Travis Snider: Toronto Blue Jays Bright Furture?

Travis Snider: Toronto Blue Jays Bright Future?

Written By: Mark “The Hard Hitter” Ritter

When the smoke cleared and the fat lady sang, Roy Halladay was still a Toronto Blue Jay after the trade deadline. For Jays fans, thoughts turned to the future of their beloved franchise, just who might step up to right the sinking ship that is the Toronto Blue Jays?

Coming out of spring training, Blue Jays outfielder Travis Snider, who stands 5'11" tall and weighs in at 230 pounds, was firing on all cylinders.

His .389 average, four home runs, 44 total bases, .400 on base percentage and .698 slugging percentage compared favorably to any Jays’ player.

Snider, who goes by the nickname "Moonraker", left spring training with great confidence, made the team and looked set to take Major League baseball by storm. Through his first 10 games Snider was batting .290 with a .710 slugging percentage and a .353 on base percentage and three home runs.

Snider’s early success led many fans to believe Snider would take over the Starting duties as the Jays Left Fielder for the long haul, but it was not to be.

Over the next 30 games Snider saw his totals erode. His batting average fell to a less than ordinary .216, his slugging percentage dipped to a woeful .243 and his on base percentage sagged to a paltry .237, hardly the type of output the Jays had hoped for.

As a result of Snider’s poor showing at the plate he was optioned down to AAA Los Vegas.

The move was a tough one for Snider to swallow, but he took his demotion like a man, kept his mouth shut, put his head down and went to work.

The hard work has been paying off. In 34 games with the Las Vegas 51s, Snider has 35 hits in 120 at bats, good enough for a .292 average. His .583 slugging percentage leads the team and his on base percentage of .393 is third best on the roster.

Snider’s eight home runs in 120 at bats is decent, but it’s his 19 walks that is impressive as it suggests that he has become a more patient hitter, which will bode well for him in the future.

With the likes of outfielders Alex Rios, Vernon Wells, and Jose Bautista all struggling with their consistency offensively, it’s just a matter of time before we see Snider back at the Rogers Center, perhaps this time for good?

Until next time,

Peace!