Blankenhorn elected free agency Monday after being outrighted off the Nationals' 40-man roster.
At this point in the calendar, Blankenhorn is unlikely to land a minor-league deal with another organization before the season ends, but he'll get a head start in finding his next employer ahead of 2025. He was optioned to Triple-A Rochester on Aug. 20 and later designated for assignment after he slashed .129/.156/.161 over 32 plate appearances in 13 games with the Nationals.
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Nationals' Travis Blankenhorn: Outrighted to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Nationals outrighted Blankenhorn to Triple-A Rochester on Sunday.
Blankenhorn was removed from the 40-man roster last week but will remain in the organization after passing through waivers unclaimed. He'll represent outfield depth at Rochester.
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Nationals' Travis Blankenhorn: DFA'd by Washington
Rotowire
The Nationals designated Blankenhorn for assignment Friday.
The 28-year-old was optioned to Triple-A Rochester on Aug. 20 and has now lost his place on the 40-man roster. Blankenhorn has an .821 OPS in 106 games with Rochester this season and could remain with the affiliate if he passes through waivers unclaimed.
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Nationals' Travis Blankenhorn: Sent down to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Nationals optioned Blankenhorn to Triple-A Rochester on Tuesday.
Blankenhorn's playing time had been trending downward throughout August, and he'll give up his spot on the 26-man roster to Joey Gallo (hamstring), who was activated from the injured list Tuesday. Blankenhorn posted a meager .317 OPS in 32 plate appearances for the Nationals but is slashing .246/.328/.518 with Rochester.
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Nationals' Travis Blankenhorn: Losing out on playing time
Rotowire
Blankenhorn is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Orioles, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
The lefty-hitting Blankenhorn finds himself on the bench for the second day in a row, this time against a right-handed starter (Dean Kremer) after he sat out Tuesday's 9-3 win while lefty Trevor Rogers took the hill for the Orioles. After getting called up from Triple-A Rochester on July 30, Blankenhorn had a brief run as a strong-side platoon player at designated hitter, but he's gone just 3-for-28 with eight strikeouts and is beginning to lose out on playing time as a result. He could be at risk of a demotion to Triple-A once Joey Gallo (hamstring) is ready to return from the injured list.
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Nationals' Travis Blankenhorn: On bench again
Rotowire
Blankenhorn is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Angels.
Blankenhorn will be withheld from the starting nine for a third consecutive game, though Friday's outing is the first of that stretch against a right-handed pitcher (Jose Soriano). The lefty-hitting Blankenhorn is 3-for-20 (.150) with a 38.1 percent strikeout rate in nine games this season. Harold Ramirez will bat seventh and DH on Friday.
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Nationals' Travis Blankenhorn: Gaining traction in lineup
Rotowire
Blankenhorn will serve as the Nationals' designated hitter and No. 6 batter in Sunday's game against the Brewers.
Blankenhorn didn't crack the lineup Tuesday against the Diamondbacks after being called up from Triple-A Rochester earlier that day, but he's now entered the starting nine in four consecutive contests -- all against right-handed pitching. The lefty-hitting Blankenhorn looks like he'll occupy the strong side of a platoon at designated hitter with the righty-hitting Harold Ramirez, who will head to the bench for a second straight contest. Blankenhorn has gone 1-for-10 with two RBI and one run through his first four games with Washington, but he had been a standout performer for Rochester, with whom he produced an .846 OPS in 401 plate appearances prior to his promotion.
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Nationals' Travis Blankenhorn: Called up from Rochester
Rotowire
The Nationals selected Blankenhorn's contract from Triple-A Rochester on Tuesday.
With Lane Thomas and Jesse Winker having been moved elsewhere ahead of the trade deadline, the Nationals will turn to Blankenhorn to fill one of the openings on the roster. Blankenhorn slashed .246/.328/.518 with 24 home runs and 69 RBI through 401 Triple-A plate appearances on the season. The 27-year-old is capable of fielding either of the corner-outfield positions, though with James Wood in left field, most of Blankenhorn's time will likely be spent competing with Alex Call for reps in right.
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Nationals' Travis Blankenhorn: Likely to be called up Tuesday
Rotowire
The Nationals are expected to call up Blankenhorn from Triple-A Rochester on Tuesday, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
Blankenhorn will join the Nationals in Arizona after producing a .328 on-base percentage with 24 home runs, 69 RBI, 58 runs scored and three stolen bases over 401 plate appearances in 94 games with Triple-A Rochester on the season. Washington has seemingly shifted its focus to the future after trading away veterans such as Lane Thomas and Jesse Winker in recent days, and while the 27-year-old Blankenhorn is an older prospect, he could still vie for a regular spot in the lineup if he performs well in his initial opportunities with the big club.
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Nationals' Travis Blankenhorn: Returns to Nationals
Rotowire
Blankenhorn signed a minor-league contract with the Nationals on Dec. 22, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
Blankenhorn had elected free agency after being jettisoned from the Nats' 40-man roster in October but wound up re-signing. The 27-year-old outfielder went 5-for-31 with one home run with Washington before his season was ended by a foot injury. He'll be healthy for spring training.
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Nationals' Travis Blankenhorn: Playing time fading
Rotowire
Blankenhorn is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the White Sox, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.
Blankenhorn will take a seat for the fourth game in a row, with his last three absences coming against right-handed starting pitchers. Jake Alu is making a third straight start in left field and looks to have emerged as the Nationals' preferred option at the position versus righties.
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Nationals' Travis Blankenhorn: On bench again
Rotowire
Blankenhorn is out of the lineup Sunday versus the Brewers.
Blankenhorn is on the bench for the third consecutive game. With Sunday's contest against right-hander Brandon Woodruff, the 27-year-old will be out of the lineup for the second straight game against a righty. Jake Alu will start in his place again.
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Nationals' Travis Blankenhorn: Sitting versus lefty
Rotowire
Blankenhorn isn't in the Nationals' lineup Friday against the Brewers, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
Left-hander Wade Miley will start on the mound for Milwaukee on Friday, so the lefty-hitting Blankenhorn will retreat to the dugout to begin the game. Alex Call will fill in as the Nats' left fielder and bat eighth.
Blankenhorn had his contract selected by the Mets and will start Friday versus the Padres, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.
Blankenhorn will make his season debut with the Mets on Friday after he was outrighted to Triple-A Syracuse on April 8. The 25-year-old produced a .174 average with one home run, four RBI and three runs over 23 at-bats in 23 games with the Mets last year. Blankenhorn will start at designated hitter and bat eighth against San Diego.
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Mets' Travis Blankenhorn: Outrighted to Triple-A
Rotowire
Blankenhorn cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Syracuse on Friday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Blankenhorn was designated for assignment by the Mets on Wednesday, but he'll remain in the organization as the minor-league season gets underway. He appeared in 48 games with Syracuse last year and hit .250 with eight homers, 27 RBI, 21 runs and three steals.
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Mets' Travis Blankenhorn: Cast off 40-man roster
Rotowire
The Mets designated Blankenhorn for assignment Wednesday, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
The move cleared a spot on the 40-man roster for newly-signed reliever John Curtiss (elbow), who was then transferred to the 60-day IL to reopen a 40-man spot for outfielder Travis Jankowski. Meanwhile, Blankenhorn's status with the organization is in limbo for the moment, as he'll first need to clear waivers before rejoining Triple-A Syracuse. The 25-year-old received 24 plate appearances with the big club in 2021, though most of his opportunities were without multiple established players due to injury and COVID-19-related absences.
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Mets' Travis Blankenhorn: Back in big leagues
Rotowire
Blankenhorn was recalled by the Mets on Saturday, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
Blankenhorn has spent multiple brief stints on the big-league roster this season but has almost exclusively occupied a bench role. Just one of his 23 appearances this season has come as a starter. He's done little with his limited playing time to suggest he deserves a regular role, hitting .174/.208/.391 in 24 trips to the plate. He'll take the roster spot that had belonged to Brandon Nimmo, who landed on the injured list with a strained hamstring.
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Mets' Travis Blankenhorn: Sent to minors
Rotowire
The Mets optioned Blankenhorn to Triple-A Syracuse on Tuesday.
Blankenhorn went 0-for-8 with a single in eight pinch-hit appearances after being recalled Aug. 13. It's unclear whether the utility player will get any more big-league opportunities this year. Francisco Lindor (oblique) was activated from the 10-day injured list in a corresponding move.
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Mets' Travis Blankenhorn: Recalled by Mets
Rotowire
Blankenhorn was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse on Friday.
Blankenhorn has been in the minors since late July, and he's slashed .227/.346/.409 with two home runs, two doubles, five runs and four RBI in 12 games at Triple-A Syracuse since then. He'll rejoin the major-league club as utility depth after Javier Baez (back) was placed on the 10-day injured list.
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Mets' Travis Blankenhorn: Optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
Blankenhorn was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse on Tuesday, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports.
Blankenhorn struck out in both of his plate appearances since being recalled last Wednesday. With pitcher Jerad Eickhoff rejoining the 26-man roster to start Tuesday, Blankenhorn will return to Syracuse for the time being.
