(Rochester, Minn.)– In 2011, Kyle Traynor began to work as the Rochester Honkers’ official scorer. On Saturday, May 17, 2014 he’ll make his major league debut for the Minnesota Twins.
In 2013, it was announced that the Twins would need a new backup for their 2014 season and Traynor was given the position. He will man the press box at Target Field for three games in 2014 – Saturday against the Mariners will be his first MLB game scored.
Traynor said it was almost harder to score Honkers games than MLB games because it’s harder to weigh the ability of college athletes as opposed to the seasoned veterans he’ll supervise on Saturday.
“The similarities are remarkable,” said Traynor. “It’s more similar than you think.”
An obstetrician by trade at Mayo Clinic Rochester, Traynor said it took an immense amount of effort to work around his own work schedule to offer the Honkers his full commitment – not just at the ballpark. To be an official scorer, Traynor had to navigate baseball’s complicated rulebook better than anyone. Studying it was tough. In fact, Traynor said he hadn’t study that hard since he took his medical board exam.
He even took to studying baseball’s bible on vacation, poolside in Las Vegas. He’s just that passionate.
As to why Traynor does it, that’s easy. He’s loved baseball his entire life. Etching his name into one of the sport’s most important, behind-the-scenes roles is a sign that he’s truly made it as a pro scorer.
Rochester Honkers’ General Manager, Dan Litzinger called Traynor “entertaining” during his three years as the Honkers full-time scorer – he’ll still man the booth for the Honkers 2014 season.
“We have the utmost confidence in him,” Litzinger said. “We’re proud to have him. He wants to get it right.”
Traynor wants to get it right because he’s passionate about the sport, not his own ego.
“You have to have enough pride about getting it right but not too proud to go back and look at it.”
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The Rochester Honkers are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 21st season of summer collegiate baseball, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 18 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, more than 115 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (DET), Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Allen Craig (STL) and Ben Zobrist (TB). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League YouTube channel. For more information, visit www.rochesterhonkers.com.
