Travis Snider
Snider, with the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats
Pittsburgh Pirates – No. 23
Right fielder
Born: (1988-02-02) February 2, 1988 (age 24) Everett, Washington
Bats: Left	Throws: Left
MLB debut
August 29, 2008 for the Toronto Blue Jays
Career statistics (through August 19, 2012)
Batting average	.252
Hits	224
Home runs	32
Runs batted in	117
Teams
Toronto Blue Jays (2008–2012) Pittsburgh Pirates (2012–present)

Travis James Snider (born February 2, 1988) is a Major League Baseball player for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He hits and throws left-handed. He played baseball at Henry M. Jackson High School, where he also played running back and linebacker in football. Snider played for the Mill Creek Little League team at 1999 Little League Western Regional Tournament in San Bernardino, California.

  Professional Baseball Career

  Toronto Blue Jays

Snider began his professional career in 2006 with the Pulaski Blue Jays in the Appalachian 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 A Lansing Lugnuts, he spent the whole season in Lansing and led the league in many hitting categories and he represented Lansing in the 2007 Midwest League All-Star Game.

He began the 2008 season with the Dunedin Blue Jays of the Florida 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-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats of the Eastern 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. Snider was nicknamed "the Franchise" by New Hampshire Union Leader reporter Kevin Gray. On August 6, 2008 the Blue Jays promoted Snider to Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs of the International League. Snider continued to play well at Triple-A and would only play 18 games at that level before being promoted.

  2008-2010

Snider was promoted to the Toronto 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 at Yankee Stadium. Facing Carl Pavano, Snider lined out to shortstop in his first at-bat. He later doubled off Pavano for his first big-league hit. On September 4, 2008, Snider launched his first career home run at Rogers Centre off Kevin Slowey of the Minnesota Twins. Snider is the fourth youngest Blue Jay to hit a home run. After his first season with Toronto, he finished hitting .301 with two home runs and 13 RBI in 24 games.

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.^[1]

He had a home run and double on Opening Day, 2009. He had his first two home run game on April 13, 2009 against the Minnesota Twins and became the youngest player in Blue Jays' history to hit two home runs in a game. He was sent back to Triple-A Las Vegas 51s in May, after a prolonged hitting slump, but was recalled by the Blue Jays in August, going on to hit a home run in his next at-bat.

On August 1, 2010, he became the first Blue Jays player since 1978 to hit 2 doubles in one inning against the New York Yankees (pitchers A.J. Burnett and Boone Logan). This was part of an AL record tying 6 doubles in an inning by the Toronto Blue Jays.

  2011

After opening the season with just a .184 batting average with 1 home run and 12 RBI through 25 games, Snider was optioned to AAA Las Vegas on April 28. On July 3 Travis was recalled by the Blue Jays.^[2] On the nights of July 8^[3] and 20th, 2011,^[4] Snider had 5 RBI - a career best.

On August 4, Snider was optioned back to Triple-A Las Vegas to make room for Brett Lawrie.^[5] He was diagnosed with tendinitis in his right wrist on August 25, ending his 2011 season.^[6]

  2012

Snider was a spring training invitee, but was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas before the end of spring. He was in competition with Eric Thames for the starting left field position. He was recalled to the Blue Jays on July 20. ^[7] Mid-game against the Seattle Mariners on July 30, Snider was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for pitcher Brad Lincoln.^[8]

  Pittsburgh Pirates

On July 30, 2012, Snider was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for pitcher Brad Lincoln.^[8]

  Personal life

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.^[9]

  Awards

• 2008 - Eastern League All-Star Team
• 2008 - Eastern League Home Run Derby Champion
• 2007 - Arizona Fall League All-Prospect Team
• 2007 - AFL Rising Stars
• 2007 - Baseball America Low Class A All-Star
• 2007 - Baseball America Minor League All-Star
• 2007 - Midwest League Post-Season All-Star
• 2007 - MID Mid-Season All-Star
• 2007 - MID Player of the Week
• 2007 - MID Player of the Week
• 2006 - Topps Short-Season/Rookie All-Star
• 2006 - Topps APP Player of the Year
• 2006 - Baseball America Rookie All-Star
• 2006 - Topps APP Player of the Month
• 2006 - Appalachian League Player of the Year
• 2006 - APP Post-Season All-Star
• 2006 - APP Player of the Week
• 2006 - APP Player of the Week

  See also

• USA Today All-USA high school baseball team

  References

  External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Travis Snider

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
• Travis Snider on Twitter