Travis Snider

Infobox MLB player
name = Travis Snider

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width = 250
caption = Snider as a member of the Class A Lansing Lugnuts of the Midwest League in by|2007
team = Toronto Blue Jays
number = 45
position = Left Fielder
birthdate = birth date and age|1988|2|2
birthplace = city-state|Everett|Washington
bats = Left
throws = Left
debutdate = August 29
debutyear = 2008
debutteam = Toronto Blue Jays
statyear = September 12, 2008
stat1label = Batting average
stat1value = .341
stat2label = Home runs
stat2value = 2
stat3label = Runs batted in
stat3value = 12
stat4label =
stat4value =
stat5label =
stat5value =
stat6label =
stat6value =
teams =
*Toronto Blue Jays (by|2008-present)
awards =

Travis James Snider (born February 2, 1988 in city-state|Everett|Washington) is a player for the Toronto Blue Jays. He is considered a power hitter who could potentially play right field, left field or first base. He hits and throws left-handed. He played for Henry M. Jackson High School. He also played running back and linebacker in high school. Snider played for the Mill Creek Little League team at 1999 Little League Western Regional Tournament in San Bernardino, California.

Minor Leagues

Snider, nicknamed "The Franchise" in the minors, 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 Class AA New Hampshire Fisher Cats of the Eastern League on May 21st, 2008. Initially at AA Snider struggled but as he regained his health and started to play in the field again he began hitting well. Snider won the Eastern League Home Run Derby with an impressive performance, smacking 10 home runs in the semifinals and dazzling a record crowd at the Fisher Cats stadium. Snider was nicknamed "the Franchise" by New Hampshire Union Leader reporter Kevin Gray. On August 6th, 2008 the Blue Jays promoted Snider to Class AAA Syracuse Chiefs of the International League. Snider had a torrid start at AAA and would only play 18 games at that level.

Major Leagues

He 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. It was a solo shot into deep center field in the 5th inning. The ball bounced back into the field of play, where Twins' center fielder Denard Span made sure Snider received the ball as a souvenir. Snider is the fourth youngest Blue Jay to hit a home run.

Awards

* 2008 - Eastern League All-Star Team
* 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

ee also

* USA Today All-USA high school baseball team