Travis Blankenhorn

Position: 2B
Level: AFL
Affiliate: Salt River Rafters
League: Arizona Fall League
Born: 08/03/1996 (Age: 27)
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 208
B/T: Left / Right
Acquired: 3rd Rd., 2015 MLB First-Year Player Draft (MIN)

Prospect Spotlight

The Twins popped Blankenhorn in the 3rd round of the 2015 amateur draft, signing the raw Pennsylvanian prep under-slot for $650K. Not fast-tracked, Blankenhorn has worked his way through the lower levels, spending 2018 in the Florida State League where his rawness as a hitter was exposed (.231/.299/.387), though his 11 bombs in a pitcher’s league indicates his power potential. .

Blankenhorn’s only standout tool is his above-average raw power, generated by brute strength and above-average bat speed with loft to clear shots to the power alleys. His approach is aggressive, looking to do damage on fastballs early in the count and struggling with spin later on.  The hit tool lags behind as a result, and unless he can make significant adjustments to shorten up, he projects as a future 40-grade hitter. He can still get to average power, but the result is a boom-or-bust hitter able to run into his pitch and not much else. Defensively, Blankenhorn is working on playing numerous positions to increase his value and get the bat into the lineup. He’s challenged in the dirt however, fringy at both 2B and 3B. He will appear in LF too, but the reads and routes are far away with fringy foot speed making him emergency only. His arm is fringy and best-suited for 2B, playable at 3B only occasionally.

Blankenhorn will likely see time in Double-A next year, which might be a test for him given the hit tool. His average game power and chance for some pop gives the chance to profile on the end of a big league bench, but hte lack of defensive value or contact skill creates scenarios in which he winds up a 4A type.