Travis Hafner is a former American professional baseball player who played as a designated hitter and first baseman. He was born on June 3, 1977, in Jamestown, North Dakota. Hafner started his baseball career in college, where he played for Cowley County Community College and the University of Central Arkansas. He was then drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 31st round of the 1996 Major League Baseball draft but did not sign with the team.
Hafner was later drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 31st round of the 1999 Major League Baseball draft. He made his Major League debut with the Indians in 2002 and quickly established himself as a power hitter. In his first full season in 2003, he hit 28 home runs and had 109 runs batted in (RBIs). He continued to be a consistent power hitter for the Indians over the next several seasons, hitting 33 home runs in 2004 and 42 home runs in 2006.
Hafner's best season came in 2006 when he finished fifth in the American League Most Valuable Player (MVP) voting. He hit .308 with 42 home runs and 117 RBIs. He also had a .659 slugging percentage and a 1.097 on-base plus slugging (OPS) percentage. Hafner was named to the American League All-Star team in 2006 and 2007.
Injuries began to take a toll on Hafner's career in the late 2000s. He missed significant time in 2008 and 2009 due to shoulder and knee injuries. He was still able to hit for power when he was healthy, hitting 16 home runs in just 57 games in 2008 and 13 home runs in 94 games in 2009.
Hafner's production declined in the early 2010s, and he was eventually released by the Indians in 2012. He signed with the New York Yankees for the 2013 season but played in just 82 games due to injuries. He hit .202 with 12 home runs and 37 RBIs in his final season.
Overall, Hafner had a solid Major League career, hitting .273 with 213 home runs and 731 RBIs in 1,318 games. He had a career OPS of .854 and was one of the most feared power hitters in the American League during his prime. Despite his injuries, Hafner was able to make a significant impact on the game of baseball and will be remembered as one of the best designated hitters of his era.
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