Travis Harrison - 2016

[Shane Wahl]

Travis Harrison
DOB: 10-17-92, in Aliso Viejo California
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 215
Position: OF/3B
Bats: Right
Throws: Right

Shane's 2016 Prospect Rank: 31

 

2016 statistics (Chattanooga):

 

128 PA, .296/.359/.400 (.759), six doubles, two homers, nine walks, 30 strikeouts, three steals, five times caught stealing

 

Harrison is showing solid improvement in his second go-around in AA. It is still quite underwhelming, however. He continues his slide down my prospect list, and has now moved from around 8-10 to 31 in four and a half years. The power has still not occurred at all. And he has 18 stolen bases in 41 attempts (seriously) in his minor league career. As a corner OF, this is a non-starter for any shot at the majors. As a 3B, it is still possible. It's still a long road to the majors for Harrison. He is still just 23, but things are going to have to happen quickly for him.

[Shane Wahl]

.719 OPS right now. That is what he ended 2015 with as well. And the power is not coming at all. He keeps trying to steal bases . . . with laughable results. For his career he has 19 steals and has been caught 25 times. Who does that anymore? It's just really bad. Really bad.

[Shane Wahl]

Hopefully no one here keeps talking about "well, he has power . . . it could still come."

No.

[Shane Wahl]

.726 OPS and 15 doubles. Harrison has one chance to make it, but he must learn to play third base.

[Arak30s]

Would like to see Harrison given an opportunity at AAA or MLB ...might surprise you ..look at Kepler.

[Taildragger8791]

 

Would like to see Harrison given an opportunity at AAA or MLB ...might surprise you ..look at Kepler.

 

That doesn't follow. Kepler started out extremely raw and broke out at AA as a 22 year old after showing flashes of talent throughout previous years, thus earning the opportunity at AAA and then MLB. Harrison is more or less stagnant while repeating AA at 23 and hasn't really flashed the same talent or shown steady growth. I doubt pushing him up a level is going to magically spark him.

[Bluestreet22]

I agree, Harrison needs to be moved to AAA. Staying in AA will not help his growth. I watch their games a lot of milbtv and seems like all other teams have great things to say about Harrison, and seem to see something the Twins don't... Go figure....

[ashbury]

Rochester already has ABW and Palka to man the corner outfield spots. AAA is different from the other minor league levels in that it's not solely for development - it also is the place teams stash the guys they might need to call up for emergency service in the majors. While I'm not enthused about Mastro and Schafer even for emergencies, they are who we've got, and they have to stay ready. Harrison would sit too much if he were brought up.

 

His solution is to hit better at AA, anyway. I'm not giving up on him, but Harrison's career is kind of stalling out at the moment.

[Shane Wahl]

Harrison has no future unless he can figure out how to play third base.

[Bluestreet22]

I agree with you on that point, but sometimes a new place and fresh look/different coaching can make all the difference. I believe he will find a way to put everything together. He has great hot streaks, just has to find a way to keep up that momentum.

[Bluestreet22]

Shane they won't play him at 3rd... How is he supposed to learn if not given the opportunity? They moved him away from 3rd way too quickly IMO.. The games he has played at 3rd this year he has done just fine... They should have let him grow into the position but Twins were to convinced that Sano was their 3rd baseman of the future and we all know that is still a big question mark.

[Shane Wahl]

 

Shane they won't play him at 3rd... How is he supposed to learn if not given the opportunity? They moved him away from 3rd way too quickly IMO.. The games he has played at 3rd this year he has done just fine... They should have let him grow into the position but Twins were to convinced that Sano was their 3rd baseman of the future and we all know that is still a big question mark.

 

Yeah, they need to move him back. He isn't a good OF defender anyway, and he projects to be under .700 OPS in MLB right now. Still so little power after all these years . . .

[goulik]

Shane they won't play him at 3rd... How is he supposed to learn if not given the opportunity? They moved him away from 3rd way too quickly IMO.. The games he has played at 3rd this year he has done just fine... They should have let him grow into the position but Twins were to convinced that Sano was their 3rd baseman of the future and we all know that is still a big question mark.

With Plouffe and Sano ahead of him I could see trying him at other places like OF especially how our OF has gone the last several years but he needs time at 3rd too.

 

On the other hand, I do not see the need to stash Schafer AND Mastro any more if they are the only reason to not move up Harrison.

 

OR

 

Promote Harrison and play him at third in Rochester! We have SOOOOO much organisation filler in Rochester. No one should be blocked.

[Bluestreet22]

Would it make sense to send Harrison to the Arizona Fall League this year ?

[Shane Wahl]

 

Would it make sense to send Harrison to the Arizona Fall League this year ?

 

Absolutely. I am trying to think of seven guys who should go. Probably three position players and four pitchers.

[Shane Wahl]

 

Travis Harrison
DOB: 10-17-92, in Aliso Viejo California
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 215
Position: OF/3B
Bats: Right
Throws: Right

Shane's 2016 Prospect Rank: 31

 

2016 statistics (Chattanooga):

 

128 PA, .296/.359/.400 (.759), six doubles, two homers, nine walks, 30 strikeouts, three steals, five times caught stealing

 

Harrison is showing solid improvement in his second go-around in AA. It is still quite underwhelming, however. He continues his slide down my prospect list, and has now moved from around 8-10 to 31 in four and a half years. The power has still not occurred at all. And he has 18 stolen bases in 41 attempts (seriously) in his minor league career. As a corner OF, this is a non-starter for any shot at the majors. As a 3B, it is still possible. It's still a long road to the majors for Harrison. He is still just 23, but things are going to have to happen quickly for him.

 

 

2016 Summary

 

509 plate appearances, .230/.338/.339 (.677), 22 doubles, two triples, and seven homers, 61 walks, 126 strikeouts, 15 steals, 11 times caught stealing.

 

This was certainly a step backwards in a year where Harrison needed two steps forward. Too many strikeouts with little power, and a strange obsession with stealing bases--career 30/59 is the story for this once top 10 Twins prospect. Also worth noting is that Harrison spent even less time at third base this year, while becoming decent at that position is his only shot to reach MLB.

 

2017 Outlook

 

Harrison's 988 plate appearances in AA are not enough for him yet. He will eventually need to move on to AAA this year to see a different level of competition. He turns 24 in 6 days, so there is time for him.

 

[goulik]

His prospect status is dropping like a rock. I do not hold much hope any more