| Travis Jankowski | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Jankowski with the Mets in 2025 | |||||||||||||||
| Texas Rangers | |||||||||||||||
| Outfielder /Coach | |||||||||||||||
| Born: (1991-06-15)June 15, 1991 (age 34) Ephrata, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |||||||||||||||
Batted: Left Threw: Right | |||||||||||||||
| MLB debut | |||||||||||||||
| August 21, 2015, for the San Diego Padres | |||||||||||||||
| Last MLB appearance | |||||||||||||||
| July 8, 2025, for the New York Mets | |||||||||||||||
| MLB statistics | |||||||||||||||
| Batting average | .236 | ||||||||||||||
| Home runs | 11 | ||||||||||||||
| Runs batted in | 98 | ||||||||||||||
| Stolen bases | 104 | ||||||||||||||
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |||||||||||||||
| Teams | |||||||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||
Medals
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Travis Paul Jankowski[1] (born June 15, 1991) is an American professionalbaseball formeroutfielder and currentfirst base coach for theTexas Rangers ofMajor League Baseball (MLB). He played in MLB for theSan Diego Padres,Cincinnati Reds,Philadelphia Phillies,New York Mets,Seattle Mariners, Rangers,Chicago White Sox, andTampa Bay Rays.
Jankowski was born and raised inLancaster, Pennsylvania. He attendedStony Brook University, where he led the Seawolves to a Cinderella appearance in the2012 College World Series after upsetting theLSU Tigers. As a junior, Jankowski led college baseball in hits, runs scored and triples. That same year, the Padres selected him in the first round of the2012 MLB draft.
As he rose through the Padres'farm system, Jankowski developed an offensive style of play that favoredbase stealing. He made his MLB debut in 2015. In his first full season the following year, he led the Padres with 30 stolen bases. He missed significant time to injuries over the next few years and was traded to the Reds following the 2019 season. Jankowski served as the fourth outfielder for the Phillies in 2021 and the Mets in 2022. He had a one-game stint with the Mariners after the Mets released him midseason.
Jankowski signed with the Rangers in 2023 and led the team in stolen bases en route to the franchise's first-ever World Series championship. Following a season-ending injury toAdolis García in theWorld Series, Jankowski started in his place and had a multi-hit, multi-RBI showing in the Rangers'Game 4 win.
Jankowski was born on June 15, 1991, inLancaster, Pennsylvania.[1] His mother, Kelly, playedsoftball, while his father, Paul, was anoutfielder forIndiana University of Pennsylvania.[2][3] Jankowski and his older brother, Tyler, were both coached by their father from a young age.[2] In addition toweight training before school in the morning and team practice in the afternoon, Jankowski would practice batting by hitting into a net that his father built in their basement.[3] As a Pennsylvania native, Jankowski and his family grew up supporting thePhiladelphia Phillies ofMajor League Baseball (MLB).[4]
While attendingLancaster Catholic High School, Jankowski played on both the baseball team, as an outfielder, and on thegridiron football team, as awide receiver.[5] He battled a series of injuries during his high school career, including acollarbone fracture, aconcussion, and asprained ankle. Nevertheless, during his junior season, Jankowski had a .471batting average, with 25runs scored, 20runs batted in (RBIs), and 24stolen bases. TheAssociated Press named him to the All-State First Team that season, and he helped take Lancaster Catholic to a district championship.[2]
Following his high school graduation in 2009, Jankowski committed to playcollege baseball atStony Brook University on a partial athletic scholarship.[2] Jankowski's slender frame, standing at 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m) and 165 pounds (75 kg), made him a more appealing candidate for college baseball than football, and Stony Brook was the onlyNCAA Division I university to offer him a scholarship.[6] Jankowski made his college baseball debut in the second game of the Stony Brook 2010 baseball season, scoring two hits in twoat bats againstAkron. His first collegiate RBI came shortly afterwards, againstAlabama.[7] On March 20, 2010, Jankowski scored the go-ahead run in the eighth inning of a 3–2 victory overIona, running home on awild pitch from Matt Petro.[8] Later that season, he scored the game-winning run in a 3–2extra innings game againstAlbany.[9] Defensively, his performance in center field againstNorth Carolina State helped take Stony Brook to its first everNCAA tournament win.[10] Jankowski finished his freshman season with a .262 average and 20 runs in 47 games, including 23 starts. He also led the team in stolen bases, with 13 in 14 attempts.[7]
The summer between his freshman and sophomore year, Jankowski playedcollegiate summer baseball with the Marion Bobcats of theKitty League. In 40 games with them, he led the league with a .484 batting average, 62 hits, and 45 stolen bases. Later in the summer, he was invited to play for theBourne Braves of theCape Cod Baseball League. In 26 at bats with Bourne, Jankowski scored five runs for a .346 average.[11][12] He returned to Stony Brook as a sophomore in 2011, starting 53 games in center field. In 115 chances, Jankowski did not make a singleerror. Offensively, he set a school record for most stolen bases in one season, with 30 in 34 attempts, and he was 14th among all college baseball players in the nation for stolen bases. His .355 batting average was the second-highest in theAmerica East Conference. At the end of the year, Jankowski was named to the All-America East First Team and theAmerican Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) All-Northeast Region second team.[7] He was invited to rejoin the Bourne Braves in 2011, where his run production increased dramatically. Whereas Jankowski had no RBIs for the Braves in 2010, he scored 14 in the first half of the 2011 season.[13] At the end of the season, he was named the CCBL'sMost Valuable Player, leading the league with 57 hits, 31 runs scored, and seven triples, and was named to the league'sHall of Fame in 2025.[14][15][16]
2012 proved to be a breakout season for Jankowski, who was named a preseason All-American byBaseball America andPerfect Game USA. Throughout the regular season, he led the nation in hits, runs scored, and triples, and was within the top 10 in batting average and stolen bases.[7] In the postseason, Jankowski served as the Seawolves'leadoff hitter during their Cinderella run to the2012 College World Series (CWS). He scored four hits in Stony Brook's 7–2 victory overLouisiana State to take the Baton Rouge Super Regional and reach the CWS.[17] The team's run came to an end in the CWS opener, whenUCLA trounced Stony Brook 9–1.[18] Nevertheless, Stony Brook coachMatt Senk was named national Coach of the Year, and Jankowski became Stony Brook's first ever, first round MLB draft pick when he was drafted 44th overall by the San Diego Padres in the supplemental first round of the2012 MLB draft.[19] Jankowski was inducted into the Stony Brook Hall of Fame in 2017.[20]
TheSan Diego Padres selected Jankowski 44th overall in the2012 MLB draft. He was the first of four Stony Brook players selected in that year's MLB draft, and the only outfielder.[21] Jankowski, taken in the first round, was the highest MLB draft pick for theAmerica East Conference sinceCarlos Peña, who attendedNortheastern, was selected 10th overall in 1998.[22] He and fellow Stony Brook player Maxx Tissenbaum both signed with the team on June 27, 2012,[21][23] with Jankowski taking asigning bonus of $975,000.[24]
After signing, Jankowski was assigned to the rookie-levelArizona League Padres. After only two games, in which he went two for eight and scored four RBI, the Padres promoted Jankowski to theSingle-AFort Wayne TinCaps of theMidwest League.[25] Jankowski took some time within his rookie season ofMinor League Baseball to find his stride, but began to settle into a rhythm by August, improving both his batting average and stolen base record, and he ended the regular season with a 17-game hitting streak.[26] Jankowski appeared in the postseason for the TinCaps as well, driving in two runs againstNoah Syndergaard, then pitching for theLansing Lugnuts.[27] In the second game of the Midwest League championship series against theWisconsin Timber Rattlers, Jankowski washit by a pitch in his first at-bat, fracturing his rib. He attempted to stay in the game, but was replaced by Mike Gallic at the end of the inning.[28] On September 15, Jankowski was officially placed on thedisabled list, effectively ending his rookie season. At the time, his hitting streak had been extended to 23 games, the longest in TinCaps history.[29] In 256plate appearances, Jankowski batted .282 for Fort Wayne, with one home run and 23 RBI, and he stole 17 bases in 59 games.[30]
Jankowski entered the 2013 season as the Padres' No. 21 prospect, as decided byBaseball America.[31] He was assigned to theHigh-ALake Elsinore Storm of theCalifornia League, where he continued to develop his base-stealing abilities. Through mid-August, Jankowski led all professional baseball players in theUnited States with 71 stolen bases for the season; internationally, onlyFreddy Guzmán, who was playing at the time for theDelfines del Carmen of theMexican League, had more.[32] On August 18, Jankowski suffered asprained ankle in a swimming pool, ending his season early.[33] In 556 plate appearances for Lake Elsinore, Jankowski batted .286, with one home run and 38 RBI.[30] That September, he was named a California League Postseason All-Star.[34]
The following year, Jankowski was assigned to theDouble-ASan Antonio Missions.[35] After a strong start to the season, hitting .254 in his first 67 at bats, Jankowski fractured his wrist by running headlong into the outfield fence while in pursuit of a fly ball.[36] He underwent surgery for the injury, which fractured his elbow as well as his wrist, and, after a series of rehab assignments, returned to San Antonio for 10 games in August.[37] Limited to only 46 minor league games in 2014, Jankowski batted .236, with 15 RBIs and 27 runs scored in 165 at bats.[30] Jankowski later admitted that he had pushed himself too hard to return to the field in 2014, and that he continued to hone his technique the following offseason so that he could enter 2015 at full strength.[38] He returned to Double-A in 2015, where he impressed managerJamie Quirk in the outfield through a series of impressive catches, earning the nickname "Secretary of Defense".[39] In late July, after hitting .316 with 23 stolen bases, Jankowski was promoted to theTriple-AEl Paso Chihuahuas of thePacific Coast League. In 24 games there, he hit .392, with nine stolen bases and eight extra-base hits.[40]
Ahead of the September roster expansion, the Padres called Jankowski up in mid-August, serving as both an immediate replacement forWill Venable, who had been traded to theTexas Rangers, and as a possible future center field option to replace likely trade targetB. J. Upton.[41] Jankowski made his major league debut on August 22, 2015, batting ninth in the order against theSt. Louis Cardinals. He singled in his first two at bats, joiningJohn Sipin andWiki González as the third Padre in franchise history to record hits in his first two major league plate appearances.[42] He also became the first Padre sinceTony Gwynn to record two hits and an RBI in his debut game.[43] The 9–3 victory ended up becoming the Padres' 500th win at their home stadium ofPetco Park.[42] Jankowski's first major league home run came the following month, knocking in three runs against theSan Francisco Giants on September 13. Those would be the only runs scored by the Padres that day, in an eventual 10–3 loss.[44] In his first year in the major leagues, Jankowski batted .211 in 90 at bats, with two home runs and 12 RBIs, and stole two bases in 34 games.[45]
In 2016, Jankowski was selected to the Padres' 25-manOpening Day roster out ofspring training.[46] For the first part of the season, he was primarily used as apinch hitter, with a handful of outfield appearances late in the game. After starting center fielderJon Jay suffered a fractured forearm on June 19 when he was hit by a pitch fromGio González, Jankowski was called up from the bench to start in center field.[47] As an everyday player, he continued to impress with his frequent base-stealing. Jankowski stole home plate twice that August. First, on August 1,Wil Myers placed himself in arundown situation as a distraction, allowing Jankowski to run home in the eighth inning of a 7–3 win over theMilwaukee Brewers.[48] Then, on August 10, he broke for home in the eighth inning of a 4–0 victory over thePittsburgh Pirates, and was called safe when Pittsburgh catcherEric Fryer missed the throw to home plate.[49] In addition to his base stealing, Jankowski's 24-game hitting streak between July 31 and August 26 was the longest by a Padres rookie sinceRoberto Alomar in 1988.[1] Jankowski batted .245 for the season in 383 plate appearances, with two home runs and 12 RBIs, and he stole 30 bases in 131 games.[45]
Going into the 2017 season, Jankowski was in competition for the center field position from prospectManuel Margot.[50] Margot's strong spring training performance, combined with continued injuries to regular left fielderAlex Dickerson, pushed Jankowski to left field when the season opened.[51] On April 14, Jankowski took a foul pitch off of his left foot in a game against theAtlanta Braves. He played seven games after the injury, during which his batting average dropped to .160, andCT scans later revealed that the injury, which was originally believed to be abone bruise, was actually a fracture to thenavicular bone.[52] Jankowski began rehab assignments in July, and was optioned to the Chihuahuas as his recovery continued. After the conclusion of their playoff run, Jankowski was called back up to the Padres in September for their final 10 games of the season.[53] He acknowledged that the injury continued to affect him at the plate even after his return, as he doubted his ability to outrun plays with the ease that he could in years prior.[54] Making only 87 plate appearances for the Padres that year, Jankowski batted .187, with one RBI and four stolen bases in 27 games.[45]
Jankowski began the 2018 season with the Chihuahuas, but was recalled to the Padres at the end of April, after Myers suffered an oblique strain in a game against theNew York Mets.[55] Jankowski, who admitted to being frustrated with his minor league assignment, made an immediate impact in the major leagues. On May 19, he went 3-for-5 against the Pirates, stealing two bases in the process, and making a diving catch in the ninth inning to end the game.Statcast predicted that the game-ending play had only a 25% chance of being caught.[56] Jankowski, who honed his batting technique with the Chihuahuas hitting coach before his call-up, became the leadoff hitter for the Padres, where he could focus on getting on base and making contact with good pitches.[57] On August 12, in a 9–3 win over thePhiladelphia Phillies, Jankowski became the first Padre to steal four bases in a single game sinceEverth Cabrera in 2012.[58] He finished the season with a .259 average, including 4 home runs and 17 RBIs, in 387 plate appearances, as well as 24 stolen bases in 117 games.[45]
_(cropped).jpg)
During a spring training game in 2019, Jankowski suffered a fractured wrist while diving after a fly ball, and he was expected to miss three months of the season while recovering.[59] He suffered a series of setbacks after surgery, and did not return to the field until August 6. After only five days, the Padres sent him back down to El Paso, where he remained until rosters expanded on September 1.[60] Jankowski appeared in only 25 games for the Padres in 2019, batting .182 and stealing two bases.[45]
On October 31, 2019, immediately after the conclusion of the MLB season, Jankowski was traded to theCincinnati Reds in exchange for international bonus slot cash.[61] As the2020 MLB season was delayed due to theCOVID-19 pandemic, Jankowski was one of 22 players sent toPrasco Park in July for additional spring training. He told reporters there that he anticipated a new extra innings rule, in which teams began with a runner on second base, would help his chances of being named to the major league roster.[62] Jankowski was named to the Reds' Opening Day roster on July 24, 2020, with plans to be used as apinch runner in later innings.[63] After going 1-for-15 in 16 games, the Reds optioned Jankowski to their alternate training site on August 26.[64] He returned to the roster on September 30 for the postseason, and stole one base as a pinch runner in the first game of the2020 National League Wild Card Series against theAtlanta Braves.[64][65] On October 14, Jankowski, alongside infielderMatt Davidson and relieversJesse Biddle andMatt Bowman, were removed from the 40-man roster.[64] In 16 games for the Reds, Jankowski batted .067, with one hit and two stolen bases.[45] He elected free agency on November 2.[66]
On February 15, 2021, Jankowski signed a minor league contract with thePhiladelphia Phillies, a deal which included an invitation to spring training.[67] On May 30, after outfielderRoman Quinn suffered a rupturedAchilles tendon and was expected to miss the remainder of the2021 MLB season, Jankowski was promoted from the Triple-ALehigh Valley IronPigs to take his place in the roster.[68] He debuted with the team on June 4, replacingRhys Hoskins in the ninth inning of a game against theWashington Nationals. Jankowski wascaught stealing by Nationals catcherAlex Avila, a play which led to booing from Phillies fans atCitizens Bank Park.[69] He used the incident to focus on improving his offensive performance, and improved to 9 hits in his first 26 at bats.[70] Jankowski hit .252/.364/.351 with one home run and 10 RBI in 76 games for Philadelphia in 2021. On November 5, 2021, Jankowski was outrighted off of the 40-man roster and elected free agency.[71]
On March 17, 2022, theNew York Mets signed Jankowski to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.[72] On April 6, the Mets selected Jankowski's contract, adding him to theirOpening Day roster.[73] In his first start on April 9, he stole two bases against the Nationals.[74] In the Mets' home opener against theArizona Diamondbacks on April 15, he had a three-hit game.[75]
Jankowski served as the Mets' fourth outfielder. He broke his hand on May 25 after making a diving catch to robSan Francisco Giants catcherJoey Bart of a hit, and was placed on theinjured list expected to miss 6–8 weeks.[76] On July 11, Jankowski was activated from the injured list.[77] On July 29, Jankowski wasdesignated for assignment by the Mets.
On August 1, 2022, Jankowski was claimed off waivers by theSeattle Mariners.[78] He was designated for assignment on August 5.[79] On August 9, Jankowski declined an outright assignment to the Triple-ATacoma Rainiers and elected free agency.
On August 13, 2022, theNew York Mets re-signed Jankowski to a minor league contract. In 36 games for the Triple-ASyracuse Mets, he batted .237/.387/.298 with one home run, 6 RBI, and 15 stolen bases.[80] Jankowski elected free agency following the season on November 10.[81]
On January 27, 2023, Jankowski signed a minor league contract with theTexas Rangers organization.[82] On March 29, it was announced that Jankowski had made the Opening Day roster, and had his contract selected to the 40-man roster.[83]
On May 9, Jankowski was placed on the injured list with ahamstring strain.[84] He was activated on May 27.[85] Jankowski hit his only home run of the season and recorded 5 RBI against theHouston Astros on July 3.[86] Jankowski became the Rangers' strong-side platoon left fielder, batting .331 with an .850 OPS through July 19.[87] He recorded his first career RBI sacrifice fly on July 21 after 1,390 plate appearances.[88] An August slump saw Jankowski lose his starting role in September.[89] He ended the season slashing .263/.357/.332 in 287 plate appearances, played in 107 games with 63 starts and led the Rangers with 19 stolen bases.[90]
In his first career playoff at-bat, Jankowski was robbed of a home run by Astros outfielderKyle Tucker in Game 6 of the2023 American League Championship Series.[91] He recorded his first postseason hit, a single, the following day in Game 7.[92] Jankowski replaced starting right fielderAdolis García in Game 3 of theWorld Series after García suffered an oblique injury in the 8th inning.[93] García was ruled out for the series and Jankowski made his first career World Series start in Game 4 on October 31. Jankowski recorded two hits, two RBI and two runs scored while making a sliding catch that narrowly avoided colliding withMarcus Semien to end the 7th inning. The Rangers won 11–7 andThe Athletic named him an "unlikely fall hero" for his efforts filling in for the Rangers' hottest playoff hitter.[94] Jankowski started Game 5 in right field again as the Rangers beat theArizona Diamondbacks to win the franchise's first World Series championship.[95]
On January 26, 2024, Jankowski re-signed with the Rangers on a one-year, $1.7 million contract.[96][97] On March 28 against theChicago Cubs, he hit anOpening Day pinch-hit game-tying home run in the bottom of the 9th, the 11th home run of his career.[98] On August 28, Jankowski robbedAndrew Vaughn and theChicago White Sox of a walk-off home run in a play that topped theSportsCenter top 10.[99] Jankowski stole his 100th career base on August 31.[100] On September 26, Jankowski became the last player to bat at theOakland Coliseum in a major league game.[101] In 104 appearances for the Rangers, he slashed .200/.266/.242 with one home run, 12 RBI, and 11 stolen bases.[102]
On February 21, 2025, Jankowski signed a minor league contract with theChicago Cubs.[103] He was released by the Cubs organization on March 11. The next day, Jankowski signed a minor league contract with theChicago White Sox.[104] On March 27, the White Sox selected Jankowski's contract after he made the team'sOpening Day roster.[105][106] In 7 appearances for Chicago, he went 3-for-14 (.214) with one walk. Jankowski was designated for assignment by the White Sox afterMike Tauchman was activated from the injured list on April 6.[107] He elected free agency after clearing waivers on April 8.[108] The next day, Jankowski re-signed with the White Sox on a minor league contract.[109] In five games for Triple-A Charlotte, he went 6-for-23 (.261) with one home run and two RBI.
On April 25, 2025, Jankowski was traded to theTampa Bay Rays.[110] The following day, the Rays selected Jankowski's contract, adding him to their active roster.[111] In 14 appearances for Tampa Bay, he batted .258/.294/.323 with two RBI and two stolen bases. On June 4, Jankowski elected free agency after being removed from the team's 40-man roster.[112]
On June 10, 2025, Jankowski signed a minor league contract with theNew York Mets.[113] In eight games for the Triple-ASyracuse Mets, he went 7-for-35 (.200) with one home run, five RBI, and two stolen bases. On June 23, the Mets selected Jankowski's contract, adding him to their active roster.[114] He was designated for assignment on July 10.[115] Jankowski elected free agency after clearing waivers on July 13.[116]
On November 12, 2025, it was announced that theTexas Rangers had hired Jankowski to serve as the team's first base coach.[117]
In 2015, Jankowski served as the leadoff hitter forTeam USA at thePan American Games.[37] His banner moment in the series came in the semifinal rounds againstCuba. In the ninth inning, Jankowski singled to center field, then quickly stole second base beforeAndy Parrino drove the run in, pushing Team USA to the finals.[118] The team ultimately took silver in the tournament.[119]
Jankowski has developed a batting style that favors putting balls in play rather than aiming for home runs. Critical to this process has been a better sense of pitch discipline, swinging only when he believes that he can be productive. This was seen most effectively during the 2018 season, in which he served as the Padres' leadoff hitter. After three seasons of swinging at 22 percent or more of pitches outside thestrike zone, he dropped that number to 13.8 percent.[120] He has also developed a reputation as an elite base stealer, another skill that he attributes to discipline. Jankowski has watched videos of the pitchers that he faces so that he can understand how they react with a runner on base, and he uses that information to decide whether or not to attempt to steal. He is adamant that speed alone is insufficient to become a notable base stealer, and that "There are more runners in baseball than base stealers."[121]
For most of his career, Jankowski has seen heavy competition for limited outfield positions. In addition to his offensive production, he has expanded his versatility by learning how to play in all three outfield positions.[122] In 2016, while serving primarily as a relief in right field for starterMatt Kemp, Padres managerAndy Green said that "Travis has more range than 99.9 percent of all outfielders in Major League Baseball".[123] While playing in Double-A, Jankowski's strong defensive performance in center field drew comparisons to players such asDevon White andWillie Wilson, while his nickname, "Secretary of Defense", was originally held by former Phillies center fielderGarry Maddox.[39]
Jankowski married his wife, Lindsey, on October 27, 2017.[1] His Padres teammatesCory Spangenberg andColin Rea served asgroomsmen at the wedding.[124] The couple have two sons and one daughter together.[1] They reside inLancaster during the offseason.[125]
Jankowski has gone by the nickname "Freddy" since his high school baseball career. The name originated from a childhood fascination withFred Rogers, the host ofMister Rogers' Neighborhood.[126] While playing with the Reds in 2020, Jankowski was also frequently mistaken for retired pitcherBronson Arroyo due to their similar frames and long blond hair.[122]
