Trammell: 'Yes, there's a chip on my shoulder'

May 24th, 2021

Since joining Triple-A Tacoma on May 13, has done nothing but fortify his case that his days with the Rainers are numbered.

Trammell extended his hitting streak to 10 straight games while going a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate -- with a dinger and a double -- to help Tacoma squeak by Round Rock, 7-6, at Cheney Stadium on Sunday.

"I truly do feel that I'm able to contribute at the Major League level, and for me, yes, there's a chip on my shoulder. But, there is also an understanding that there are some things I still need to work on every single day," Trammell said. "For me, I just want to continue to work on those things and be humble and go out there every day and prove to myself that I'm able to do this. I want to look myself in the mirror every day and know that I gave it my all and I had fun. And as long as I cross those things off, I'm in a good place."

Trammell continues to be in a good place at the plate. Sunday marked the sixth multihit game for MLB Pipeline's No. 84 overall prospect since joining Tacoma 10 days ago, and his fifth long ball in that time. Trammell is 22-for-43 with 10 extra-base hits, 16 RBIs and seven runs scored with the Rainers this season.

Against the Express, the 23-year-old laid down a bunt to third base in the opening frame and legged it out for a hit. In the following inning, Trammell fell behind 0-2 before lining up a hanging breaking ball and punching it into right field for another base knock.

"I'm just staying up the middle. Trying not to get too big. Honestly, every time I go up there I'm just trying to hit it hard over the shortstop's head," he said. "Just staying as balanced as possible with my approach. My first time up there today, I saw the guy was playing over so I put down a bunt and beat it out. Then, the pitcher tried to get me inside with a cutter, and I kept my hands in and got it into the outfield."

The Georgia native led off the fifth and again went after the first pitch, this time connecting with a fastball that came in right over the plate and launching it into orbit beyond the wall in right field. The solo blast capped Tacoma's scoring.

"I jut got my foot down a little earlier and sold out for the heater," Trammell said. "And when you make contact and you feel the bat bend a little bit, you just know. And, this one was exciting because I've been working on a celebratory handshake with [first base coach Eric Young Jr.] and today was the first time we did it in a game. I thought that was really cool."

The sixth-ranked Mariners prospect notched his third two-out hit of the game with a double down the line in right in the seventh. He was left stranded on the basepaths after all three two-out knocks.

The speedy outfielder is now sporting a .512 average and 1.487 OPS over his 10 games with Triple-A Tacoma. In 2019, the lefty swinger posted a .234/.340/.349 slash line with 26 extra-base hits, 61 runs scored and 43 RBIs across 126 total Double-A games.

"My swing just felt good all day today. Even in the cage for batting practice, everything was smooth and feeling right," Trammell said. "For me, now, it's just about keeping the same approach and staying humble. I think that’s the biggest thing I've learned this past year. This game will really humble you real quick -- it can be very unforgiving. So, don’t ride the roller coaster of being too high or too low, just make sure your process every day is solid and trust it. So, for me, I just stay humble and continue to stay with my approach and my plan every day and the rest takes care of itself."

 mashed a grand slam to left as part of a five-run frame for the Rainers in the second. It was the second straight game with a dinger for the backstop.

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Rob Terranova is a writer for MLB.com and MiLB.com.