Travis Fryman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Travis Fryman |
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Fryman with the Mahoning Valley Scrappers in 2015
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| Third baseman | |||
| Born: March 25, 1969 Lexington, Kentucky, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| July 7, 1990, for the Detroit Tigers | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 29, 2002, for the Cleveland Indians | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .274 | ||
| Home runs | 223 | ||
| Runs batted in | 1,022 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Travis Fryman, born on March 25, 1969, is a former American professional baseball player. He was a talented third baseman in Major League Baseball (MLB). Travis played for the Detroit Tigers and the Cleveland Indians from 1990 to 2002. After his playing career, he became a hitting instructor for the Cleveland Guardians' minor league teams. He also managed the Mahoning Valley Scrappers for several seasons.
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Early Life and Baseball Beginnings
Travis Fryman was born in Lexington, Kentucky. His father, Bill Fryman, was a basketball coach. When Travis was three, his family moved to Pensacola, Florida. They also lived in Orlando for a time.
Travis attended a Baptist church every Sunday as a child. He played high school baseball at J. M. Tate High School in Gonzalez, Florida. In 1986, he helped his team win a Florida high school championship.
Playing for the Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers picked Travis Fryman in the first round of the 1987 Major League Baseball draft. This was right after he finished high school. He made his MLB debut with the Tigers on July 7, 1990. His first game was at Tiger Stadium. He played shortstop in that game. However, he spent more time at third base during his first season.
Becoming an All-Star
In 1991, Fryman played both shortstop and third base. In 1992, he became the starting shortstop because of an injury to another player. That year, he hit 20 home runs and had 96 RBIs. This earned him his first All-Star selection. He also won the American League Silver Slugger Award for his position.
Fryman started 1993 at shortstop. But by the end of the season, he became the main third baseman. He stayed at third base for Detroit until 1997. After the 1997 season, he was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Just two weeks later, he was traded again. This time, he went to the Cleveland Indians.
Playing for the Cleveland Indians
In his first season with the Cleveland Indians in 1998, Fryman played very well. He had a .287 batting average, 28 home runs, and 96 RBIs. He helped the team win the American League Central division title. However, the Indians lost in the 1998 American League Championship Series.
A Great Season in 2000
Injuries affected Fryman in 1999. But he had his best season in 2000. He set new personal records for batting average (.321), slugging percentage (.516), and on-base percentage (.392). He also had 184 hits, many doubles, and 106 RBIs.
Fryman was also excellent in the field that year. He made only eight errors and had a 60-game streak without an error. He won a Gold Glove Award for his great defense. He was also the starting third baseman for the American League in the All-Star Game. His teammates gave him an award for his efforts.
Later Career and Retirement
Injuries limited Fryman again in 2001. He did not play his first game until June 2. In 2002, he had lower defensive statistics.
Over his 13-season career, Travis Fryman played in 1,698 games. He had a .274 batting average, 223 home runs, and 1,022 RBIs. He retired from baseball after the 2002 season.
Coaching Career
After retiring as a player, Travis Fryman became a manager. In 2008, he managed the Mahoning Valley Scrappers. This team is a minor league affiliate of the Indians. Before that, he worked as an infield instructor for the Indians during spring training.
Fryman has also worked as a hitting instructor for the Cleveland Guardians' minor league teams. He travels to different teams, helping young players improve their hitting skills.
Personal Life
Travis Fryman is married to Kathleen. They have three children: Mason, Branden, and Cole. Travis and Kathleen became devout Christians after Kathleen met the wife of former baseball player Frank Tanana.
More About Baseball
- List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career runs batted in leaders
