Nationals' Travis Blankenhorn: Cut from big-league camp
Rotowire
The Nationals reassigned Blankenhorn to minor-league camp Monday.
After slugging 23 home runs and getting on base at a .360 clip with Triple-A Rochester last season, Blankenhorn earned a cup of coffee with the Nationals in September. He proceeded to slash a middling .161/.297/.258 in 37 plate appearances for the big club before being shut down for the final two weeks of the campaign with plantar fasciitis. The Nationals outrighted Blankenhorn off the 40-man roster over the winter, only for the 27-year-old to rejoin the organization on a minor-league deal. Though he attended spring training as a non-roster invitee, Blankenhorn never looked like a serious threat to make the Opening Day roster and will now head back to Rochester.
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Nationals' Travis Blankenhorn: Returns to Nationals
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Blankenhorn signed a minor-league contract with the Nationals on Dec. 22, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
Blankenhorn had elected free agency after being jettisoned from the Nats' 40-man roster in October but wound up re-signing. The 27-year-old outfielder went 5-for-31 with one home run with Washington before his season was ended by a foot injury. He'll be healthy for spring training.
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Nationals' Travis Blankenhorn: Placed on 10-day IL
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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.
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Mets' Travis Blankenhorn: Outrighted to Triple-A
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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.
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Mets' Travis Blankenhorn: Cast off 40-man roster
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Mets' Travis Blankenhorn: Optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
Blankenhorn was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse on Tuesday, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports.
Blankenhorn struck out in both of his plate appearances since being recalled last Wednesday. With pitcher Jerad Eickhoff rejoining the 26-man roster to start Tuesday, Blankenhorn will return to Syracuse for the time being.
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Mets' Travis Blankenhorn: Returns to majors
Rotowire
Blankenhorn was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse on Wednesday, Deesha Thosar of the New York Daily News reports.
Blankenhorn was sent down Monday, but he'll return to the major-league club after Robert Stock (hamstring) was placed on the 10-day injured list as part of a corresponding move. The 24-year-old has hit .231 with a home run, two doubles, four RBI and three runs in 13 games this season and should fill a depth role for the Mets going forward.
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Mets' Travis Blankenhorn: Sent to minors
Rotowire
Blankenhorn was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse on Monday, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
Blankenhorn was recalled on Saturday and appeared in both weekend games against the Pirates, grabbing an RBI double and a three-run homer in his two pinch-hit appearances. His reward for that success is a return trip to the minors, with the Mets adding a pair of relievers (Stephen Nogosek and Anthony Banda) in a corresponding move.
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Mets' Travis Blankenhorn: Homers as pinch hitter
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Blankenhorn hit a three-run home run in his only at-bat in Sunday's 7-6 win over Pittsburgh.
The 24-year-old pinch hit for pitcher Drew Smith in the fourth inning and delivered a three-run shot to get the Mets back in the contest. Blankenhorn has seen only 14 plate appearances this season, and he's provided a homer, four RBI, two doubles and three runs scored. He'll likely continue to serve in a bench role while Francisco Lindor (oblique) is on the injured list.
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Mets' Travis Blankenhorn: Returns to minors
Rotowire
Blankenhorn was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse on Friday.
Blankenhorn spent the past week in the majors and went 0-for-4 with a strikeout in five appearances. He'll return to Triple-A, where he has a .269/.371/.538 slash line with four homers, 18 RBI and two steals in 16 games.
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Mets' Travis Blankenhorn: Optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
Blankenhorn was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse on Friday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Blankenhorn was claimed off waivers from the Mariners at the start of June and spent 10 days on the active roster, but he started just a single game. He'll retreat to the minors for now, with Luis Guillorme (oblique) returning from the injured list in a corresponding move.
