FORT MYERS, Fla. — It didn’t take long for Travis Blankenhorn to collect the first hit of his professional baseball career.
Two at-bats, to be exact.
Blankenhorn, who graduated from Pottsville Area High School earlier this month, played his first pro game Monday as a member of the Gulf Coast League Twins. Minnesota had selected Blankenhorn with the fifth pick of the third round (No. 80 overall) in the Major League Baseball Amateur Player Draft on June 9.
Wearing No. 67, Blankenhorn started at third base for the GCL Twins in their 2-0 loss to the GCL Orioles at CenturyLink Sports Complex Fields. He finished 1-for-2 with a walk.
Batting sixth, Blankenhorn got called out on strikes in his first at-bat to end the second inning.
In the fifth, he drilled a one-out triple to center field. A groundout and strikeout left him stranded at third base.
Blankenhorn led off the eighth inning with a walk but got forced out at second base on Robert Molina’s ground ball to the pitcher.
In the third inning, Blankenhorn got his first official chance in the field, retiring Hernys Blanco on a ground ball to third base. Blankenhorn handled his three chances — two ground balls and a putout — without an error.
The GCL Twins visit the GCL Orioles at noon today.