It certainly hasn't come easily for Demeritte, the Rangers' first-round pick in 2013. He's hit a bunch of home runs, he's struck out a lot, he's served an 80-game suspension and he's been traded (from the Rangers to the Braves late in 2016). His first full season with Atlanta was also his first in Double-A, and it didn't go so well. The Braves didn't add him to the 40-man roster, but he was not selected in last December's Rule 5 Draft.
While his 2017 season was a disappointment, there were some positive signs, including a reduced strikeout rate and a strong August that saw him hit .316/.393/.481, numbers that perhaps can be used as a springboard. He was adjusting to the Braves' approach to hitting, and the organization thinks there's more pure hit tool than he's shown. The raw power is legit, and if he can make more consistent contact, it will show up in games more often.
Demerirtte has already shown he can be an excellent defender at second and has more than enough arm for third. He's athletic enough to play the outfield, so the Braves might expose him to that in 2018 to help maximize his versatility and value as a power-hitting utility type. Statcast - Batting Season Pitches Batted Balls Barrels Barrel % Exit Velocity Launch Angle XBA XSLG WOBA XWOBA XWOBACON Hard Hit % K % BB % 2019 777 108 4 3.7 90.7 15.6 .229 .357 .272 .279 .386 46.3 33.9 7.5 ALL 777 108 4 3.7 90.7 15.6 .229 .357 .272 .279 .386 46.3 33.9 7.5 MLB 40553 6.3 87.5 11.2 .251 .412 .317 .318 .371 34.5 21.7 8.3 Transactions Team Date Transaction 08/01/2019 Detroit Tigers selected the contract of LF Travis Demeritte from Toledo Mud Hens. 07/31/2019 Detroit Tigers traded RHP Shane Greene to Atlanta Braves for LHP Joey Wentz and LF Travis Demeritte. 07/31/2019 LF Travis Demeritte assigned to Toledo Mud Hens. 04/02/2019 LF Travis Demeritte assigned to Gwinnett Stripers from Mississippi Braves. 03/21/2019 OF Travis Demeritte assigned to Atlanta Braves. 08/16/2017 Mississippi Braves activated LF Travis Demeritte from the 7-day injured list. 08/08/2017 Mississippi Braves placed 2B Travis Demeritte on the 7-day disabled list. 04/04/2017 2B Travis Demeritte assigned to Mississippi Braves from Florida Fire Frogs. 01/25/2017 Atlanta Braves invited non-roster 2B Travis Demeritte to spring training. 07/29/2016 Travis Demeritte assigned to Carolina Mudcats. 07/27/2016 Atlanta Braves traded RHP Lucas Harrell and LHP Dario Alvarez to Texas Rangers for 2B Travis Demeritte. 07/13/2016 High Desert Mavericks activated 2B Travis Demeritte from the temporarily inactive list. 07/09/2016 High Desert Mavericks placed 2B Travis Demeritte on the temporarily inactive list. 03/29/2016 2B Travis Demeritte assigned to High Desert Mavericks from Spokane Indians. 03/20/2016 2B Travis Demeritte assigned to Texas Rangers. 09/02/2015 2B Travis Demeritte assigned to Spokane Indians from Hickory Crawdads. 06/04/2015 Hickory Crawdads placed 2B Travis Demeritte on the restricted list. 03/17/2015 2B Travis Demeritte assigned to Texas Rangers. 03/31/2014 2B Travis Demeritte assigned to Hickory Crawdads from AZL Rangers. 06/10/2013 Texas Rangers signed 2B Travis Demeritte. 06/10/2013 SS Travis Demeritte assigned to AZL Rangers.
