' Travis Blankenhorn: Pops first homer of 2023
Rotowire
Blankenhorn went 1-for-2 with two walks and a solo home run in Friday's 8-5 extra-innings loss to the Marlins.
The 27-year-old, who had just been called up earlier in the day as part of September roster expansion, took Eury Perez deep in the third inning for his first big-league homer in 2023 and just the second of his career. Blankenhorn slashed .262/.360/.517 at Triple-A Rochester this year with 23 homers in 108 games, but he's unlikely to see consistent playing time down the stretch as the Nats focus on evaluating players who are more likely to be part of the team's future.
... See More... See Less
Nationals' Travis Blankenhorn: Set to join big-league roster
Rotowire
The Nationals will select Blankenhorn's contract Friday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.
Blankenhorn joined the Nationals on a minor-league deal in December, and he has spent the entire season with Triple-A Rochester. He's played well at the level as a 26-year-old, maintaining a 116 wRC+ across 452 plate appearances. He'll likely have to settle for a reserve role in the majors as a first baseman and corner outfielder.
... See More... See Less
Nationals' Travis Blankenhorn: Gets opportunity with Nats
Rotowire
Blankenhorn and the Nationals agreed Wednesday to a minor-league contract that includes an invitation to big-league spring training, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Blankenhorn has seen limited action in the big leagues over the past three seasons, logging 31 combined plate appearances between stops with the Twins and Mets. The 26-year-old corner infielder spent the majority of the 2022 campaign at Triple-A Syracuse, where he slashed .267/.342/.465 with 15 home runs and 10 stolen bases in 91 games.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Travis Blankenhorn: Outrighted to Triple-A
Rotowire
Blankenhorn cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Syracuse on Thursday, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
Blankenhorn appeared in just one major-league game prior to being designated for assignment Saturday, but he'll remain in the organization with the Triple-A club. Over 71 games in Syracuse this year, he's slashed .276/.340/.479 with 12 homers, 43 RBI, 38 runs and eight stolen bases.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Travis Blankenhorn: Designated for assignment
Rotowire
Blankenhorn was designated for assignment Saturday.
Blankenhorn joined the Mets' active roster Friday and went 0-for-3 with a strikeout during the loss to the Padres. However, he'll be cast off the 40-man roster after the Mets acquired Michael Perez from the Pirates on Saturday.
Blankenhorn had his contract selected by the Mets and will start Friday versus the Padres, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.
Blankenhorn will make his season debut with the Mets on Friday after he was outrighted to Triple-A Syracuse on April 8. The 25-year-old produced a .174 average with one home run, four RBI and three runs over 23 at-bats in 23 games with the Mets last year. Blankenhorn will start at designated hitter and bat eighth against San Diego.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Travis Blankenhorn: Outrighted to Triple-A
Rotowire
Blankenhorn cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Syracuse on Friday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Blankenhorn was designated for assignment by the Mets on Wednesday, but he'll remain in the organization as the minor-league season gets underway. He appeared in 48 games with Syracuse last year and hit .250 with eight homers, 27 RBI, 21 runs and three steals.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Travis Blankenhorn: Cast off 40-man roster
Rotowire
The Mets designated Blankenhorn for assignment Wednesday, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
The move cleared a spot on the 40-man roster for newly-signed reliever John Curtiss (elbow), who was then transferred to the 60-day IL to reopen a 40-man spot for outfielder Travis Jankowski. Meanwhile, Blankenhorn's status with the organization is in limbo for the moment, as he'll first need to clear waivers before rejoining Triple-A Syracuse. The 25-year-old received 24 plate appearances with the big club in 2021, though most of his opportunities were without multiple established players due to injury and COVID-19-related absences.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Travis Blankenhorn: Sent to Triple-A
Rotowire
Blankenhorn was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse on Sunday, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
Blankenhorn was promoted from Triple-A on Saturday and effectively served as the 29th man for the doubleheader, though he didn't appear in either contest. The 25-year-old has appeared in 23 games for the Mets this season and has a .174/.208/.391 slash line in 24 plate appearances.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Travis Blankenhorn: Back in big leagues
Rotowire
Blankenhorn was recalled by the Mets on Saturday, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
Blankenhorn has spent multiple brief stints on the big-league roster this season but has almost exclusively occupied a bench role. Just one of his 23 appearances this season has come as a starter. He's done little with his limited playing time to suggest he deserves a regular role, hitting .174/.208/.391 in 24 trips to the plate. He'll take the roster spot that had belonged to Brandon Nimmo, who landed on the injured list with a strained hamstring.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Travis Blankenhorn: Sent to minors
Rotowire
The Mets optioned Blankenhorn to Triple-A Syracuse on Tuesday.
Blankenhorn went 0-for-8 with a single in eight pinch-hit appearances after being recalled Aug. 13. It's unclear whether the utility player will get any more big-league opportunities this year. Francisco Lindor (oblique) was activated from the 10-day injured list in a corresponding move.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Travis Blankenhorn: Recalled by Mets
Rotowire
Blankenhorn was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse on Friday.
Blankenhorn has been in the minors since late July, and he's slashed .227/.346/.409 with two home runs, two doubles, five runs and four RBI in 12 games at Triple-A Syracuse since then. He'll rejoin the major-league club as utility depth after Javier Baez (back) was placed on the 10-day injured list.
