Travis Hafner: Difference between revisions

{{shortShort description|American baseball player (born 1977)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=MarchMay 20152024}}

| birth_place = [[Jamestown, North Dakota]], U.S.

'''Travis Lee Hafner''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|h|æ|f|n|ər}}; born June 3, 1977) is an [[Americans|American]] former [[professional baseball]] player. He played in [[Major League Baseball]] as a [[designated hitter]] and [[first baseman]]. A [[left-handed]] hitter, Hafner played for the [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]], [[Cleveland Indians]] and [[New York Yankees]]. His nickname, "'''Pronk'''", was given to him by former teammate [[Bill Selby]] during [[spring training]] of 2003 when people sometimes referred to him as "Thethe Project" and other times "Donkey" for the way he looked when running the bases. He has the most home runs for a player born in [[North Dakota]],<ref>{{cite newsmagazine| url = http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/magazine/01/24/hafner0129/index.html| title = Pronk Of the Plains| accessdateaccess-date = October 25, 2007| date = January 24, 2007| publisher = Time|work magazine = [[Sports Illustrated|Si.com]]| location = New York, NY| archive-date = October 21, 2012| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121021190756/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/magazine/01/24/hafner0129/index.html| url-status = dead}}</ref> and shares the MLB- record for grand slams in one season, with six.

Hafner was born in [[Jamestown, North Dakota]], in 1977 and attended a small high school in [[Sykeston, North Dakota|Sykeston]], which did not have a baseball program. He was valedictorian of his high school class of eight students.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/news/print.jsp?ymd=20130718&content_id=53983546&vkey=news_was&c_id=was|title=Host of big leaguers hail from small-town life|website=Washington Nationals|language=en|access-date=2017-01-January 31, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pinstripealley.com/2013/2/2/3945318/know-your-40-man-roster-2013-new-york-yankees-DH-travis-hafner|title=Know Your 40: Travis Hafner|last=Mearns|first=Andrew|date=February 2, 2013-02-02|website=Pinstripe Alley|access-date=2017-01-January 31, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url = http://weblogs.csmonitor.com/just_fans/2006/08/index.html#entry-12239752| title = Some call him Pronk, but he's really Mr. Grand Slam| accessdateaccess-date = April 5, 2007| last = Atkin| first = Ross| date = August 22, 2006| newspaper = Christian Science Monitor}}</ref> Hafner attended [[Cowley County Community College]] in [[Arkansas City, Kansas]]. He played for the [[college baseball]] team and hit a home run in the championship game of the [[JUCO World Series]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/travis-hafner/ | title=Travis Hafner – Society for American Baseball Research }}</ref>

Hafner was drafted by the [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]] in the 31st round of the [[1996 Major League Baseball Draft]]. He hit his first career home run August 11, 2002, while playing for the Rangers against the Cleveland Indians. In addition to the home run, Hafner had two doubles and a single in five at-bats, driving in three runs and scoring two. He nearly hit for the cycle in this game, but was thrown out at third base while attempting the triple.[https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CLE/CLE200208110.shtml]

====2003-20052003–2005====

InAfter the winter2002 of 2002season, the Rangers traded Hafner to the Indians along with [[Aaron Myette]] for [[catcher]] [[Einar Diaz]] and [[right-handed]] [[pitcher]] [[Ryan Drese]]. Hafner enjoyed moderate success with the Indians in 2003, splitting time between [[first base]] and [[designated hitter]]. On August 14, he [[hit for the cycle]] in [[Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome|Minnesota]], the first Indian to accomplish the feat since [[Andre Thornton]] in 1978.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/news/2003/08/14/indians_twins_ap/| title = Hafner hits for cycle as Indians whack listless Twins again| accessdateaccess-date = April 5, 2007| date = August 14, 2003| publisher = SI.com}}</ref>

In 2004, Hafner had a breakout offensive season. As the primary DH in the Indians' line-up, he finished the season in the top ten in the league in [[on-base percentage]] (.410, 3rd), [[slugging percentage]] (.583, 4th), [[Double (baseball)|doubles]] (41, 6th), [[extra base hits]] (72, 7th), [[Run batted in|RBI]] (109, 9th) and [[batting average (baseball)|batting average]] (.311, 10th). He also hit 28 [[home run]]s (16th in the AL) and scored 96 [[Run (baseball)|runs]] (20th in the AL). Hafner topped the .300 mark in batting average each month of the season except August–when he hit a respectable .274–and was particularly hot in July, hitting .360 with 8eight home runs and 28 RBI. He hit his first career [[Grand slam (baseball)|grand slam]] in the Indians' home opener on April 12, against [[Kyle Lohse]] of the [[Minnesota Twins]].<ref>{{cite web| url = http://sportsline.com/mlb/gamecenter/recap/MLB_20040412_MIN@CLE| title = Riske finally closes door on Indians win| accessdateaccess-date = April 5, 2007| date = April 12, 2004| work = Sportsline.com wire reports| publisher = The Associated Press| url-status = dead| archiveurlarchive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20050205173331/http://sportsline.com/mlb/gamecenter/recap/MLB_20040412_MIN@CLE| archivedatearchive-date = February 5, 2005| df = mdy-all}}</ref>

At the beginning of the 2005 season, the Indians signed Hafner to a three-year contract through 2007 with a club option for 2008.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20050413&content_id=1014238&vkey=news_cle&fext=.jsp&c_id=cle| title = Indians sign Hafner to three-year deal| accessdateaccess-date = April 5, 2007| last = Hill| first = Justice B.| date = April 13, 2005| publisherwork = MLB.com| url-status = dead| archiveurlarchive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120406224639/http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20050413&content_id=1014238&vkey=news_cle&fext=.jsp&c_id=cle| archivedatearchive-date = April 6, 2012| df = mdy-all}}</ref>

He responded by exceeding his offensive production of 2004. Hafner was again among the league leaders in on-base percentage (3rd, .408), slugging percentage (3rd, .595), doubles (5th, 42), [[Base on balls|walks]] (7th, 79), extra base hits (8th, 75), batting average (9th, .305), home runs (9th, 33) and RBI (9th, 108), also scoring 94 runs. The American League named Hafner [[MLB Player of the Month|Player of the Month]] for June, during which he posted a .345 batting average with 10 doubles, 8eight home runs, and 29 RBI in 24 games.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20050705&content_id=1116990&vkey=news_cle&fext=.jsp&c_id=cle| title = Hafner named AL Player of the Month| accessdateaccess-date = April 5, 2007| last = Hill| first = Justice B.| date = July 5, 2005| publisherwork = MLB.com}}</ref>

In the first full week of July he was named [[Major League Baseball Player of the Week Award|Player of the Week]] after hitting .480 with 4four home runs and 12 RBI in 8eight games.<ref>{{cite web

| url = http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20050711&content_id=1127048&vkey=news_cle&fext=.jsp&c_id=cle| title = Hafner latest AL Player of the Week| accessdateaccess-date = April 5, 2007| last = Thesier| first = Kelly| date = July 11, 2005| publisherwork = MLB.com}}</ref> On July 16, Hafner was hit in the face by a pitch thrown by the [[Chicago White Sox]]'s [[Mark Buehrle]] and was placed on the 15-day [[disabled list]] on July 26.<ref>{{cite news | title = Headache sends Indians' Hafner to DL; Braves' Hampton down with bad back | url = https://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/2005-07-26-hafner-hampton-injury-rdp_x.htm | work = USA Today | publisher = The Associated Press | date = July 27, 2005 | accessdateaccess-date = April 5, 2007 }}</ref> After returning from the DL on August 4, he hit .296 with 15 home runs and 45 RBI over the remaining 54 games of the season. To end the season, Hafner hit home runs in six straight games from September 18–24, the second longest such streak in Cleveland history.<ref name="playersmediaguide">{{cite book | title = Cleveland Indians: Media Guide 2007 | url = http://pressbox.mlb.com/pressbox/downloads/y2007/cle/player_bios.pdf | format = PDF | accessdateaccess-date = April 5, 2007 | publisher = MLB Advanced Media | page = 147 }}</ref>

After the season, the Cleveland chapter of the [[Baseball Writers' Association of America]] (BBWAA) named him Indians Man of the Year<ref>{{cite news | first = Terry | last = Pluto | authorlinkauthor-link = Terry Pluto | title = Hafner, Boone honored by baseball journalists | publisher = Akron Beacon-Journal | page = C3 | date = November 6, 2005 }}</ref> and he finished fifth in the AL [[Most Valuable Player]] voting.<ref>{{cite news| url = http://cbs.sportsline.com/mlb/story/9043364| title = A-Rod edges Ortiz for second AL MVP in three seasons| accessdateaccess-date = April 5, 2007| date = November 14, 2005| work = CBS SportsLine.com wire reports| publisher = The Associated Press| url-status = dead| archiveurlarchive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20051124095514/http://cbs.sportsline.com/mlb/story/9043364| archivedatearchive-date = November 24, 2005| df = mdy-all}}</ref>

For the third straight season, in 2006, Hafner posted MVP-caliber numbers while anchoring the middle of one of the most potent offenses in baseball. On September 1, he was hit on the hand by Texas Rangers pitcher [[C. J. Wilson (baseball)|C.J. Wilson]]. The Indians placed him on the disabled list for the rest of the season on September 9 after Xx-rays revealed a broken bone in his right hand.<ref>{{cite press release |title=Hafner to miss the rest of the season |publisherwork=MLB.com |date=September 9, 2006 |url=http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20060909&content_id=1654131&vkey=pr_cle&fext=.jsp&c_id=cle |accessdateaccess-date=April 7, 2007 |url-status=dead |archiveurlarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406224645/http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20060909&content_id=1654131&vkey=pr_cle&fext=.jsp&c_id=cle |archivedatearchive-date=April 6, 2012 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

On June 7, a section in the [[right field]] mezzanine at [[Jacobs Field]] was officially opened as "Pronkville.".<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.wkyc.com/sports/sports_article.aspx?storyid=53329|title=Pronkville opens for business}}</ref> On July 7, Hafner became the first player in Major League history to hit five grand slams before the All-Star break and passed [[Al Rosen]] in the team's season record book when he homered off [[Kris Benson]] of the [[Baltimore Orioles]]. He joined Hall-of-Famer [[Ernie Banks]] of the 1955 [[Chicago Cubs]], [[Jim Gentile]] of the 1961 Orioles and [[Don Mattingly]] of the 1987 Yankees as the only players to hit at least five grand slams in a season.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2512844| title = Indians DH blasts team record fifth grand slam| accessdateaccess-date = April 7, 2007| date = July 7, 2006| work = ESPN.com| publisher = The Associated Press}}</ref>

A little more than a month later, on August 13, Hafner tied Mattingly's single-season record when he hit his sixth grand slam of the season, off [[Luke Hudson]] of the [[Kansas City Royals]].<ref>{{cite web| url = http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060813&content_id=1607848&vkey=news_cle&fext=.jsp&c_id=cle| title = Hafner ties Mattingly for slams in season| accessdateaccess-date = April 7, 2007| last = Hill| first = Justice B.| date = August 13, 2006| publisherwork = MLB.com| url-status = dead| archiveurlarchive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120406224649/http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060813&content_id=1607848&vkey=news_cle&fext=.jsp&c_id=cle| archivedatearchive-date = April 6, 2012| df = mdy-all}}</ref> His league-leading 13 home runs and 30 RBI, combined with his .361 average in the month of August, earned Hafner AL Player of the Month—the second time he had been honored as such in his career.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060905&content_id=1647238&vkey=news_cle&fext=.jsp&c_id=cle| title = Hafner earns Player of the Month honors| accessdateaccess-date = April 7, 2007| last = Yanik| first = Kevin| date = September 5, 2006| publisherwork = MLB.com| url-status = dead| archiveurlarchive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120123085906/http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060905&content_id=1647238&vkey=news_cle&fext=.jsp&c_id=cle| archivedatearchive-date = January 23, 2012| df = mdy-all}}</ref>

Hafner missed most of the 2008 season due to injuries, appearing in only 57 games with 234 appearances at the plate.<ref>[{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hafnetr01.shtml]|title = Travis Hafner Stats}}</ref> When he did play, Hafner's performance was the worst of his career, finishing his abbreviated season with a .628 OPS.

Though he still missed time due to injury in 2009, Hafner appeared in 94 games and hit .272 with 16 home runs and ana .826 OPS.

In 2011, Hafner played in 94 games. He batted .280 and had 57 RBIs along with 13 home runs. On May 13, 2011, Hafner hit a walk-off home run off Seattle Mariners' closer [[Brandon League]]. Hafner hit another walk-off home run on July 7, 2011, off Toronto Blue Jays reliever [[Luis Pérez (baseballpitcher)|Luis Pérez]] which was a grand slam.

On April 5, 2012, Hafner became only the 12th player in Cleveland Indians history to make at least 10 starts on Opening Day in a Cleveland Indians uniform. On April 15, 2012, Hafner hit a home run off Kansas City Royals starting pitcher [[Luis Mendoza (baseball)|Luis Mendoza]] that was estimated at having traveled 456 feet. It was the longest homer hit at [[Kauffman Stadium]] since 2001.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/gameflash/2012/04/15/40614_recap.html|title=Hafner hits long homer, Indians sweep Royals|authoragency=Associated Press|date=April 15, 2012|accessdateaccess-date=May 3, 2012|publisher=SI.com}}</ref> When Hafner was placed on the injured list in May for surgery to repair an injured right knee, it was his sixth appearance on the list in the last five seasons.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120530&content_id=32483842&vkey=news_cle&fext=.jsp&c_id=cle|title=Knee inflammation forces Pronk to DL|last=Bastian|first=Jordan|date=May 31, 2012|accessdateaccess-date=June 27, 2012|publisherwork=MLB.com}}</ref> Against the Detroit Tigers on August 5, Hafner a solo home run in the 10th inning, his 200th home run of his career. He was again placed on the disabled list in August, with lower back inflammation.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/index.ssf/2012/08/cleveland_indiansput_travis_ha.html|title=Travis Hafner on DL, Jason Donald recalled|publisher=Cleveland.com|work=[[Plain Dealer]]|date=August 9, 2012|accessdateaccess-date=August 10, 2012|last=Peticca|first=Mike}}</ref> On November 1, the Indians declined Hafner's option, making him a free agent.

On February 1, 2013, Hafner signed a one-year, $2 million contract with the [[New York Yankees]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2013/01/31/yankees-on-the-verge-of-deal-with-hafner/|title=Yankees on the verge of deal with Hafner - The LoHud Yankees Blog|work=The LoHud Yankees Blog|accessdateaccess-date=March 6, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130201&content_id=41340696&vkey=pr_nyy&c_id=nyy|title=Yankees sign DH Travis Hafner|work=New York Yankees|accessdateaccess-date=March 6, 2015}}</ref> In his first game at [[Progressive Field]] as an ex-Indian, Hafner was 2-for-3 with two walks, four RBIs and three runs, including a three-run home run in his first at-bat. Despite batting .318 in April, Hafner faltered later in the season and suffered rotator cuff inflammation. Limited to only 82 games, Hafner batted .202 with 12 home runs and 37 RBI.{{citation needed|date=November 2013}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Travis Hafner Overview |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hafnetr01.shtml |website=Baseball-Reference.com |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Travis Hafner injury: Yankees DH lands on 15-day DL |url=https://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2013/7/28/4565354/travis-hafner-injury-yankees-disabled-list |website=sbnation.com |publisherdate=sbnation.comJuly 28, 2013 |accessdateaccess-date=9 July 9, 2019}}</ref>

In November 2006, Hafner married Amy Hafner (née Beekman). The couple have three sons, Blake Lee, born in 2009, Trip John, born in 2012, and Knox Jameson born in 2015.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20061115&content_id=1741274&vkey=news_cle&fext=.jsp&c_id=cle| title = Notes: Early posting results unhelpful| accessdateaccess-date = May 2, 2007| last = Castrovince| first = Anthony| date = November 17, 2006| publisherwork = MLB.com}}</ref>

In April 2006, [[Malley's Chocolates]] of Cleveland unveiled the 'Pronk Bar', a milk chocolate candy bar named in honor of Hafner.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060409&content_id=1391601&vkey=news_cle&fext=.jsp&c_id=cle| title = Notes: Sweet start for Hafner| accessdateaccess-date = April 8, 2007| last = Castrovince| first = Anthony| date = April 9, 2006| publisherwork = MLB.com}}</ref> Hafner's new product, "Pronk Beef Jerky" hit shelves in mid-2007.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.plbsports.com/ProductPgs/products_hafner.htm|title = Pronk's Beef Jerky|accessdateaccess-date = October 15, 2007|url-status = dead|archiveurlarchive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071024014424/http://www.plbsports.com/ProductPgs/products_hafner.htm|archivedatearchive-date = October 24, 2007|df = mdy-all}}</ref>