Travis Ishikawa
Encyclopedia
Travis Takashi Ishikawa is an American
Major League Baseball
first baseman
who is currently with the San Francisco Giants
organization. He made his major league debut on April 18, , against the Arizona Diamondbacks
.
in Federal Way, Washington
, where he lettered in baseball
, leading his team to the Washington State Class 4A Title as a junior and to the title game as a senior.
Travis Ishikawa went to Illahee Jr. High in Federal way.
was placed on the Bereavement List, and made his major league debut April 18 at Arizona. His first big league hit was on April 19 as a single off Arizona Diamondbacks
' Brandon Webb
. He had his first big league start on May 26 against the Colorado Rockies
, going 3-for-4 with 2 doubles and 3 RBIs. He played for the Scottsdale Scorpions in the Arizona Fall League
.
and single-A San Jose Giants
. He was hitting .214 with 3 HRs and 17 RBI in 48 games with the Connecticut Defenders, before being moved to San Jose on June 28 where he had impressive power numbers with 15 2Bs, 1 3B, 13 HRs and .551 slugging pct. in 56 games. Ishikawa batted .268 in San Jose, with 34 RBI. He helped the club to the California League championship, as he posted a .241 (7-for-29) with 2 HRs and 5 RBI in 9 post-season contests.
at PETCO Park
.
Prior to his 2 stints with the San Francisco Giants, Ishikawa split the season between double-A Connecticut and triple-A Fresno Grizzlies
, combining to hit .299 (121-for-405) with 69 runs, 35 2Bs, 3 3Bs, 24 HRs, 94 RBI and .578 slugging pct. in 112 contests. He began the year with Connecticut, batting .289 with 16 2Bs, 8 HRs and 45 RBI in 64 games. He was the promoted to Fresno June 20 and in 48 games batted .310 with 19 2Bs, 3 3Bs, 16 HRs and 46 RBI. Amongst the Giants organizational leaders, he ranked 4th in avg., 2nd in HRs and 3rd in RBI. Ishikawa was named Giants Player of Month for both May and June and the Eastern League Player of Week for June 2–8 after going 10-for-22 (.455) with 3 HRs and 9 RBI.
' starting pitcher Jeff Suppan
with an RBI Triple, followed by a single, later scoring after an Aaron Rowand
home run
. On July 27, 2009, Ryan Garko
was traded to the San Francisco Giants for LHP prospect Scott Barnes. The presence of Garko, a first baseman, reduced Ishikawa's starting appearance.
at Minute Maid Park
.
In July, Ishikawa hit .295 with 14 RBIs, including a grand slam on July 3 against Colorado Rockies ace Ubaldo Jimenez.
Ishikawa served primarily as a pinch-hitter and defensive replacement for most of the season. He ended up hitting .266 with three home runs and 22 RBI in 158 at-bats for the season. Ishikawa was on the Giants active roster throughout their postseason run. He had a pinch-hit double in Game 2 of the World Series
against the Texas Rangers
and started Game 4 at first base.
to make room for rookie first baseman Brandon Belt. On April 24, Ishikawa hit a grand slam for the Triple-A Fresno Grizzlies
in a 12-5 victory over the Reno Aces. He did not appear for the Giants in 2011, spending most of the season with the Grizzlies. However, he injured his shoulder diving for a ball early in the year and underwent season-ending shoulder surgery in the summer of 2011.
and his mother is European-American. He met his wife, Rochelle, a dental assistant, when he was hit by a pitch in the face in his first game with the San Jose Giants. He became a Christian
in 2007, which he believes helped him out of his slump
that year. Their daughter, Faith Annabel, was born on Ishikawa's 25th birthday, September 24, 2008.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
who is currently with the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
organization. He made his major league debut on April 18, , against the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
.
High school years
Ishikawa attended Federal Way High SchoolFederal Way High School
Federal Way High School is located in Federal Way, Washington. It was originally built in 1938.-Academics:* Advanced Placement courses: Calculus, Statistics, U.S...
in Federal Way, Washington
Federal Way, Washington
Federal Way is a city in King County, Washington, United States. Federal Way is located between Seattle and Tacoma. Its western boundary is Puget Sound. It is bordered by Des Moines on the north, Kent, unincorporated King County, and Milton on the east and Tacoma and Fife on the south...
, where he lettered in baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
, leading his team to the Washington State Class 4A Title as a junior and to the title game as a senior.
Travis Ishikawa went to Illahee Jr. High in Federal way.
2006
Ishikawa made his major league debut from Single-A with three brief stints (April 17–20, May 25–30, and June 13–20). He was recalled for the 1st time on April 17 when Lance NiekroLance Niekro
Lance William Niekro is a former Major League Baseball player, nephew of Phil Niekro, and son of Joe Niekro. Niekro currently serves as an assistant coach at Florida Southern College....
was placed on the Bereavement List, and made his major league debut April 18 at Arizona. His first big league hit was on April 19 as a single off Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
' Brandon Webb
Brandon Webb
Brandon Tyler Webb is a Major League Baseball pitcher. He was the 2006 National League Cy Young Award winner.-High school:Webb attended Paul G...
. He had his first big league start on May 26 against the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
, going 3-for-4 with 2 doubles and 3 RBIs. He played for the Scottsdale Scorpions in the Arizona Fall League
Arizona Fall League
The Arizona Fall League is an off-season league owned and operated by Major League Baseball which operates during the fall in Arizona, United States at five spring training complexes...
.
2007
Ishikawa spent the entire season in the minors, splitting time between double-A Connecticut DefendersConnecticut Defenders
The Connecticut Defenders were a minor league baseball team based in Norwich, Connecticut. The team, which played in the Eastern League, was the Double-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants major-league club from 2003 until following the 2009 season, when the Defenders relocated to Richmond,...
and single-A San Jose Giants
San Jose Giants
The San Jose Giants are a minor league baseball team in San Jose, California, USA. They are a Class A - Advanced team in the Northern Division of the California League, and have been a farm team of the San Francisco Giants since 1988. Home games are played at San Jose Municipal Stadium...
. He was hitting .214 with 3 HRs and 17 RBI in 48 games with the Connecticut Defenders, before being moved to San Jose on June 28 where he had impressive power numbers with 15 2Bs, 1 3B, 13 HRs and .551 slugging pct. in 56 games. Ishikawa batted .268 in San Jose, with 34 RBI. He helped the club to the California League championship, as he posted a .241 (7-for-29) with 2 HRs and 5 RBI in 9 post-season contests.
2008
In 2008, Ishikawa appeared in 33 games for the San Francisco Giants, batting .274 (26-for-95) with 12 runs, 6 2Bs, 3 HRs and 15 RBI in his 1st Major League appearance since 2006. On August 13, he was called up by the Giants. He started 26 games (all at 1B) and hit safely in 16 of those assignments. Ishikawa hit his first major league home run on Aug. 17 in Atlanta, a 2 run shot off RHP Charlie Morton. He produced a career-high 3-hit efforts on Sept. 12 and 14 against the San Diego PadresSan Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
at PETCO Park
PETCO Park
Petco Park is an open-air ballpark in downtown San Diego, California, USA. It opened in 2004, replacing Qualcomm Stadium as the home park of Major League Baseball's San Diego Padres. Before then, the Padres shared Qualcomm Stadium with the NFL's San Diego Chargers...
.
Prior to his 2 stints with the San Francisco Giants, Ishikawa split the season between double-A Connecticut and triple-A Fresno Grizzlies
Fresno Grizzlies
The Fresno Grizzlies are a minor league baseball team based in Fresno, California. The team, which plays in the Pacific Coast League , is the Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants major league club. The Grizzlies play in Chukchansi Park , located in downtown Fresno and built in 2002...
, combining to hit .299 (121-for-405) with 69 runs, 35 2Bs, 3 3Bs, 24 HRs, 94 RBI and .578 slugging pct. in 112 contests. He began the year with Connecticut, batting .289 with 16 2Bs, 8 HRs and 45 RBI in 64 games. He was the promoted to Fresno June 20 and in 48 games batted .310 with 19 2Bs, 3 3Bs, 16 HRs and 46 RBI. Amongst the Giants organizational leaders, he ranked 4th in avg., 2nd in HRs and 3rd in RBI. Ishikawa was named Giants Player of Month for both May and June and the Eastern League Player of Week for June 2–8 after going 10-for-22 (.455) with 3 HRs and 9 RBI.
2009
Ishikawa earned the position of starting first baseman in spring training. In the first game of the 2009 season, Ishikawa went 2-5, driving in 3 runs in the first inning against Milwaukee BrewersMilwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
' starting pitcher Jeff Suppan
Jeff Suppan
Jeffrey Scot Suppan , is a Major League Baseball pitcher, who is currently a free agent.-Baseball career:Suppan was drafted out of high school by the Boston Red Sox in the second round of the 1993 amateur draft, and rapidly ascended to the Majors making his debut at the age of 20...
with an RBI Triple, followed by a single, later scoring after an Aaron Rowand
Aaron Rowand
Aaron Ryan Rowand is an outfielder in Major League Baseball who has played for the San Francisco Giants, Chicago White Sox and the Philadelphia Phillies. He was released by the Giants in September 2011.-Early life and college career:...
home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
. On July 27, 2009, Ryan Garko
Ryan Garko
Ryan Francis Garko is a professional baseball outfielder, first baseman, and designated hitter, who plays for the Samsung Lions of the Korean Baseball Organization. In college, he was a catcher. He has played for the Cleveland Indians, the San Francisco Giants, and the Texas Rangers in Major...
was traded to the San Francisco Giants for LHP prospect Scott Barnes. The presence of Garko, a first baseman, reduced Ishikawa's starting appearance.
2010
Ishikawa hit his first HR of the year on April 7, 2010 against the Houston AstrosHouston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
at Minute Maid Park
Minute Maid Park
Minute Maid Park is a ballpark in Downtown Houston, Texas, United States that opened in 2000 to house the Major League Baseball Houston Astros....
.
In July, Ishikawa hit .295 with 14 RBIs, including a grand slam on July 3 against Colorado Rockies ace Ubaldo Jimenez.
Ishikawa served primarily as a pinch-hitter and defensive replacement for most of the season. He ended up hitting .266 with three home runs and 22 RBI in 158 at-bats for the season. Ishikawa was on the Giants active roster throughout their postseason run. He had a pinch-hit double in Game 2 of the World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
against the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
and started Game 4 at first base.
2011
After the final game of Spring Training 2011, Ishikawa was designated for assignmentDesignated for assignment
Designated for assignment is a contractual term used in Major League Baseball. When a player is designated for assignment, he is immediately removed from the club's 40-man roster. This gives the club 10 days to decide what to do with the player while freeing up a roster spot for another...
to make room for rookie first baseman Brandon Belt. On April 24, Ishikawa hit a grand slam for the Triple-A Fresno Grizzlies
Fresno Grizzlies
The Fresno Grizzlies are a minor league baseball team based in Fresno, California. The team, which plays in the Pacific Coast League , is the Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants major league club. The Grizzlies play in Chukchansi Park , located in downtown Fresno and built in 2002...
in a 12-5 victory over the Reno Aces. He did not appear for the Giants in 2011, spending most of the season with the Grizzlies. However, he injured his shoulder diving for a ball early in the year and underwent season-ending shoulder surgery in the summer of 2011.
Personal life
Ishikawa's father is a third generation Japanese-American SanseiSansei
Sansei is a Japanese language term used in countries in South America, North America and Australia to specify the children of children born to Japanese people in the new country. The Nisei are considered the second generation, grandchildren of the Japanese-born immigrants are called Sansei and...
and his mother is European-American. He met his wife, Rochelle, a dental assistant, when he was hit by a pitch in the face in his first game with the San Jose Giants. He became a Christian
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
in 2007, which he believes helped him out of his slump
Slump
A Slump is a form of mass wasting that occurs when a coherent mass of loosely consolidated materials or rock layers moves a short distance down a slope. Movement is characterized by sliding along a concave-upward or planar surface...
that year. Their daughter, Faith Annabel, was born on Ishikawa's 25th birthday, September 24, 2008.