Brian Traxler took fundamentals to 9 majors games, Japan
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When talk turned to Brian Traxler, talk inevitably turned to his size - listed at 5-10, 200 pounds, The San Bernardino County Sun wrote in May 1990.
But the Dodgers took everything into account, including his hitting, and called him up to Los Angeles that April.
"He has a good fundamental swing and he's not going to scare," Dodgers general manager Fred Claire told The Sun then. "I just told him not to try and be anything but what he is."
For Traxler, that trip to the majors, amounting to nine appearances, proved his only trip to the bigs. But he did go on to a long career, one that included seasons in Japan and Taiwan, as well as multiple in independent ball.
Traxler's career began in 1988, taken by the Dodgers in the 16th round of the draft out of the University of New Orleans.
Traxler started with the Dodgers at single-A Vero Beach. He saw 72 games and hit .292. He moved to AA San Antonio and AAA Albuquerque for 1989. He hit .323 in 127 games between them.
He started 1990 at Albuquerque, but got the quick call-up due to injury. His first at bat came to finish one from an ejected Eddie Murray. He struck out. He then flied out in another pinch-hitting appearance, The Los Angeles Times wrote.
"Tough league," Traxler told The Times with a chuckle. "I just hope I'm around enough to see a little more of it."
Traxler ultimately saw those nine games. He got 11 total at bats - and one hit. His hit came May 10 at Montreal, a double off of Dennis Martinez.
Traxler spent the rest of the year at Albuquerque and the next largely back at AA San Antonio. He played 1992 and 1993 entirely at Albuquerque, without seeing Los Angeles.
For 1994, he moved to Japan and Daiei. He saw 129 games there and hit .263. He made the all-star team, and continued his fan-favorite status he'd earned in Albuquerque in Japan, The Albuquerque Tribune wrote.
"Fortunately, I got off to a good start and the Japanese fans really fell for me," Traxler told The Tribune in April 1995 after his return stateside. "It was kind of nice knowing they were really behind me even when I didn't have a good game."
Traxler played 1995 back at Albuquerque, his last in affiliated ball. He moved to independent Fargo-Moorhead for 1996, then saw Sioux Falls in 1997.
He played 1998 between Chinatrust in Taiwan and independent Somerset. He returned to Somerset in 1999, then finished with Sioux Falls in 2000. Traxler turned coach at rookie Great Falls in 2001 and 2002.
Traxler passed away in November 2004 at the age of 37.
- Los Angeles Times, April 30, 1990: Dodgers
- San Bernardino County Sun, May 8, 1990: Traxler
- Albuquerque Tribune, April 15, 1995: To the Japanese, he's a doll
Made the Majors:1,454-31.7%-X
Never Made Majors:3,131-68.3%