Maybe he just needed his parents in town all the time.
The start to 2022 was eerily similar to the start to 2021. Travis was a part time guy to start the year, often entering games late as a defensive replacement. After about a week-and-a-half, Travis started playing every day, and he rewarded the team with solid performances. Travis entered the month of July batting .231 in 13 at-bats, but Travis heated up as the calendar flipped to July. He went 2-for-5 with a RBI. He picked up another knock the next day. His parents flew in on July 3rd on his dad's birthday for the second year straight. Bluefield doesn't sound like the place most would want to go for their birthday, but the Everett's were happy to watch their son. After another 1-for-4 day on the 3rd, Travis went 2-for-5 on July 4th and 2-for-4 with a double on July 5th, his dad's birthday.
The little hot streak brought his average up to .314. Travis was striking out too much for his liking. He hated striking out and didn't care what most experts said in the era of launch angle. Seven K's in 38 at-bats was simply too much. His swing felt good, though, and he felt like things were coming around.
After the game on the 5th, Travis went out with his parents to Brooks & Company Bar & Grill. It was a far cry from the Dunedin Microbrewery, but it was his favorite spot in Bluefield. Bud Light's and Michelob Ultra's were the drinks of choice here. It was more affordable than the craft beer they drank a year prior, which is good for a poor minor leaguer, but Travis was a bit of a beer snob, something he got from his brothers and father, and it hurt his soul a little bit.
Travis raised his glass. "Pop, here's to you turning 65, and here's to celebrating 66 anywhere but Bluefield."
"Amen to that," his father replied.
Bowen Field, Home of the Bluefield Blue Jays