MLB: Blankenhorn called up by New York Mets
Jul. 22—Travis Blankenhorn is back in the major leagues.
The Pottsville Area High School graduate was called up late Thursday night by the New York Mets and was in the starting lineup for Friday's game against the San Diego Padres at Citi Field, batting eighth and serving as the designated hitter.
A third-round selection (No. 80 overall) by the Minnesota Twins in the 2015 MLB Draft, Blankenhorn made his major-league debut with the Twins in 2020, going 1-for-3 with a double in a Sept. 15 game in Chicago against the White Sox.
He reached the majors again with the Twins in 2021, scoring a run in an April 21 game against Oakland. After being designated for assignment and spending time in the Los Angeles Dodgers and Seattle Mariners franchises, he was claimed by the New York Mets and promoted to the big leagues June 1, 2021.
Blankenhorn, 25, accumulated 23 at-bats in 23 games with the Mets in the majors last season in five different stints with the big club. He batted .174 (4-for-23), scored three runs, had two doubles and hit his first MLB homer July 18 at Pittsburgh, a blast that landed outside the stadium in the river.
Blankenhorn has spent the entire 2022 season at the Mets' Triple-A affiliate, the Syracuse Mets, where he has batted .276 (72-for-261) with 38 runs scored, 12 homers, 43 RBIs and eight stolen bases, with an OPS of .819.
He's been on a tear since the end of May, batting .402 (37-for-92) with 22 runs scored 10 doubles, five homers and 24 RBIs in June and .270 (10-for-37) with a double and three homers in July.
The 6-foot-2, 235-pounder was the International League's Player of the Week for June 20-26 and the International League's Player of the Month for June. He led the league in total bases (62) and OPS (1.160), was second in average (.402), hits (37), doubles (10), RBIs (24), on-base percentage (.486) and slugging percentage (.674) and was fifth in runs scored (22) in June.
New York's lineup Friday featured center fielder Brandon Nimmo hitting leadoff, followed by right fielder Starling Marte, shortstop Francisco Lindor, first baseman Pete Alonso, left fielder Jeff McNeil, third baseman Eduardo Escobar, second baseman Luis Guillorme, Blankenhorn and catcher Tomas Nido. Max Scherzer (6-1, 2.22 ERA) was pitching.
Blankenhorn was recalled and placed on the 40-man roster when first baseman/designated hitter Dominic Smith was placed on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to July 17, with a right ankle sprain. Smith, rumored to be in trade discussions, is hitting just .194 (26-for-134) with no homers and 17 RBIs this season.
The Mets begin the second half at 58-35 and in first place in the National League East, 2 1/2 games ahead of the Atlanta Braves and 8 1/2 games up on the Philadelphia Phillies.
Contact the writer: Lboyer@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6026; @pubsportsboss on Twitter
