JOURNAL SPORTS
Hayden Travinski’s LSU baseball career path had its twists and turns before it blossomed in Baton Rouge, so getting a promotion from independent pro ball in Montana to the Houston Astros’ Florida-based rookie league team in West Palm Beach fits his script.
The former Airline and Loyola All-Stater was plucked from the Missoula Paddleheads by the Astros organization late last week. He signed a free agent contract and has been assigned to the Astros’ Rookie-level affiliate in the Florida Complex League.
The Shreveporter had a brief but impactful stay in Missoula. In 20 games, the catcher/first baseman had 14 RBI and five extra base hits to catch the Astros’ attention.
“Travinski never really needed to be here – he came from a big-time program like LSU,” said Paddleheads manager Michael Schlact. “But his leadership and accountability in the clubhouse made a huge impact. He earned this opportunity.”
“This came out of left field,” said Travinski, “but I’m excited. I’m grateful to Missoula for the opportunity – you never know when your chance will come.”
Hampered by injuries until his junior season at LSU, Travinski had a breakout season in 2023. Opening the season as the third-team catcher, he started hitting at a torrid rate and never wavered as he worked his way into the lineup.
Travinski earned the Tigers’ starting catcher role at the end of April 2023 and played a tremendous role in LSU’s drive to the national championship. He appeared in 41 games (23 starts) on the year, batting .356 (37-for-104) with five doubles, 10 homers, 30 RBI and 30 runs scored. His average was well over .400 for much of the second half of the season.
He was voted to the 2023 NCAA Baton Rouge Regional All-Tournament Team after hitting .429 (6-for-14) with one double, two homers, five RBI and five runs.
Travinski batted .538 (7-for-13) in the 2023 SEC Tournament with one double, three RBI and three runs scored, and he recorded a career-best four hits in four-at bats with two runs scored in a tournament game versus Arkansas.
He batted .271 (61-for-225) in the 2024 season with 13 doubles, 16 homers, 53 RBI and 44 runs, and he was voted to the ABCA All-South Region Team and the SEC All-Tournament team.
Travinski, a 2023 LSU graduate, played in five seasons (2020-24) for the Tigers, appearing in 177 career games (119 starts) and batted .279 (127-for-456) with 22 doubles, 37 homers, 110 RBI and 98 runs.