Red Sox Second-rounder Makes Home Debut with Lowell Spinners

From B-Town to Bean Town, Red Sox second-round draft pick and former Indiana University first baseman Sam Travis made his move to the pros official last week.

The 67th pick overall in the MLB Draft, Travis signed a contract last Monday that is reportedly worth $846,000.

Ten days prior, Travis walked the hallowed grounds of Fenway Park—his first time standing in the shadow of the Green Monster.

“I have a chance to one day play in the beloved ballpark,” Travis said of Fenway “There’s so much history behind this park. I’m just glad to be a part of it.”

The Orland, Ill. native will start his aspirations swinging the bat in Lowell, Mass.

Friday, he made his professional home debut for the Spinners, going 0-4 in his first appearance at LeLacheur Park.

“It took some getting used to, but now that I finally signed and I’m settling in, I’m starting to get the swing of things,” he said. “I’m making the adjustment pretty well I think.”

After earning Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors in 2012, Travis was recruited to play in the Cape Cod Baseball League.

As a player for the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox, Travis wore the same moniker that he hopes to don again in the majors.

“It’s good to be back,” Travis said of the Massachusetts area. “I guess it was meant to be.”

The 6-foot slugger won Big Ten Player of the Year Honors in 2014, driving in a league-high 58 runs and hitting 12 homers for the Hoosiers.

Though few would think of the Big Ten as a conference for baseball’s future elite, Travis said he has never let expectations of others deter him.

“I definitely always have a chip on my shoulder,” he said. “I’m not really the tallest ideal first baseman. I’m a right handed hitter and guys usually like lefties. But I’ve been proving people wrong my whole life.”

Tori Ziege is a student at Indiana University.

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