Travis d'Arnaud, Catcher, Atlanta Braves

Date of Birth: 2/10/1989
Birthplace: Long Beach, California

Travis d'Arnaud, catcher for the Atlanta Braves, was first drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in 2007. He played in the Phillies' minor league system from 2007 to 2010 before being traded to the Toronto Blue Jays. He then played in the Blue Jays' minor league system for two more years. His batting average in the minors was .286.

In December, 2012, d'Arnaud was traded to the New York Mets. He played in just 31 games with the Mets in 2013, batting .202 with 20 hits. He finished the 2014 season with 93 hits, 22 doubles, 13 home runs, 41 RBIs, 64 strikeouts to 32 walks, and a .242 batting average in 108 games. Defensively, as a catcher, he made 38 assists, 829 putouts, and 9 errors in 105 games. He caught players trying to steal 19.4% of the time.

d'Arnaud spent much of the 2015 season on the DL, first with a broken hand and then with an elbow injury. He finished the season with 64 hits, 14 doubles, 41 RBIs, and a .268 batting average in 67 games. As a catcher in 64 games, he made 25 assists, 556 putouts, and 3 errors. He caught players trying to steal 32.6% of the time and he had a .995 fielding percentage. In postseason play, he had 10 hits, including a double and 3 home runs, and 7 RBIs in 55 at-bats in 14 games.

d'Arnaud again suffered from injuries in 2016, and he spent half of the season on the DL. He finished the season with 62 hits and a .247 batting average in 75 games. Defensively, as the Mets' catcher in 73 games, he made 36 assists, 608 putouts, and 1 error. He had a .998 fielding percentage and he caught players trying to steal 21.8% of the time. He didn't play in the Wild Card game.

In 2017, d'Arnaud was once again on the DL for part of the season. He finished the season with 85 hits, 19 doubles, 16 home runs, 57 RBIs, 59 strikeouts to 23 walks, and a .244 batting average in 112 games. Defensively, as the Mets' catcher in 93 games, he made 44 assists, 759 putouts, and 4 errors. He caught players trying to steal 16.7% of the time.

d'Arnaud had season ending Tommy John surgery on April 17, 2018. He played in just four games with the Mets prior to going on the DL.

The Mets designated d'Arnaud for assignment on April 28, 2019. He was released on May 3rd. The Los Angeles Dodgers signed him on May 5th. He was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays on May 10th. He finished the 2019 season with 88 hits, 16 doubles, 16 home runs, 69 RBIs, 85 strikeouts to 32 walks, and a .251 batting average in 10 games with the Mets, 1 game with the Dodgers, and 92 games with the Rays. Defensively, as a catcher in 85 games, he made 26 assists, 702 putouts, and 3 errors, and he caught players trying to steal 28.6% of the time.

d'Arnaud became a free agent on October 31, 2019. He signed a two-year, $16 million contract with the Braves on November 24th. He had a strong season in 2020, winning his first Silver Slugger award. He finished the season with 53 hits, 8 doubles, 9 home runs, 34 RBIs, 50 strikeouts to 16 walks, and a .321 batting average in 44 games. Defensively, he was the Braves' catcher in 35 games. In the postseason, he batted .286 with 12 hits, 2 doubles, 2 home runs, and 10 RBIs in 42 at-bats in 12 games.

d'Arnaud spent time on the IL in 2021 with a thumb sprain. He finished the season with 46 hits, 14 doubles, 26 RBIs, 53 strikeouts to 17 walks, and a .220 batting average in 60 games. In the postseason, he had 13 hits, 1 double, 2 home runs, and 3 RBIs in 55 at-bats in 16 games.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Travis d'Arnaud
ESPN - Travis d'Arnaud