House That Hank Built
Fansided

Atlanta Braves Scouting Report on IF Travis Demeritte

By Benjamin Chase

Jul 10, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; World runner Jorge Bonifacio (bottom) is forced out by USA infielder Travis Demeritte during the All Star Game futures baseball game at PetCo Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 10, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; World runner Jorge Bonifacio (bottom) is forced out by USA infielder Travis Demeritte during the All Star Game futures baseball game at PetCo Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 3
Next
Jul 10, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; World runner Jorge Bonifacio (bottom) is forced out by USA infielder Travis Demeritte during the All Star Game futures baseball game at PetCo Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 10, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; World runner Jorge Bonifacio (bottom) is forced out by USA infielder Travis Demeritte during the All Star Game futures baseball game at PetCo Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /

The Atlanta Braves acquired infielder Travis Demeritte in the July trade with the Texas Rangers that sent away Lucas Harrell and Dario Alvarez. With the recent news about Ozzie Albies, Demeritte could have even more importance to the Braves in 2017.

Who Is He?

Demeritte was drafted by the Rangers out of high school in Georgia in the first round of the 2013 draft, 30th overall. He was sent to the Rangers Arizona Rookie League squad, where he thrived, hitting .285/.411/.444 with 4 home runs and 5 stolen bases in 175 plate appearances with a 16.6% walk rate and a 28% strikeout rate.

The Rangers aggressively promoted the 19 year-old to full-season ball with low-A Hickory of the South Atlantic League in 2014, and Demeritte had major flashes, though he showed some big holes in his swing as well and some definite raw-ness to his tools. He hit .211/.310/.450 with 25 home runs and 6 stolen bases with a 10.7% walk rate, but a very concerning 36.7% strikeout rate.

The Rangers sent Demeritte back to Hickory, and he was playing well before an injury shortened his season. He hit a combined .232/.332/.384 with 5 home runs and 10 stolen bases over 53 games with a 12.3% walk rate and a 36.4% strikeout rate. He struggled with time at short-season Spokane after his injury that skewed his strikeout rate some, but when he played in the Australian Winter League that winter, he put up similar numbers with .216/.320/.401 with 5 home runs and 2 stolen bases over 47 games with a 11.9% walk rate and a much better 25.3% strikeout rate.

Demeritte hoped to take some of the improvements he made in Australia in his approach to the Cal League and Texas’ high-A affiliate in High Desert, a notorious hitter’s park. His numbers were certainly skewed by his home park and the league, but a .272/.353/.583 line with 25 home runs and 13 stolen bases over 88 games is going to turn some heads no matter the hitting environment. He had a walk rate of 10.8% and a strikeout rate of 33.1%. The Braves sent him to high-A Carolina in the Carolina League after the trade, and he hit .250/.384/.476 for Carolina with 17 extra base hits and 4 stolen bases over 35 games. His walk rate was 17.1% and his strikeout rate was at 32.9%.

Next: Demeritte's scouting report

Home/Braves Minors