Blankenhorn elected free agency Monday after being outrighted off the Nationals' 40-man roster.
At this point in the calendar, Blankenhorn is unlikely to land a minor-league deal with another organization before the season ends, but he'll get a head start in finding his next employer ahead of 2025. He was optioned to Triple-A Rochester on Aug. 20 and later designated for assignment after he slashed .129/.156/.161 over 32 plate appearances in 13 games with the Nationals.
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Nationals' Travis Blankenhorn: Outrighted to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Nationals outrighted Blankenhorn to Triple-A Rochester on Sunday.
Blankenhorn was removed from the 40-man roster last week but will remain in the organization after passing through waivers unclaimed. He'll represent outfield depth at Rochester.
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Nationals' Travis Blankenhorn: DFA'd by Washington
Rotowire
The Nationals designated Blankenhorn for assignment Friday.
The 28-year-old was optioned to Triple-A Rochester on Aug. 20 and has now lost his place on the 40-man roster. Blankenhorn has an .821 OPS in 106 games with Rochester this season and could remain with the affiliate if he passes through waivers unclaimed.
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Nationals' Travis Blankenhorn: Sent down to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Nationals optioned Blankenhorn to Triple-A Rochester on Tuesday.
Blankenhorn's playing time had been trending downward throughout August, and he'll give up his spot on the 26-man roster to Joey Gallo (hamstring), who was activated from the injured list Tuesday. Blankenhorn posted a meager .317 OPS in 32 plate appearances for the Nationals but is slashing .246/.328/.518 with Rochester.
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Nationals' Travis Blankenhorn: Losing out on playing time
Rotowire
Blankenhorn is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Orioles, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
The lefty-hitting Blankenhorn finds himself on the bench for the second day in a row, this time against a right-handed starter (Dean Kremer) after he sat out Tuesday's 9-3 win while lefty Trevor Rogers took the hill for the Orioles. After getting called up from Triple-A Rochester on July 30, Blankenhorn had a brief run as a strong-side platoon player at designated hitter, but he's gone just 3-for-28 with eight strikeouts and is beginning to lose out on playing time as a result. He could be at risk of a demotion to Triple-A once Joey Gallo (hamstring) is ready to return from the injured list.
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Nationals' Travis Blankenhorn: On bench again
Rotowire
Blankenhorn is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Angels.
Blankenhorn will be withheld from the starting nine for a third consecutive game, though Friday's outing is the first of that stretch against a right-handed pitcher (Jose Soriano). The lefty-hitting Blankenhorn is 3-for-20 (.150) with a 38.1 percent strikeout rate in nine games this season. Harold Ramirez will bat seventh and DH on Friday.
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Nationals' Travis Blankenhorn: Out against lefty
Rotowire
Blankenhorn is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Giants.
The Giants are sending a lefty (Kyle Harrison) to the hill for the second day in a row, so the lefty-hitting Blankenhorn will once again head to the bench. Platoon mate Harold Ramirez will get another turn as the Nationals' designated hitter and will slot sixth in the batting order.
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Nationals' Travis Blankenhorn: Exiting lineup vs. lefty
Rotowire
Blankenhorn is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Giants.
With a lefty (Blake Snell) on the bump for the Giants, the lefty-hitting Blankenhorn will move to the bench after starting in each of the Nationals' previous six games. Harold Ramirez will take over as the Nationals' designated hitter.
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Nationals' Travis Blankenhorn: Gaining traction in lineup
Rotowire
Blankenhorn will serve as the Nationals' designated hitter and No. 6 batter in Sunday's game against the Brewers.
Blankenhorn didn't crack the lineup Tuesday against the Diamondbacks after being called up from Triple-A Rochester earlier that day, but he's now entered the starting nine in four consecutive contests -- all against right-handed pitching. The lefty-hitting Blankenhorn looks like he'll occupy the strong side of a platoon at designated hitter with the righty-hitting Harold Ramirez, who will head to the bench for a second straight contest. Blankenhorn has gone 1-for-10 with two RBI and one run through his first four games with Washington, but he had been a standout performer for Rochester, with whom he produced an .846 OPS in 401 plate appearances prior to his promotion.
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Nationals' Travis Blankenhorn: Called up from Rochester
Rotowire
The Nationals selected Blankenhorn's contract from Triple-A Rochester on Tuesday.
With Lane Thomas and Jesse Winker having been moved elsewhere ahead of the trade deadline, the Nationals will turn to Blankenhorn to fill one of the openings on the roster. Blankenhorn slashed .246/.328/.518 with 24 home runs and 69 RBI through 401 Triple-A plate appearances on the season. The 27-year-old is capable of fielding either of the corner-outfield positions, though with James Wood in left field, most of Blankenhorn's time will likely be spent competing with Alex Call for reps in right.
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Nationals' Travis Blankenhorn: Likely to be called up Tuesday
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The Nationals are expected to call up Blankenhorn from Triple-A Rochester on Tuesday, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
Blankenhorn will join the Nationals in Arizona after producing a .328 on-base percentage with 24 home runs, 69 RBI, 58 runs scored and three stolen bases over 401 plate appearances in 94 games with Triple-A Rochester on the season. Washington has seemingly shifted its focus to the future after trading away veterans such as Lane Thomas and Jesse Winker in recent days, and while the 27-year-old Blankenhorn is an older prospect, he could still vie for a regular spot in the lineup if he performs well in his initial opportunities with the big club.
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Nationals' Travis Blankenhorn: Cut from big-league camp
Rotowire
The Nationals reassigned Blankenhorn to minor-league camp Monday.
After slugging 23 home runs and getting on base at a .360 clip with Triple-A Rochester last season, Blankenhorn earned a cup of coffee with the Nationals in September. He proceeded to slash a middling .161/.297/.258 in 37 plate appearances for the big club before being shut down for the final two weeks of the campaign with plantar fasciitis. The Nationals outrighted Blankenhorn off the 40-man roster over the winter, only for the 27-year-old to rejoin the organization on a minor-league deal. Though he attended spring training as a non-roster invitee, Blankenhorn never looked like a serious threat to make the Opening Day roster and will now head back to Rochester.
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Nationals' Travis Blankenhorn: Returns to Nationals
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Blankenhorn signed a minor-league contract with the Nationals on Dec. 22, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
Blankenhorn had elected free agency after being jettisoned from the Nats' 40-man roster in October but wound up re-signing. The 27-year-old outfielder went 5-for-31 with one home run with Washington before his season was ended by a foot injury. He'll be healthy for spring training.
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Nationals' Travis Blankenhorn: Sent outright to Triple-A
Rotowire
Blankenhorn (foot) was activated from the 10-day injured list Thursday, cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Rochester.
Blakenhorn missed the last few weeks of the season with plantar fasciitis and has now been booted off the Nationals' 40-man roster. He got into 10 games with the Nats this season, going 5-for-31 with one home run.
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Nationals' Travis Blankenhorn: Placed on 10-day IL
Rotowire
The Nationals placed Blankenhorn on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with plantar fasciitis, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.
Blankenhorn hasn't appeared in a game since Thursday, and now at least there is an explanation for the extended absence. This 10-day IL stint is retroactive to Friday, so the 27-year-old outfielder will be eligible to return as early as next Tuesday. Blake Rutherford is joining the active major-league roster in a corresponding move.
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Nationals' Travis Blankenhorn: Playing time fading
Rotowire
Blankenhorn is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the White Sox, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.
Blankenhorn will take a seat for the fourth game in a row, with his last three absences coming against right-handed starting pitchers. Jake Alu is making a third straight start in left field and looks to have emerged as the Nationals' preferred option at the position versus righties.
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Nationals' Travis Blankenhorn: On bench again
Rotowire
Blankenhorn is out of the lineup Sunday versus the Brewers.
Blankenhorn is on the bench for the third consecutive game. With Sunday's contest against right-hander Brandon Woodruff, the 27-year-old will be out of the lineup for the second straight game against a righty. Jake Alu will start in his place again.
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Nationals' Travis Blankenhorn: Out of lineup
Rotowire
Blankenhorn will be on the bench for Saturday's game against the Brewers, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Prior to Saturday's game, Blankenhorn had started against every righty the Nationals had faced in September while sitting against all but one lefty, but his off day here comes against righty Corbin Burnes. Blankenhorn's .555 OPS through 10 games this season certainly doesn't make much of a case for a large role down the stretch, though he could continue to see the field on a regular basis due to Washington's lack of reliable alternatives. Jake Alu will be the left fielder Saturday.
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Nationals' Travis Blankenhorn: Sitting versus lefty
Rotowire
Blankenhorn isn't in the Nationals' lineup Friday against the Brewers, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
Left-hander Wade Miley will start on the mound for Milwaukee on Friday, so the lefty-hitting Blankenhorn will retreat to the dugout to begin the game. Alex Call will fill in as the Nats' left fielder and bat eighth.
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Nationals' Travis Blankenhorn: Sitting against lefty
Rotowire
Blankenhorn is not in the lineup Tuesday versus the Pirates.
Alex Call, Jacob Young and Lane Thomas will start across the outfield for the Nationals as they match up against southpaw Bailey Falter. The left-handed-hitting Blankenhorn has slashed just .200/.333/.320 in 30 overall plate appearances since earning a Sept. 1 call-up to Washington.
