| Travis Lakins Sr. | |
| Team: | Chicago White Sox |
| Bats: | Right |
| Throws: | Right |
| Position: | Pitcher |
| Birth Date: | 29 June 1994 |
| Birth Place: | Franklin, Ohio, U.S. |
| Debutleague: | MLB |
| Debutdate: | April 23 |
| Debutyear: | 2019 |
| Debutteam: | Boston Red Sox |
| Finalleague: | MLB |
| Finaldate: | May 11 |
| Finalyear: | 2022 |
| Finalteam: | Baltimore Orioles---> |
| Statleague: | MLB |
| Statyear: | 2022 season |
| Stat1label: | Win–loss record |
| Stat1value: | 4–8 |
| Stat2label: | Earned run average |
| Stat2value: | 4.84 |
| Stat3label: | Strikeouts |
| Stat3value: | 75 |
| Teams: | |
Travis Clay Lakins Sr.[1] (born June 29, 1994) is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Chicago White Sox organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles. Listed at 6inchesft1inchesin (ftin) and 180lb, he throws and bats right-handed.[2]
Lakins attended Franklin High School. Lakins played college baseball for the Ohio State Buckeyes,[3] and in 2014, he pitched a perfect game for the Chillicothe Paints, a collegiate summer baseball team.[4]
The Red Sox selected Lakins in the sixth round of the 2015 MLB Draft, signing him for an above-slot bonus of $320,000.[2] Lakins struck out three batters in two shutout innings during his only appearance with the Low–A Lowell Spinners in 2015. He then pitched for the rookie–level GCL Red Sox, but only in the playoffs.[2] In his brief stint, Lakins showed a quick arm from a three-quarters arm slot, offering a three-pitch mix with a fastball-curveball-changeup combination, with his fastball sitting at 92– and topping out at 96 with a bit of sink and run. The curveball flashed plus-potential at 75– with two-plane, tight rotation and hard snap, while the changeup ranged 83– and also showed plus potential with late dive away from left-handed hitters when down in the zone. He also used a heavy mix of curveballs and changeups both early and behind in counts, showing consistency with the secondaries pitches and refined command and control overall.[5]
In 2016, Lakins was promoted two levels up to the High–A Salem Red Sox. In the month of April, he led the Salem pitching staff with a 3–1 record and a 2.13 ERA in four starts, striking out 26 and walking 10 in innings of work.[2] In early August, Lakins was placed on the disabled list with right elbow inflammation and did not pitch for the rest of the season. He went 6–3 in 19 starts and a relief appearance, featuring a 5.93 ERA with 79 strikeouts and 36 walks in 91 innings.[2]
Lakins spent 2017 with both Salem and the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs, posting a combined 5–4 record with a 4.21 ERA in innings between both teams.[6] He finished the year rated as the Red Sox' No. 13 prospect, according to MLB.com.[5] Lakins started the 2018 season with Double-A Portland. At the end of July, he was promoted to the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox. Overall for the 2018 season, Lakins made 36 appearances, compiling a record of 3–2 with an ERA of 2.32 and three saves.
On November 20, 2018, the Red Sox added Lakins to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.[7] Lakins opened the 2019 season with Pawtucket, and on April 23, he was added to Boston's major league active roster for the first time.[8] He made his MLB debut that day, pitching innings against the Detroit Tigers while allowing one run and striking out two.[9] Lakins was optioned to Pawtucket on April 26.[10] He was recalled on May 23 and optioned back on May 29,[11] then recalled on June 12 and optioned back on June 17.[12] Boston next recalled Lakins on August 12, and optioned him back to Pawtucket on August 20.[13] Lakins was recalled to Boston on September 1, when rosters expanded.[14] Overall with the 2019 Red Sox, Lakins appeared in 16 games (three starts), compiling an 0–1 record with 3.86 ERA and 18 strikeouts in innings.
Lakins was designated for assignment by the Red Sox on January 17, 2020.[15]
Lakins was traded on January 21, 2020, to the Chicago Cubs for future considerations.[16] He was claimed off waivers by the Baltimore Orioles on January 31.[17] He was informed of the transaction while on a late-honeymoon cruise with his wife.[18] In 22 appearances for the Orioles in 2020, Lakins pitched to a 2.81 ERA and 25 strikeouts over innings.[19]
On June 29, 2021, Lakins made his first start of the season, but left in the second inning with an apparent injury. On July 3, he was placed on the 60-day injured list with right elbow pain, although manager Brandon Hyde described the injury as a “significant elbow injury”.[20] On July 6, Lakins underwent season-ending surgery to fix a recurrent olecranon stress fracture in his right elbow.[21] [22] In 24 appearances with the 2021 Orioles prior to his injury, Lakins recorded a 1–4 record and 5.79 ERA. On October 14, Lakins was outrighted off of the 40-man roster.[23]
On April 15, 2022, Lakins' contract was selected by the Orioles.[24] He made 6 appearances for Baltimore, struggling to a 9.58 ERA with 8 strikeouts in 10.1 innings pitched. On July 10, Lakins was placed on the 60-day injured list with right elbow inflammation.[25] On August 31, he was activated from the IL and sent outright to the Triple-A Norfolk Tides. In 5 games (2 starts) with the Tides, he posted an 8.68 ERA with 7 strikeouts in 9.1 innings of work. He elected free agency following the season on October 6.
On April 17, 2023, Lakins signed with the Lancaster Barnstormers of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.[26] In three games for the Barnstormers, he recorded a 3.00 ERA with 4 strikeouts in 3.0 innings of work. With Lancaster, Lakins won the Atlantic League championship.[27]
Lakins retired from professional baseball following the 2023 season to pursue a career in business.[28]
On June 25, 2024, Lakins came out of retirement and signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox.[29]
Lakins has been married since 2017;[18] he and his wife have a daughter (Brezzlynne Lou Lakins) and two sons (Travis Lakins Jr. and Tucker Lee Lakins) .[30]