Photo by Reviewjournal.com
On August 21st, the Las Vegas 51’s beat the Omaha Storm Chasers 8-3 behind the power of outfielder Travis Taijeron. He was 3 for 4 with three homeruns and four RBI with the homeruns coming in his first three at bats. The homeruns came in the 2nd innings, 4th, and 5th, all coming off right-handed pitcher J.C. Sulbaran.
Travis came up in the 7th inning against former big leaguer Joba Chamberlain with a chance for a fourth homerun but grounded out to second base in what ended up being his final at bat of the game. He went on to hit a career high 25 homeruns during the 2015 season for the 51’s which led the entire Mets farm system.
The 26-year old also set a career high with his 71 RBI, 65 walks, and 147 strikeouts. He led the Mets farm system with his .536 slugging percentage and .929 OPS.
This was the first time in the 18th round picks career he had hit three homeruns after hitting two in a game on four different occasions. Here you can watch the third blast he hit that night, this one to right field. Travis became the first Met minor leaguer to hit three homeruns for the 51’s and the first Las Vegas batter to do so since Ricardo Nanita did in 2012.
Maybe the craziest part of the power display from Taijeron is that it came on the same night that Yoenis Cespedes went crazy at Coors Field hitting three homeruns himself in a 5 for 5 night with seven RBI.
Top Performances Of Season: Matt Oberste with six RBI, Noah Syndergaard shows off all-around talent, Gabriel Ynoa spins one-hitter.
Will he get a shot for big league? Mets do need righty bench OF.
I think the chances are still slim, would be nice to have him play some 1B this spring. Not saying I don’t think he could be productive because I think he could be. Could be a useful bench piece with pop if the Mets don’t get someone like Raburn/Pearce but not being on the 40-man roster hurts his chances.