Q & A With Detroit Tigers Prospect Devon Travis

Kevin Pataky

Devon Travis has played on the big stage at every level during his career, from the Little League World Series to the College World Series.  Now he has the opportunity to make it to the MLB World Series.  After being a three year starter for Florida State at second base, Devon was drafted by the Detroit Tigers and played for their short-season affiliate the Connecticut Tigers.  

We recently caught up with him during the off-season and asked him about being drafted and what he is working on to become a better baseball player.  

FSUPros - Can you describe how it felt to get drafted by the Detroit Tigers and the choice to forgo your senior year at FSU?  Making it to the CWS and returning some really good players had to make it hard.

Seminoles Update In Milb Part 2

James Ramsey outfielder for the Palm Beach Cardinals:  James has had an up and down year for the Cardinals.  He was not placed into the short season affiliate as most college players are but instead he skipped to the high A team.  Since joining, James has batted .227 with 42 hits and scored 33 runs.  The Cardinals are 4.5 games out of 1st with two weeks to go.

Jayce Boyd infielder for the Brooklyn Cyclones:  Jayce has played in 45 games for the Cyclones since joining the team in July.  During those games he has batted .230 with 38 hits.  He has racked up 11 extra base hits with 7 being double.  The Cyclones are leading the wild-card by 2.5 games.

Devon Travis infielder for the Connecticut Tigers:  Devon was having a great year for the Tigers until an injury has sidelined him since the start of August.  Before the injury he was batting .280 in 25 games while collecting 26 hits.  On August 2nd, Devon was 4 for 5 with 3 runs and 2 RBIs while hitting a double and a HR.

Seminoles Update In Milb

Hunter Scantling relief pitcher for the Connecticut Tigers:  Hunter has had a stellar year for the Tigers pitching in ten games.  He has thrown 17 innings and only allowed two earned runs with opposing batters only hitting 0.075.  During those innings he has collected 15 strikeouts and gave up three walks.  The Tigers only have 10 games left in the season so Hunter may only pitch 1 to 2 more times.

Robert Benincasa relief pitcher for the Auburn Doubledays:  Robert has pitched great for the Doubledays during his first season.  He has pitched in 14 games throwing a total of 15.1 innings.  Only allowing five earned runs while giving up 19 hits.  Robert has forced 22 strikeouts and batters are hitting .302 against him. Right now he is on the 7-day DL and should be back around the 29th or 30th of this month.

Sherman Johnson infielder for the Orem Owlz:  Sherman has played in 44 games for the Owlz since turning pro back in June.  During those games he is batting .262 with 39 hits.  He has scored 31 runs and batted in 17 runners.  Johnson has been very consistent in the box taking what he can get.  He has drawn 37 base on balls while only striking out 30 times.  His on base percentage is a .413 almost 200 points better than his batting average.  Right now the Owlz are in first place trying to get a spot in the playoffs.

Check back tomorrow for the rest of the Seminoles in the Milb update.

Hunter Scantling Still Rolling

Although Hunter Scantling gave up his first earned run on July 26th, he still has been light outs for the Connecticut Tigers.  The earned run didn't really hurt his ERA which now stands at a 1.00 for his nine innings of relief pitching.  Hunter is striking out a batter an inning during his stretch of outstanding relief work.  Batters have only gotten two hits against him which came during the July 26th game for an average of .071.

In last nights game against the Brooklyn Cyclones, Hunter threw one inning of scoreless relief with one strikeout.  His strikeout was against his former Seminole teammate Jayce Boyd.  The Tigers were unable to get the win as they could not comeback losing 3-2.

Devon Travis Update

Devon Travis of the Connecticut Tigers has had a great start to his minor league career.  After deciding to forgo his senior year at Florida State he has played in 16 games at second base for the Tigers.  He is currently batting .241 with a double, a triple and a home run while scoring nine runs and driving in five more. Travis had his biggest moment as a pro in a marathon game against the Vermont Lake Monsters last Tuesday. He camp up to bat in the bottom of the 18th inning and hit a walk-off home run to win the game for the Tigers.

Tonight they will play against the Tri-City Valley Cats the minor league affiliate of the Houston Astros.

Strong Outings For Hunter Scantling

The former Florida State relief pitcher is finding his spot on the Connecticut Tigers as a shutdown closer.  Hunter Scantling has pitched in three games this year for a total of six innings giving up zero hits. His last two games he has recorded the win pitching two innings in one and three in the other.  He has shown great control only walking two batters he has faced.  Another great stat is that he has only allowed one runner to reach scoring position, stranding him at second base.

Tonight Hunter and the Tigers will face off against the Lowell Spinners, the minor league affiliate of the Boston Red Sox.

Hunter Scantling's First Outing

Hunter Scantling pitched in his first game for the Connecticut Tigers last night.  He has been with the team for several weeks and it was only fitting that the first batter he faced was former teammate Jayce Boyd, who has been playing for the Brooklyn Cyclones.  Hunter entered in the top of the seventh with a one run lead and was able to strikeout Boyd swinging.  The next batter he faced hit a grounder to the third baseman for an easy out.  The last out of the inning was another strikeout.  He was able to record the hold for his team as they went on to the one run win.

Up next for the Tigers is another game with the Cyclones today.

Devon Travis Made First Start

On Thursday evening the former Seminoles' second baseman made his first ever start with the Connecticut Tigers, the short season affiliate of the Detroit Tigers.  Travis got his first ever hit when he led off the top of the second and hit a ground ball single to center field.  He was left on base as the next three batters were unable to move him around.  Travis also had a good night in the field helping convert on three force outs at second base, one in the second and two in the eighth.

Travis went 1 for 4 with a single and 2 strikeouts and his other at-bat was a hard hit ball to left field.  The Connecticut Tigers will play again tonight against Batavia Muckdogs where they will try and avoid the sweep.

Hunter Scantling Is Now A Tiger

Hunter Scantling has signed with the Detroit Tigers after being selected in the 14th round of the MLB draft.  He is a hard throwing right hander that has been used as one of the Seminoles' relief pitchers.  In 31 appearances as a senior, Scantling threw 49.2 innings with 40 strikeouts and a 3.81 ERA.  Now his journey will begin as he will head into the Tigers minor league system, probably starting out in single A with their short season team the Connecticut Tigers.