Article: Travis Shaw, The Surprising Spark Plug of Milwaukee's Franchise Revival in 2017

[reillymcshane]

On January 16, 2023, former Brewer infielder Travis Shaw announced his baseball retirement at age 32. The man known as the Mayor of Ding Dong City had enjoyed a short but memorable career in the majors - including a pair of exceptional seasons with the Brewers. 

Travis Richard Shaw was born on April 16, 1990, the son of former major league closer Jeff Shaw, a two-time All-Star. Travis Shaw grew up in Ohio and attended Kent State. The Red Sox selected him in the ninth round of the 2011 draft. 

In the minor leagues, Shaw - a left-handed hitter - displayed a nice overall skill set, including good batting averages and walk rates, plus solid power. But nothing stood out. Primarily a first baseman, Shaw gradually played more third base as he moved up the minor league ladder. 

In 2015, Shaw reached the majors and hit a respectable .270 with 13 home runs in 65 games - although mostly playing first base. He shifted to third base full-time the next season - and looked like a long-term answer for the club. 

However, Shaw struggled at the plate that year - particularly against left-handers (hitting a paltry .187 against them). With the team not sold on Shaw - and top prospect Rafael Devers in the wings - the Red Sox used Shaw as trade bait, sending Shaw, Josh Pennington, Mauricio Dubón, and Yeison Coca to the Milwaukee Brewers for emerging star relief pitcher Tyler Thornburg.

The Brewers installed Shaw at third base, and he had the best two seasons of his career. Shaw demonstrated quality glove work and hit 30+ home runs in both years. He even displayed his defensive versatility - playing some second base during the 2018 season. 

Despite Shaw’s success, there were chinks in his armor. He managed a respectable .250 BA against lefties in 2017, but that fell to .209 the following season. And then, in 2019, the wheels fell off. He hit a brutal .157 in 86 games - earning a demotion to AAA. Due to his poor season and rising salary, the Brewers elected not to bring Shaw back and he became a free agent.

But Travis Shaw was not done with Milwaukee. After a mediocre season in Toronto in 2020, the Crew signed Shaw in hopes he would regain his previous form. Alas, it was not to be. Injuries and ineffectiveness (.191 BA) plagued Shaw, and he was waived in August. 

Shaw finished the season with his original club - Boston - and broke camp with them to start the 2022 season. But it was short-lived as Shaw was let go after just three weeks. He declined a chance to play at AAA and announced his retirement in January of 2023, releasing this statement:

“For the last eight years, I’ve been blessed to live out my childhood dreams of playing Major League Baseball, but today, that dream comes to an end! Twelve years ago, being a 9th-round pick, I would have never imagined what this game provided me. The memories will last a lifetime. To everyone who impacted my career (the list is endlessly long), I will be forever indebted to you! As this chapter closes, the only two words that come to mind are THANK YOU!”

Looking back at Shaw’s career, it was mostly unremarkable. He hit .237 with 114 home runs over eight seasons, but his two-year run in Milwaukee was very good. He put up 3.5 and 4.5 bWAR during those two seasons, and Brewer fans appreciated Shaw’s all-around game, especially the 30+ home runs. He was a key member of the Brewer lineup, which won the division in 2018. 

Sadly, Shaw was never able to overcome his weakness against left-handers. After his stellar 2017-18 seasons, Shaw’s strikeout rates soared and virtually all the value he produced on the field was in that two-year run in Milwaukee. 

One note about Shaw during his time in Milwaukee: in 2017, his wife gave birth to a daughter with a serious heart condition. The girl survived but did not come home until she was five months old. Shaw always appreciated the support of the team, fans, and community during what was a very difficult time off the field.

In the end, Travis Shaw will be remembered for a short but exceptional run with the Brewers - followed by an astonishingly abrupt collapse. Shaw was known as a good teammate and a favorite of the fans wherever he went. Because - let’s face it - you don’t get the nickname "the Mayor of Ding Dong City" if people don’t like and respect you.

Please share your memories of former Brewer third baseman Travis Shaw.

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[clancyphile]

Didn't he also play some at second?

[Brock Beauchamp]

1 hour ago, clancyphile said:

Didn't he also play some at second?

Yeah, more than I thought he did. 39 games in 2018 but only two in 2019.

[sveumrules]

Always liked Thornburg as one of the rare Melvin era pitching prospects to make it through. Was kind of a bummer how things shook out for him after the deal, believe he hurt his arm doing the Red Sox offseason throwing program?

Guess it was kind of a bummer how things ended up for Travis too, losing it (getting figured out?) after a couple years as a Top 10 third baseman.

Also flipped Dubon for Pomeranz so the Thronburg trade ended up having pretty sizable impact on one surprising almost made it out of nowhere year in 2017, the DC/NLCS in 2018 and then the crazy September Wild Card run in 2019.