What To Expect: Sam Travis

The Red Sox on Tuesday called up their No. 4 prospect, Sam Travis. Travis has hit .333/.389/.561 this month after hitting just .233 in April. The 2014 second-round pick from Indiana—a college teammate of Kyle Schwarber—started the year slow after returning from an ACL tear that wiped out most of the 2016 season.

SCOUTING REPORT

While Schwarber was fast-tracked to Wrigley Field, Travis went to short-season Lowell after he was drafted. There, his righthanded bat stood out, counting among the league leaders in a number of offensive categories. He continued that trend in 2015, where he hit better than .300 through two leagues.

Travis has always been known for his hitting prowess, able to spray line drives around the field and thump the occasional pitch over the fence. Despite his knack for making hard contact, scouts recognize that he has a difficult time getting to his raw power. He’s maxed out at nine home runs over a full season but could develop into at least average power with time. Travis also shows an awareness for the zone, walking in nearly 10 percent of his plate appearances and cutting his strikeout rate threefold from April to May this year.

His defense at first base has been seen as below average, and Travis’ knee injury further clouds how he might hold up in the future. As a result, the Red Sox have been playing a third of his games at DH this season, allowing him to continue rehabilitating his knee as the year progresses.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Mitch Moreland has been a solid bargain, but has appeared in all but one game this season, so Travis likely will platoon with the lefthanded hitter. With Boston set to play 13 games in a row, Travis could make an immediate impact.

— Justin Perline