Why is travis hafner nickname pronk

Just watch the lone Indians fan behind home plate, who jumped up and surely shouted "Pronk! When Hafner had a candy bar created in his honor, well, obviously, there was only one name for it: Pronk. Made by a local Cleveland candy company, Hafner said it was like a Crunch bar with "better chocolate," adding it was "Probably the best candy bar you'll ever taste. He averaged 34 home runs a year from and tied Don Mattingly's record for grand slams in a season in He was the large, rocky mass or Pronk at the center of the Indians lineup, who often found his way into big hits in big situations:.

Unfortunately, the injury bug struck Hafner in his prime. A series of shoulder, back, knee, foot, ankle, abdomen and hand injuries made him more closely resemble an anatomy poster rather than the fearsome slugger.

Sure, he'd smash some world beaters, like this walk-off grand slam in , but he wasn't automatic any longer. The heights of his career didn't last long enough for the Hall of Fame, but Hafner's nickname belongs in its own wing. There are plenty of power hitters in baseball history, but there is only one Pronk.

Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during season. Nicknames: The Project, Donkey or Pronk. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? Are you a Stathead, too? Subscribe to our Free Newsletter. This Month in Sports Reference Find out when we add a feature or make a change. Do you have a sports website? Or write about sports? We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. Find out more.

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Many historical player head shots courtesy of David Davis. As a year-old he hit an astounding. As a year-old he hit. Now by this team he wasn't really old for his level, and any skepticism about his ability to hit was quickly falling by the wayside. He made his major-league debut for the Rangers in , appearing in 23 games with the Rangers at the end of the season. The problem for Hafner was that the Rangers at this time was loaded with hitting talent. Rafael Palmeiro was ensconced at first base, and Mark Teixeira , who was almost universally acknowledged as the best prospect in baseball, was waiting in the wings.

The thought was that Teixeira and Palmeiro would share between them first base and designated hitter, which meant that Hafner would be stuck in AAA again in But the Rangers did have a hole that needed filled. Longtime star Ivan Rodriguez became a free agent after the season, and it was uncertain that they'd be able to re-sign him. So that in mind, when the Rangers asked about the Indians ' Einar Diaz, they were willing to part with a talented hitter that wasn't going to play a part on their team.

Einar Diaz for years had been an understudy for Sandy Alomar , and had only recently gotten to play everyday. His first full season as starting catcher had been a success, but in he really struggled, to the point where Josh Bard had taken over most of the playing time.

And the Indians had a better prospect in Victor Martinez on the cusp of the big leagues. And with Jim Thome a free agent, the Indians needed a bat at first base. So Travis Hafner was traded to the Indians on December 6, The same day, Jim Thome signed a contract with the Philadelphia Phillies. Ten years later, the two would be teammates on the Indians, but for now Thome's departure opened the door for Hafner to make his own mark in the big leagues. The Indians were a team in full rebuild mode, with just a few players left over from the run of a playoff baseball, and the roster was full of talented but young players.

Hafner, who was 26, won the starting first base job but hurt his foot in early May, eventually lost playing time to Ben Broussard , and then end the season as the everyday DH. On August 14, he hit for the cycle in Minnesota, becoming the first Indian to accomplish that feat since Andre Thornton did it in No Indian has done it since.

Travis Hafner's patience at the plate and his prodigious power quickly made him one of the best hitters in the American League.