Travis Snider

American baseball player (born 1988)

Travis James Snider (born February 2, 1988) is an American former professional baseball outfielder. Nicknamed Lunchbox, he played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Baltimore Orioles.

Snider played for the Mill Creek Little League team at 1999 Little League Western Regional Tournament in San Bernardino, California. He attended Henry M. Jackson High School, where he played as an outfielder for the baseball team and as a running back and linebacker in football.

The Toronto Blue Jays selected Snider in the first round, with the 14th overall selection, of the 2006 MLB Draft. 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 ranked among the league leaders in many hitting categories, including RBI (93, first), doubles (35, first), hits (143, T third), home runs (16, T fifth) and batting average (.313, fifth). He represented Lansing in the 2007 Midwest League All Star Game. Snider 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. Overall, in 133 combined minor league games, he batted .275 with 23 home runs and 91 RBI. On September 4, 2008, Snider launched his first career home run at Rogers Centre off Kevin Slowey of the Minnesota Twins, becoming 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. On April 6, 2009, Snider recorded a home run and double on Opening Day against the Detroit Tigers. He had his first career 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 first game back. On August 2, 2010, Snider became the first Blue Jays player since 1978 to hit two doubles in one inning against the New York Yankees (pitchers A. J. Burnett and Boone Logan). This was part of an AL record tying six doubles in an inning by the Blue Jays.

After opening the season with just a .184 batting average with a home run and 12 RBI through 25 games, Snider was optioned to Triple A Las Vegas on April 28. On July 3, he was recalled by the Blue Jays. On the nights of July 8 and July 20, 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. He was diagnosed with tendinitis in his right wrist on August 25, ending his 2011 season.

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. Mid game against the Seattle Mariners on July 30, Snider was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for pitcher Brad Lincoln.

In 50 games with the Pirates to finish 2012, Snider hit .250 with a home run and 9 RBI. Snider was activated from the disabled list when the rosters expanded on September 1, and was used in a pinch hitting role to finish the season. In 111 games (53 starts) in 2013, Snider hit .215/.281/.333 with five home runs and 25 RBI. Snider finished the 2014 season with a .264 average with 13 home runs and 38 RBI in 140 games. He was designated for assignment on August 7, and released on August 15.

On August 19, 2015, Snider signed a minor league deal to return to the Pirates. He elected free agency on October 22.

On January 30, 2016, Snider signed a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals, with an invitation to spring training. He was released on March 30, and re signed to a minor league contract on April 1. He was released on July 30, 2016.

On January 6, 2017, Snider signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers.

On August 15, 2017, the Rangers traded Snider to the New York Mets for cash. In 17 games for the Triple–A Las Vegas 51s, Snider hit .308/.375/.415 with 1 home run and 8 RBI. He elected free agency following the season on November 6.

On April 5, 2018, Snider signed with the Long Island Ducks of the independent Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. He became a free agent following the 2018 season.

On January 9, 2019, Snider signed a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He elected free agency on November 7, 2019. On January 15, 2020, Snider re signed with the Diamondbacks organization, and was released on May 22 with having appeared in a game.

On July 24, 2020, Snider signed a minor league contract with the Miami Marlins. Snider did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID 19 pandemic. On August 27, Snider was released by the Marlins organization. Snider played in 63 games for the Triple A Gwinnett Braves, hitting .174 with four home runs and 15 RBI.

From Lynnwood, Washington, 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.