Travis Honeyman rarely played his freshman season at Boston College, receiving 14 at-bats and recording one hit in 14 games in 2021. It was initially a frustrating experience for Honeyman, who hoped to contribute immediately as a freshman.
Looking back, Honeyman believes playing a limited role in his first year benefited him. He learned from outfielder Sal Frelick and infielder Cody Morissette, who went in the first and second rounds of the 2021 MLB draft, respectively. He said it also helped him develop his mental approach to the game.
After playing sparingly his first season, Honeyman was an everyday player for Boston College last season. He capitalized on the additional playing time, hitting .329 with notable plate discipline. His success at Boston College and then in the Cape Cod League during the summer has put him in the mix to be a potential first-round pick in the 2023 MLB draft.
Honeyman’s brother, Bobby, was a 29th-round pick by the Seattle Mariners in 2018.
“I am looking to follow in his footsteps,” Honeyman said. “I have been waiting for that for my entire life. It has been my dream since I was a little kid. Ever since I started playing, I would go in the backyard and pretend I was a New York Yankee or something like that.”
Honeyman is a 6-foot-3, 195-pound outfielder with an all-around toolset that allows him to impact the game in numerous ways. Scouts rave about his contact ability and power potential. He also has a quality feel for the strike zone, as he recorded 16 strikeouts compared to 11 walks last season.
In the offseason, Honeyman has worked on adding strength to his frame and tightening up his two-strike approach.
“My biggest strength in my game is my hit tool,” Honeyman said. “I like to tell myself that I am a pretty good hitter.”
While Honeyman has made strides at the plate and with his mental approach, his biggest improvement has occurred in the field. Honeyman has gone from playing shortstop and third base in high school to the outfield at Boston College.
He struggled to adjust to the outfield at first, he admits. But as he has gained more experience, he has enhanced his skills, developing into a solid defender at all three outfield spots. Last season, Honeyman was Boston College’s starting left fielder.
Honeyman has above-average speed and solid arm strength. He has the instincts to play all three outfield spots and likely profiles best in center field.
“I’m not too sure what my position will be this spring,” Honeyman said. “I would like to play center field, but I’m not sure where I am going to play. I will probably play center field or right field. Wherever they put me, I’m OK with it.”
Honeyman will play a key role in Boston College’s success this spring. His performance will also impact his draft status, as scouts will get more looks at him.
Last season, Boston College finished with a 19-34 record. It marked the program’s third straight losing season. The Eagles hope to learn from last season and post a winning record this spring.
The Eagles are seeking their first ACC Tournament appearance since 2019. They also hope to make the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2016.
“We want to make the ACC Tournament,” Honeyman said. “Since I have been here, we haven’t made the ACC Tournament. The goal is obviously to go to Omaha, but we must take it one step at a time. My first goal is making the ACC Tournament, and my dream has always been to make it to Omaha for the College World Series. We just can’t get ahead of ourselves.”
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Dan Zielinski III has covered the MLB draft for eight years. He has interviewed 433 of the top draft prospects in that period, including four No. 1 overall picks. Multiple publications, including Baseball America, USA Today, MLB.com, The Arizona Republic and The Dallas Morning News, have quoted his work, while he has appeared on radio stations as a “MLB draft expert.” Follow him on Twitter @DanZielinski3.
