After finishing out the 2015 season by dominating in the Arizona Fall League, Nick Travieso jumped up to Double-A Pensacola to begin the 2016 season. The year got out to a good start for Traveiso as he tossed 5.0 shutout innings with two walks and five strikeouts against Mississippi. The next two starts weren’t quite as strong, allowing two runs in 4.2 and 4.0 innings with two walks in each and eight total strikeouts. That finished up his Arpil as he skipped a start between the 2nd and 3rd of the month.
May got out to a rough start. Nick Travieso allowed five earned in 4.1 innings with three walks and six strikeouts. Things didn’t get better the next time out as he allowed five more runs in 2.1 innings with three more walks and three strikeouts. Over the next two starts things improved as he allowed three runs in 12.1 innings with six walks and 11 strikeouts. In the final two starts he allowed seven runs in 10.2 innings with three walks and 13 strikeouts, but two home runs. For the month he posted a 6.07 ERA in 29.2 innings with 15 walks and 34 strikeouts.
June didn’t start so well for the right hander as he allowed three runs in 4.0 innings with seven walks and two strikeouts. The next time out he struggled again, walking three batters with just one strikeout in 3.0 innings and four earned runs. The next two starts went well as he threw 6.0 innings with two earned runs in each game and walking just four total batters. That would wrap up June after his final start on the 19th. In four starts and 19.0 innings he psoted a 4.74 ERA with more walks, 14, than strikeouts, 10.
After nearly two weeks without a start the right hander returned to the mound on the 3rd and allowed a run in 4.0 innings with two walks and a strikeout. On the 8th he tossed out 6.0 shutout innings with just two hits allowed, walking and striking out one batter. Returning to the mound on July 13th Nick Travieso had what could arguably be his best start of the year, allowing one run in 7.1 innings with six strikeouts and no walks. On the 18th he took on the Jacksonville Suns and allowed three runs in 4.2 innings pitched with three strikeouts. In 22.0 innings over four starts he posted a 2.05 ERA with just three walks and 11 strikeouts. For the second straight month he missed the final two starts of the month.
He would miss another start to begin August before returning to the mound on the 9th, tossing 3.1 shutout innings with three walks and two strikeouts. Over his next three starts he allowed seven earned runs in 16.0 innings with eight walks and eight strikeouts. He would close out the year with two strong starts, allowing just four total runs in 13.2 innings with four walks and 13 strikeouts. Over the final six starts of the season he posted a 3.00 ERA in 33.0 innings with 15 walks and 23 strikeouts.
The overall season was an interesting one for Nick Travieso. He battled some injuries throughout the season that cost him to miss a few starts at a time over a few different stretches throughout the year. His walk rate in the first half of the season was well out of line with the rest of his career, but he cut it down to 8.1% in the second half of the year from 13% in the first half. His strikeout rate was the opposite, though, going from 21% in the first half to 15.1% in the second half. His home run rate was also significantly better in the second half than in the first, allowing just two homers in the final 67.0 innings of the year after giving up nine in the first 50.1 innings.
| Level | IP | H | ERA | HR | BB | K |
| Pen | 117.1 | 109 | 3.84 | 11 | 53 | 91 |
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Nick Travieso Scouting Report
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Fastball | His fastball took a step backwards this season when it comes to velocity as he worked in the low 90’s and touched the mid-90’s at times. In the past he’s sat closer to the mid 90’s and touched the upper 90’s.
Slider | The go-to offering for Travieso is his slider, which can be a plus pitch at times, works in the mid-to-upper 80’s and has late biting action to it. At times it’s merely an average offering
Change Up | It’s improved over the years, but it’s still a clear third pitch from the right hander that’s fringe-average to average most of the time.
The 2016 season was a tough one for Nick Travieso. He battled with some minor injury issues throughout the season, never quite being “right” during the year but never really injured to the point that he actually had to hit the disabled list for more than a few weeks at a time. The stuff took a bit of a step backwards as a result, but when he’s been healthy in the past he’s shown above-average stuff and much better control over the course of an entire season. With his battles with minor injuries throughout the year he gets a little bit of a pass. Overall his walk rate will have to improve from where it was in 2016, but he made big strides in the second half with regards to that to get back to where he normally is.
Scouts tend to love his mound presence and demeanor. He attacks hitters with his fastball and in unafraid to challenge batters. When he’s got his control that tends to work out well, but in the first half when he was struggling to locate he paid the price as hitters were able to take advantage of his mistakes. As it is with most pitching, control makes the difference. Finding consistency again in 2017 would be a step in the right direction and put him back on track.
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