Retiring Jersey: Travis Lakins (Baseball)

 

Franklin baseball standout Travis Lakins, now on the roster of the Baltimore Orioles, will have his number retired.

 

Lakins, a 2013 FHS graduate, wore #1 on his jersey when he was a dominant player (pitcher and shortstop) for the Wildcats. He took the mound as both starter and reliever for The Ohio State University Buckeyes, and was drafted by the Red Sox in the 6th round of the Major League Baseball June 2015 draft. Lakins made his MLB debut in April, 2019 in a Red Sox - Detroit matchup. His career ERA is 3.31.

 

He also has bragging rights to that most elusive of pitching records: he's tossed a perfect game. In 2014, Lakins retired 27 consecutive batters for the Prospect League's Chillicothe Paints in a game against the West Virginia Miners.

 

In addition to being a baseball standout while at Franklin, he is also the Wildcats' fourth leading basketball scorer with 1013 career points.

 

Only four Wildcats' numbers have been retired to date: Bob Timberlake (60, football); Alan Wenglikowskil (20, football); Doug Long (14, baseball); and Nick Monk (37, football).

 

Due to COVID restrictions, Lakins will first be honored in a small ceremony and later honored publicly during his off season.

 

Image: Creator: Robert Leifheit ; copyright: Rob Leifheit