Travis Lakins Sr. Explained

Travis Lakins Sr.
Team:Chicago White Sox
Bats:Right
Throws:Right
Position:Pitcher
Birth Date:29 June 1994
Birth Place:Franklin, Ohio, U.S.
Debutleague:MLB
Debutdate:April 23
Debutyear:2019
Debutteam:Boston Red Sox
Finalleague:MLB
Finaldate:May 11
Finalyear:2022
Finalteam:Baltimore Orioles--->
Statleague:MLB
Statyear:2022 season
Stat1label:Win–loss record
Stat1value:4–8
Stat2label:Earned run average
Stat2value:4.84
Stat3label:Strikeouts
Stat3value:75
Teams:

Travis Clay Lakins Sr.[1] (born June 29, 1994) is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Chicago White Sox organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles. Listed at 6inchesft1inchesin (ftin) and 180lb, he throws and bats right-handed.[2]

Career

Lakins attended Franklin High School. Lakins played college baseball for the Ohio State Buckeyes,[3] and in 2014, he pitched a perfect game for the Chillicothe Paints, a collegiate summer baseball team.[4]

Boston Red Sox

The Red Sox selected Lakins in the sixth round of the 2015 MLB Draft, signing him for an above-slot bonus of $320,000.[2] Lakins struck out three batters in two shutout innings during his only appearance with the Low–A Lowell Spinners in 2015. He then pitched for the rookie–level GCL Red Sox, but only in the playoffs.[2] In his brief stint, Lakins showed a quick arm from a three-quarters arm slot, offering a three-pitch mix with a fastball-curveball-changeup combination, with his fastball sitting at 92– and topping out at 96 with a bit of sink and run. The curveball flashed plus-potential at 75– with two-plane, tight rotation and hard snap, while the changeup ranged 83– and also showed plus potential with late dive away from left-handed hitters when down in the zone. He also used a heavy mix of curveballs and changeups both early and behind in counts, showing consistency with the secondaries pitches and refined command and control overall.[5]

In 2016, Lakins was promoted two levels up to the High–A Salem Red Sox. In the month of April, he led the Salem pitching staff with a 3–1 record and a 2.13 ERA in four starts, striking out 26 and walking 10 in innings of work.[2] In early August, Lakins was placed on the disabled list with right elbow inflammation and did not pitch for the rest of the season. He went 6–3 in 19 starts and a relief appearance, featuring a 5.93 ERA with 79 strikeouts and 36 walks in 91 innings.[2]

Lakins spent 2017 with both Salem and the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs, posting a combined 5–4 record with a 4.21 ERA in innings between both teams.[6] He finished the year rated as the Red Sox' No. 13 prospect, according to MLB.com.[5] Lakins started the 2018 season with Double-A Portland. At the end of July, he was promoted to the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox. Overall for the 2018 season, Lakins made 36 appearances, compiling a record of 3–2 with an ERA of 2.32 and three saves.

On November 20, 2018, the Red Sox added Lakins to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.[7] Lakins opened the 2019 season with Pawtucket, and on April 23, he was added to Boston's major league active roster for the first time.[8] He made his MLB debut that day, pitching innings against the Detroit Tigers while allowing one run and striking out two.[9] Lakins was optioned to Pawtucket on April 26.[10] He was recalled on May 23 and optioned back on May 29,[11] then recalled on June 12 and optioned back on June 17.[12] Boston next recalled Lakins on August 12, and optioned him back to Pawtucket on August 20.[13] Lakins was recalled to Boston on September 1, when rosters expanded.[14] Overall with the 2019 Red Sox, Lakins appeared in 16 games (three starts), compiling an 0–1 record with 3.86 ERA and 18 strikeouts in innings.

Lakins was designated for assignment by the Red Sox on January 17, 2020.[15]

Baltimore Orioles

Lakins was traded on January 21, 2020, to the Chicago Cubs for future considerations.[16] He was claimed off waivers by the Baltimore Orioles on January 31.[17] He was informed of the transaction while on a late-honeymoon cruise with his wife.[18] In 22 appearances for the Orioles in 2020, Lakins pitched to a 2.81 ERA and 25 strikeouts over innings.[19]

On June 29, 2021, Lakins made his first start of the season, but left in the second inning with an apparent injury. On July 3, he was placed on the 60-day injured list with right elbow pain, although manager Brandon Hyde described the injury as a “significant elbow injury”.[20] On July 6, Lakins underwent season-ending surgery to fix a recurrent olecranon stress fracture in his right elbow.[21] [22] In 24 appearances with the 2021 Orioles prior to his injury, Lakins recorded a 1–4 record and 5.79 ERA. On October 14, Lakins was outrighted off of the 40-man roster.[23]

On April 15, 2022, Lakins' contract was selected by the Orioles.[24] He made 6 appearances for Baltimore, struggling to a 9.58 ERA with 8 strikeouts in 10.1 innings pitched. On July 10, Lakins was placed on the 60-day injured list with right elbow inflammation.[25] On August 31, he was activated from the IL and sent outright to the Triple-A Norfolk Tides. In 5 games (2 starts) with the Tides, he posted an 8.68 ERA with 7 strikeouts in 9.1 innings of work. He elected free agency following the season on October 6.

Lancaster Barnstormers

On April 17, 2023, Lakins signed with the Lancaster Barnstormers of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.[26] In three games for the Barnstormers, he recorded a 3.00 ERA with 4 strikeouts in 3.0 innings of work. With Lancaster, Lakins won the Atlantic League championship.[27]

Lakins retired from professional baseball following the 2023 season to pursue a career in business.[28]

Chicago White Sox

On June 25, 2024, Lakins came out of retirement and signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox.[29]

Personal life

Lakins has been married since 2017;[18] he and his wife have a daughter (Brezzlynne Lou Lakins) and two sons (Travis Lakins Jr. and Tucker Lee Lakins) .[30]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2015 Draft Retrospective: The picks . Jim . Crowell . soxprospects.com . September 1, 2020 . November 5, 2020 . goes by Travis Lakins Sr. after the birth of his son.
  2. Web site: Sox-Prospects.com – Travis Lakins page.
  3. Web site: Travis Lakins . ohiostatebuckeyes.com . 4 June 2014 . April 23, 2019.
  4. Web site: Boston's Travis Lakins Tossed a Perfect Game for the Paints . prospectleague.com . February 9, 2019 . April 23, 2019.
  5. http://m.mlb.com/prospects/2017?list=bos 2017 MLB Prospects Watch – 2017 Boston Red Sox Top 30 Prospects Watch
  6. Web site: Travis Lakins Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball. milb.com. December 19, 2017.
  7. Web site: Red Sox's Travis Lakins: Contract purchased. CBS Sports. November 20, 2018. April 23, 2019.
  8. Web site: Boston Red Sox call up Darwinzon Hernandez, Travis Lakins; Bobby Poyner optioned to Pawtucket. Cotillo. Chris. Masslive.com. April 23, 2019. April 23, 2019.
  9. Web site: Tigers vs. Red Sox - Box Score . . April 23, 2019 . May 29, 2019.
  10. Web site: Red Sox Roster & Staff – Transactions . . April 2019 . May 29, 2019 . April 5, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190405054541/http://m.redsox.mlb.com/roster/transactions/2019/04 . dead .
  11. Web site: Red Sox Roster & Staff – Transactions . . May 2019 . May 29, 2019 . May 3, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190503033909/http://m.redsox.mlb.com/roster/transactions/2019/05 . dead .
  12. Web site: Red Sox Roster & Staff – Transactions . . June 2019 . June 17, 2019 . June 1, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190601232953/http://m.redsox.mlb.com/roster/transactions/2019/06 . dead .
  13. Web site: Red Sox Roster & Staff – Transactions . . August 2019 . August 20, 2019 . August 2, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190802204435/http://m.redsox.mlb.com/roster/transactions/2019/08 . dead .
  14. Web site: Red Sox Roster & Staff – Transactions . September 2019 . . September 1, 2019 . September 1, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190901220726/http://m.redsox.mlb.com/roster/transactions/2019/09 . dead .
  15. Web site: Red Sox Roster & Staff – Transactions . . January 2020 . January 16, 2020 . January 3, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200103082535/http://m.redsox.mlb.com/roster/transactions/2020/01 . dead .
  16. Web site: Cubs Roster & Staff – Transactions . . January 2020 . January 21, 2020.
  17. https://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2020/01/orioles-claim-travis-lakins-and-dfa-stevie-wilkerson.html Kubatko, Roch. "Orioles claim Travis Lakins and DFA Stevie Wilkerson," Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN), Friday, January 31, 2020.
  18. News: Orioles add Milone to starting rotation competition; Cobb's first bullpen session; Lakins gets O's news on a cruise . Dubroff . Rich . BaltimoreBaseball.com . February 13, 2020 . February 14, 2020.
  19. Web site: Travis Lakins Sr. Stats, Fantasy & News. MLB.com.
  20. Web site: Orioles Acquire Kelvin Gutierrez from Royals for Cash Considerations.
  21. 1412474579461853187. masnRoch. From #orioles: Travis Lakins, Sr. had successful surgery to fix a recurrent olecranon stress fracture in his right… . 6 July 2021.
  22. Web site: Orioles' Travis Lakins Undergoes Elbow Surgery.
  23. News: Orioles' Travis Lakins: Outrighted to Triple-A . . October 14, 2021 . May 1, 2022.
  24. Web site: Orioles Place John Means On Injured List, Select Travis Lakins. MLB Trade Rumors. Adams. Steve. April 15, 2022. April 15, 2022.
  25. Web site: Orioles' Travis Lakins: Goes to 60-day IL. 2023-05-23. cbssports.com. en.
  26. Web site: 'Stormers Sign Ex-Oriole Right-Hander Lakins. 2023-04-17. oursportscentral.com. en.
  27. Web site: Lancaster Barnstormers clinch second consecutive Atlantic League Championship. October 20, 2023. local21news.com. en.
  28. Web site: Travis Lakins - Business Leader - Pinnacle Elite. April 7, 2024. linkedin.com. en.
  29. https://www.mlb.com/transactions/2024/06/25
  30. News: Lakins Finding Home in Baltimore After Whirlwind Year . ohiostatebuckeyes.com . September 4, 2020 . May 1, 2022.