Trayvon Robinson will don a Lancaster Barnstormers uniform for the third consecutive season while Tyler Bortnick makes his return to the home clubhouse in Lancaster for the first time since 2015, it was announced today by manager Ross Peeples.
The signings bring the total number of players under contract for the upcoming season to 19.
Robinson, 30, is the Barnstormers’ reigning Community Man of the Year for his presence at the ballpark and around town. In his first full season with the Barnstormers, the Los Angeles native hit .287 with seven home runs, one a walkoff blast against York on July 8, with 39 RBI. Robinson drew 48 walks in 97 games for a .378 on base percentage. He also swiped 17 bases despite battling leg injuries for much of the campaign.
The previous year, Robinson opened the season in Somerset, but the Barnstormers acquired him in July. In 51 games for Lancaster in 2016, the switch hitter batted .298 with six home runs.
He has played all three outfield positions in a Lancaster uniform.
Robinson spent a portion of the 2011 and 2012 seasons with the Seattle Mariners. On August 15, 2012, he was the Mariners’ left fielder when Felix Hernandez threw a perfect game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Safeco Field. Robinson recorded three putouts in the game.
Overall, Robinson logged 90 games at the big league level, hitting .215 with five home runs.
He has also played in the minor league systems for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Baltimore Orioles, Detroit Tigers and Arizona Diamondbacks.
“If Trayvon can stay healthy, it will be fun to watch what kind of numbers he can put up,” said Peeples. “He is a great clubhouse guy that a lot of people just enjoy being around.”
Bortnick, also 30, signed with Tampa Bay in 2009 out of Coastal Carolina University. He went to the Arizona Diamondbacks’ system in 2012 and spent part or all of three seasons with Class AAA Reno.
The right-handed batting utility infielder came to Lancaster in 2015. He hit .280 over 52 games with one home run and 23 RBI. In June of that season, Bortnick’s contract was purchased by the Mariners, and the Ohio native spent the remainder of the season with Class AA Jackson, hitting .275.
Bortnick signed with Detroit and spent the entire 2016 season in the Tiger system. He hit .277 with six home runs and 34 RBI over 77 games with Class AA Erie, Class AAA Toledo and Class A Lakeland.
He returned to the Atlantic League with the Somerset Patriots last year, batting .273 with two homers and 30 RBI. Milwaukee purchased his contract in mid-July, but he returned to the Patriots after three weeks.
“Bortnick is a guy I’ve always loved watching,” said Peeples. “It’s the way he plays and approaches the game. He is a true professional.”
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