BY DAN GLICKMAN
Left-handed slugger Travis Blankenhorn has elected free agency, likely ending his career with the Rochester Red Wings.
VIEW MORE PHOTOS FROM JOE TERRITO.
According to several reports, the 28-year-old, who was designated for assignment by the Washington Nationals last Friday to create a spot on the 40-man roster right-handed pitcher Michael Rucker, decided to become a free agent after clearing waivers instead of accepting his assignment back to Rochester. Such a move is available to players, particularly veterans, who have previously been put on outright assignment.
Blankenhorn can now sign with any team. While in theory he could resign with the Nationals organization, it is highly unlikely.
The Pennsylvanian played part of the last two seasons with the Red Wings, becoming one of the best power hitters for the club this century with 49 home runs in 792 at-bats- the most in the Nationals era.
In 2023, Blankenhorn was named the Red Wings’ MVP, hitting 23 home runs while hitting .262 with an .877 OPS. This year, Blankenhorn hit 26- tied for the second-most in the International League entering Monday and behind only Adam Brett Walker’s 27 HR mark in 2017 for the most in a single season for a Red Wing in the 21st century. He has struggled during his call-ups to the big leagues, however, hitting a career .129/.156/.161 in 100 plate appearances across parts of five seasons, hitting two home runs.
The Red Wings are off Monday, but begin a series at Indianapolis on Tuesday at 6:35 p.m.
Thanks Gnats! A tip of the cap for taking away perhaps the only player left on our team worth watching down the final two weeks. We were thinking maybe he would get to 30 HR’s and 80 RBI which would be a small consolation for a team that just continues to disappoint.
But it makes it a lot easier to know where we stand with Washington. We don’t matter. Guess Gnats are trying to achieve the goal of finishing 15 under 500. Sounds good.
In the 8th inning Wings were down only 5-3. A few minutes later it was 13-3. Washington has completely destroyed the Wings…as our team is now a single A-double AA team at best.
Guess they decided that it was not important for a team in the organization to succeed.
Never liked the Gnats. They have done nothing to change my mind.
thanks guys.
For nothing
Guess even our local writers have bailed on the Wings. thats OK. Nothing at all good to write about anyway. The team has mailed it in.
another listless loss 6-2. Wings just don’t care anymore. What a horrible finish to the season.
Why are these guys even playing anymore. They aren’t in any game. What a miserable ending to the season.
A tip of the hat to Washington of course. They don’t give a darn. Can’t wait to see how everyone spins this one.
hey hey hey..they finally won a game. But it sure was ugly. They pushed 2 12th inning runs across on bases loaded walks. then a real boneheaded play cost them an easy run, when a sac fly turned into an inning ending double play because of some real bad baserunning. Fortunately it didn’t cost them the win.
Season can’t end soon enough. And I hate even saying that since I love the Red Wings and hate the long off-season. However this team has been an exercise in total frustration and I lay that right at the feet of our parent team. How is it, or WHY is it that, as Josh Whetzel said on air, the ‘good teams’ have made quite a push at the end of this half. Weren’t we one of those good teams until Sept 1?
There are organizations that make things happen. DC is not one of them. Prove me wrong
3-0 lead in the bottom of the 9th and bullpen couldn’t hold it. Fortunately some good 2 out hitting in the 10th carried the day and Wings prevailed 6-3.
Pitching—all season it failed us. It will be interesting to see how the Gnats spin this.
Probably it will be look at how many hitters were promoted during the season.
I am still seething at how they treated Blankenhorn. Why do they DFA him so close to season’s end. What really was to be gained by robbing the Wings of the only real slugger left to enjoy. When parent teams do that to their affiliates it sends a clear message that they don’t care and thats a hill I’ll die on. Its not like the Gnats were in a struggle for a playoff spot.
When no one claimed him then they send him back here; he knowing they no longer care about him. No wonder he chose free agency after that.
just one of so many things that have never endeared me to Washington. We are stuck with them and perhaps one day over the next 6 years they may put a winner here, by accident. Meanwhile they will continue to be a paragon of anonymity in Rochester. Wood and Crews moved the needle a bit but certainly not enough to make the fans or the media give a darn about the Gnats.