Travis d’Arnaud Bio
Travis Emmanuel d’Arnaud is an American professional baseball catcher for the Los Angeles Angels of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2013 and has spent more than a decade as a starting catcher in the big leagues. D’Arnaud has previously played for the New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, Tampa Bay Rays, and Atlanta Braves. Over his career, he has earned a Silver Slugger Award in 2020, won the World Series in 2021, and was selected as an All-Star in 2022.
Born and raised in Southern California, d’Arnaud grew up in a musical and athletic household. He developed into one of the top catching prospects in baseball before making the leap to the major leagues. Today he is recognized as a steady veteran backstop known for his offensive production behind the plate.
Early Life and Background
Travis Emmanuel d’Arnaud was born on February 10, 1989, in Long Beach, California. He was raised in a deeply musical family. His mother, Marita d’Arnaud, ran an after-school performing-arts center in Long Beach, and his father, Lance d’Arnaud, played trumpet, piano, and trombone. Two of his uncles were pianists, and a cousin pursued music as an electropop artist.
Despite the family’s musical leanings, d’Arnaud grew up describing his Long Beach upbringing as having a huge baseball community. He was a childhood fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers and modeled his catching career after Hall of Fame backstop Mike Piazza. He has credited his older brother, Chase d’Arnaud, who also reached the major leagues, as a major inspiration. The two brothers talked as children about what it would be like to face each other in the big leagues, a dream that later became reality.
Rather than follow Chase to Los Alamitos High School, d’Arnaud chose to attend rival Lakewood High School. He began drawing scout attention as a high school player in 2007 and was invited to work out with the Toronto Blue Jays. He graduated in 2007 and was inducted into the Lakewood Youth Hall of Fame as a Co-Athlete of the Year in 2008. He had committed to play college baseball at Pepperdine University before being drafted.
Path to Major League Baseball
D’Arnaud was selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in the supplemental first round of the 2007 MLB Draft as the 37th overall pick. He chose to forgo his commitment to Pepperdine and signed a minor league contract for $832,500. He began his professional career that summer in the Gulf Coast League, where he played 41 games and posted a .241 batting average.
In 2008, d’Arnaud moved up to the Williamsport Crosscutters of the New York-Penn League and later the Class-A Lakewood BlueClaws, hitting .305 with a .367 on-base percentage between the two stops. He earned a mid-season All-Star selection. In 2009, he spent the full season with the BlueClaws, hitting 13 home runs and helping the club win the South Atlantic League championship.
Following the 2009 season, d’Arnaud was part of the trade that sent Roy Halladay from the Toronto Blue Jays to the Phillies. He advanced steadily through Toronto’s system, reaching Double-A New Hampshire in 2011. That season he batted .311 with 21 home runs and was named the Eastern League Most Valuable Player. Baseball America also recognized him as the best defensive catcher in the league, cementing his status as one of baseball’s top prospects.
Travis d’Arnaud Career
Early Career (2007–2012)
D’Arnaud’s pro journey began in the Phillies’ system, where he worked his way from the Gulf Coast League to full-season Class-A. He split 2008 between Williamsport and Lakewood, earning a New York-Penn League All-Star nod. The following year he was a South Atlantic League All-Star as the BlueClaws captured the league title.
After being traded to Toronto, d’Arnaud spent 2010 with High-A Dunedin and was named a Florida State League Mid-Season and Post-Season All-Star. His 2011 campaign at New Hampshire was his breakout, as he hit .311 with 21 homers and won league MVP honors. He also represented USA Baseball at the 2011 Baseball World Cup and appeared in the 2012 All-Star Futures Game, establishing himself as a near-ready big leaguer.
New York Mets Era (2013–2019)
On December 17, 2012, d’Arnaud was traded to the New York Mets as the centerpiece of the package that sent R. A. Dickey to Toronto. He was called up for the first time on August 17, 2013. In his debut he drew a four-pitch walk from Edinson Vólquez, recorded his first hit on August 20 against the Atlanta Braves, and slugged his first home run on August 25 off Detroit’s Rick Porcello, prompting a curtain call from the home crowd.
Over the next several seasons, d’Arnaud battled injuries, including concussions and a torn UCL in his right elbow that required Tommy John surgery in April 2018. When healthy, he produced offensively and was a key piece of the 2015 Mets team that reached the World Series against the Kansas City Royals. He was designated for assignment by the Mets in late April 2019 and released in early May.
Tampa Bay Rays and Los Angeles Dodgers (2019)
Shortly after his release, d’Arnaud signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers and appeared in one game as a pinch hitter before being traded to the Tampa Bay Rays on May 10, 2019. The move revitalized his career. On July 15, 2019, he went 3-for-3 with two walks and three home runs, including a go-ahead three-run shot off Aroldis Chapman at Yankee Stadium, becoming just the fifth player in Rays history to hit three homers in a single game.
Six days later, on July 21, he hit his first career grand slam off Dylan Cease to lead Tampa Bay past the Chicago White Sox. Across his three clubs in 2019, he finished with a .251 batting average, 16 home runs, and 69 RBIs, rebuilding his value as an everyday catcher heading into free agency.
Atlanta Braves Era (2020–2024)
On November 24, 2019, d’Arnaud signed a two-year, $16 million contract with the Atlanta Braves. In the shortened 2020 season, he batted .321 with nine home runs and won his first Silver Slugger Award as the top offensive catcher in the National League. The Braves returned to the World Series in 2021, and d’Arnaud hit a solo home run in Game 3 as Atlanta won its first championship since 1995.
In 2022, d’Arnaud was named an All-Star for the first time, joining teammate William Contreras as one of two catchers from the same team to make the squad since Yogi Berra and Elston Howard in 1962. He finished that year with a career-best 2.9 WAR. He later hit his 100th career home run on June 16, 2023, in a two-homer game against the Colorado Rockies, and on April 19, 2024, he clubbed three home runs including a grand slam against the Texas Rangers, becoming only the third catcher in MLB history with multiple three-homer games. The Braves declined his 2025 option after the 2024 season.
Los Angeles Angels Era (2024–Present)
On November 12, 2024, d’Arnaud signed a two-year, $12 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels. Through the early portion of the 2025 season, he has continued to serve as a veteran presence behind the plate, offering steady defense and right-handed pop in the middle of the Los Angeles lineup.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among d’Arnaud’s most memorable performances are his three-homer games with the Rays in 2019 and with the Braves in 2024, his first career grand slam off Dylan Cease, his Silver Slugger Award in 2020, his All-Star selection in 2022, and his World Series title with Atlanta in 2021. He also reached the 100-home run milestone in 2023 and surpassed 100 career home runs in total by the close of that season.
Travis d’Arnaud Career Wins
Across his MLB career, Travis d’Arnaud has earned recognition as an All-Star, a Silver Slugger Award winner, and a World Series champion. His offensive milestones include more than 125 career home runs and a batting average near .244 through recent seasons.
Other Wins and Performances
In the minors, d’Arnaud helped the BlueClaws win the 2009 South Atlantic League championship and the New Hampshire Fisher Cats capture the 2011 Eastern League title. He was also named the Eastern League MVP in 2011 and earned multiple All-Star selections in the Florida State League and South Atlantic League.
Travis d’Arnaud Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
D’Arnaud is the son of Lance and Marita d’Arnaud, both of whom were deeply involved in music during his upbringing. His older brother, Chase d’Arnaud, also reached the major leagues, suiting up for several clubs from 2011 to 2018. He is of partial Filipino descent on his mother’s side.
Personal Life
In November 2017, d’Arnaud married Britney Cobian at a location near Lake Tahoe. The couple welcomed a daughter in November 2018 and a son in August 2021. Another child was born in 2024, after which d’Arnaud returned from the paternity list on September 12.
2025 Season Performance
D’Arnaud entered 2025 as the primary catcher for a Los Angeles Angels club looking to climb back into American League contention. His veteran presence behind the plate and his right-handed power bat have given the lineup a steady middle-of-the-order option. Through the early months of the season, he has continued to provide thump from the catcher position while managing a young pitching staff.
The Angels are counting on d’Arnaud’s playoff experience from his time with the Braves to stabilize a clubhouse in transition. His offensive approach emphasizes line-drive hitting and the ability to drive pitches into the gaps, complementing a power profile that has produced more than 125 career home runs.
Looking ahead, d’Arnaud remains under contract with the Angels through the 2026 season, giving the organization a reliable veteran at a premium position. If he can stay healthy and produce at or near his career norms, he should continue to be a key figure in the Angels’ plans for the rest of the decade.