Article: Twins Prospect Takes Flight

[Seth Stohs]

If I were to ask you which Minnesota Twins minor leaguers could fly, who would you name? The first name that will pop into your head is likely to be Byron Buxton. A little more thought and you’ll think of names like Zach Granite, Nick Gordon, Tanner English, or maybe Manuel Guzman.

 

What if I were to tell you that 6-1, 215 pound Travis Harrison absolutely can fly?In fact, he’s had his pilot’s license for a little over two years. He enrolled in the Paragon Flight School at Page Field in Ft. Myers.

 

Flying is something that “Harry” has always wanted to do. You might say it’s in his blood, or at least in his family history. According to the 23-year-old, “My dad was a private pilot, and so was my grandpa. My uncle was an Air Force pilot for 25 years who flew 141s and then C-17s.”

 

Harrison gets out from time to time and flies some small planes. He currently does not own his own plane, but maybe after a long big league career, he’ll be able to get his own plan and travel all over. He really enjoys being in the air.

 

“The best part of flying is the feeling of freedom. You can fly wherever you want whenever you want. Seeing the world from the air is a small plane is an amazing thing.”

 

Harrison hasn’t made any cross-country flights from his home in Ft. Myers to his hometown in California. He says he hasn’t flown for more than a couple of hours at a time.

 

“Right now, I do it just for fun, not for transportation.”

 

Photo by Jessica Paulmann

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Travis Harrison was a supplemental first-round draft pick of the Twins in 2011 out of high school in California. While it wasn’t an easy choice, he decided to sign with the Twins instead of playing for the University of Southern California. In a 2013 interview, Harrison discussed why i was so difficult.”I fell in love with USC. I did. That place is awesome. It’s close enough to my house where there are a lot of people who would support it. But then I got picked by the Twins which is exciting.”

 

Since he signed he has been a big part of a lot of winning teams. His first pro season, 2012, was spent in Elizabethton where he was part of the Appalachian League championship team. He was part of that exciting first year in Cedar Rapids as a Twins affiliate in 2013. They led the Midwest League in Wins, but lost early in the playoffs with so many promotions. In 2014, he was part of the Ft. Myers Miracle team that won the Florida State League championship. In 2015, he was a member of the Southern League championship Chattanooga Lookouts.

 

According to Harrison, “Being on teams that have so much talent is fun for everyone. Everybody pushes everyone. The cool thing is all those talented guys want to win and are not ‘I’ guys.”

 

Harrison is known as a leader on whatever team he is on. He won’t say it, but in talking to some of his teammates, it is clear that he is among the most respected players in the organization. Teammates describe him as a fun guy who bring players together. He treats everyone well, jokes and has a lot of fun. However, when it is game time, he always plays hard and always plays to win first.

 

That attitude may remind fans of Doug Mientkiewicz who has been Harrison’s manager the last two years and against this year. Of Mientkiewicz, Harrison has a lot of respect and a lot to say.

 

“What he does best is he teaches you how to be mentally tough. He’s told me things that try to break me down to my breaking point. What he wants is for me to be so mentally tough that there’s nothing anyone can say to me or do to me that can affect me.”

 

After hitting .240/.363/.356 (.719) with 23 doubles, four triples and five home runs last year with the Lookouts, Harrison returns to Chattanooga for the start of the 2016 season. Through 18 games, he is hitting .246/.333/.415 (.748) with five doubles and two home runs.

 

Earlier this week, he had consecutive three-hit games in which he went a combined 6-9 with four doubles, a homer, and two walks. Those were a couple of games of great results, but Harrison says he has felt good all year.

 

“To be honest, I have felt good for the whole start of the year, but the ball hasn’t fallen in for me. It was nice to have a couple big games there. Got some good pitches to hit and put good swings on them.”

 

Harrison has a singular goal for his 2016. “My goal is simple this year, trust myself 100% all the time. When I do that, it works out really well.”

 

Another goal would likely be to advance up to AAA. And why not? Maybe he can put together a season and earn a September call up. Getting to the big leagues, of course, is a huge goal is for any player, and the same is true for Harrison. As he thinks about his goal eventually coming true, he is reminded of those who have been there for him along the way.

 

“It would be a dream come true! My family is the most important thing to me. No exceptions. They have done so much for me; all of them, my dad, mom, and my two younger brothers (Steven and Curtis). Every time I play, I represent myself, my family, and the Minnesota Twins.

 

He has played with some very talented players over his 4+ years in the Twins organization, and several of his former teammates have found their way to the big leagues, even if just for a cup of coffee for now. Harrison really likes seeing that happen and hopes to enjoy his own long big league career.

“It makes me really excited, but to be honest, making the big leagues is just the next step. Honestly, I can’t tell you how happy I am for guys like Buxton and the others. It’s an honor to call these guys friends. I can’t wait until we win a World Series together. And yes, that will happen.”

 

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[nater79a]

Ha! Players that can "fly". I see what you did there.

 

Very tricky, Seth!

[twinssouth]

Great article Seth, Harrison seems to be one of those under the radar prospects (no flying pun intended). Watching him, he's a good hard nose ball player, middle of the order bat for Chattanooga, easily overlooked, plays a good outfield. I wish him the best. He kinda seems to me like a Plouffe/Cuddyer was at this stage of development. Hopes he makes it.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Great article Seth, Harrison seems to be one of those under the radar prospects (no flying pun intended). Watching him, he's a good hard nose ball player, middle of the order bat for Chattanooga, easily overlooked, plays a good outfield. I wish him the best. He kinda seems to me like a Plouffe/Cuddyer was at this stage of development. Hopes he makes it.

 

I think that is a good comp... We'll see what happens, but he's still young and has a ton of potential!

[twinssporto]

Great article Seth.  It's nice to read about the guys coming up through the ranks.  I may have missed it but what position does he play?  Sounds like OF based on comment from twinssouth.

[Seth Stohs]

Yeah, he's mostly the Lookouts right fielder. He's played some left field. He also played one game at third base (out of necessity) for the first time in a couple of years.

[operation mindcrime]

Let's hope his comps not Thurman Munson! \m/

[Seth Stohs]

 

Let's hope his comps not Thurman Munson! \m/

 

Dislike... 

[Mr. Brooks]

Dislike...

Too soon?

[Thrylos]

 

Too soon?

 

In case you did not know, Thurman Munson, a multiple All-Star player and projected Hall of Famer, died at age 32 when he crash-landed his private plane.

 

Tacky comment to say at least.

 

/over and out

Edited April 29, 2016 by Thrylos

[Mr. Brooks]

In case you did not know, Thurman Munson, a multiple All-Star player and projected Hall of Famer, died at age 32 when he crash-landed his private plane.

 

Tacky comment to say at least.

 

/over and out

Lol, it was almost 40 years ago. I'd say the requisite waiting period on related jokes has more than passed.