Texas Rangers general manager Chris Young announced on Friday that the team is re-signing outfielder Travis Jankowski to a one-year, $1.7 million deal plus performance bonuses for the 2024 season. Jankowski will return to give the World Series-champion Rangers outfield depth for the upcoming campaign. The 32-year-old left-handed hitter batted .263/.357/.332 with a home run, 30 RBI, 12 doubles, a triple, 19 stolen bases and 34 runs scored in 107 regular-season games in his first year with Texas. Speed is Jankowski's greatest asset, but as a bench bat for Texas, he won't really be of much use to fantasy managers in mixed leagues to open the year.
The Texas Rangers and outfielder Travis Jankowski are reportedly nearing a deal that will see the speedy veteran return to the Rangers for the 2024 season. The 32-year-old ended up becoming an important piece for the World Champs in 2023 as he appeared in 107 games, the most he's played in since 2018. He hit .263 with one homer, 19 stolen bases, and a quality 12.2% BB% in that time, scoring 34 runs and striking out in just 14.6% of his plate appearances, the best mark of his nine-year big-league career. The 32-year-old is a career .241 hitter with just 10 home runs in 577 big-league appearances but he also has 91 stolen bases, a 10.7% BB%, and solid glove work that make him a quality utility player.
The Texas Rangers don't really have any reason to change up their lineup after putting up 11 runs in the victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks in Game 4 of the World Series on Tuesday. Now that outfielder Adolis Garcia (oblique) is off the World Series roster, Travis Jankowski will make a second straight start in right field on Wednesday and will hit ninth against Arizona right-hander Zac Gallen. Jankowski went 2-for-4 with a double, two RBI and two runs scored in Game 4 in his first postseason start and he's batting .500 (3-for-6) in six playoff appearances for the Rangers this year. Although the 32-year-old has limited DFS upside in the nine-hole, he has gone 3-for-9 in his career against Gallen with a triple, an RBI and three strikeouts.
Texas Rangers outfielder Travis Jankowski is absent from the lineup on Tuesday against left-hander JP Sears and the Oakland Athletics. The 32-year-old has started just one of the club's last five games, three coming against lefties. Jankowski has hit for a .291 average with one home run and 16 steals over 73 games but remains in a platoon thanks to a .190 career average off of southpaws. Sam Huff will take his spot in the lineup as the designated hitter, batting eighth. The backstop is slashing .200/.250/.333 across 14 games this year, but owns a career .253 average and .738 OPS and went deep 14 times over 54 contests in Triple-A this season. As a streaming option, Huff can provide fantasy managers with decent numbers.
Travis Jankowski Leaves Game Early With Potential Injury
Texas Rangers outfielder Travis Jankowski had to be removed from the game due to a possible injury against the White Sox Wednesday. He slid awkwardly into second base, resulting in an inning-ending double play. To start the bottom of the eighth inning, Josh Smith took over Jankowski's position in left field. Following the game's conclusion, there is expected to be an update regarding his condition and status. The 32-year-old only provides a little pop at the plate, but his speed is an asset in deeper fantasy leagues.
Rangers Put Travis Jankowski On 10-Day Injured List
The Texas Rangers placed outfielder Travis Jankowski (hamstring) on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to May 8) on Tuesday with a right-hamstring strain and recalled catcher Sam Huff from Triple-A Round Rock in a corresponding move. Jankowski suffered a mild hamstring injury in the win over the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday, so he should be able to come off the injured list when he's eligible on May 19. The 31-year-old speedster offers little with the bat but is useful in deeper fantasy leagues for his speed. In 25 games in his first year in Texas, he's hitting .309 (21-for-68) with five doubles, a triple, no home runs, nine RBI and five stolen bases. With Jankowski on the shelf, Robbie Grossman and Bubba Thompson will battle for playing time in left field in Texas.
Texas Rangers outfielder Travis Jankowski (hamstring) is probably headed to the injured list with a hamstring injury, according to Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News. The 31-year-old sat out of Monday's contest after he was removed from Sunday's game with the ailment. Jankowski is in the midst of the best offensive campaign of his career, slashing .309/.382/.412 with 14 runs, nine RBI, and five stolen bases over 25 games. He's earned the starting left-field job with his solid play, and fantasy owners will miss his contributions until he's back on the field. The Rangers have a few options on their bench to replace Jankowski, in the likes of Bubba Thompson, Josh H. Smith, and Brad Miller, all of which have limited fantasy value.
Texas Rangers outfielder Travis Jankowski is out of Monday's starting lineup against the Seattle Mariners with a hamstring injury. Jankowski was removed from Sunday's contest early with what appeared to be a tight hamstring as he looked awkward heading back to the dugout after crossing home plate in the second inning. The veteran has been a nice addition for the Rangers as he is hitting .309 with a 9.1% BB% and five stolen bases across 25 appearances on the campaign. Robbie Grossman will take over in left field and bat second against Mariners right-hander Logan Gilbert Monday night in Seattle.
Texas Rangers outfielder Travis Jankowski (hip) felt he was in "a good spot" on Thursday after leaving Wednesday's series finale against the Cincinnati Reds with left-hip tightness. Jankowski said a trip to the injured list is "unlikely" and thinks he'll be an option to return to Friday's lineup. "Maybe one day I'll learn. But I see a ball go up, I'm like a dog -- I have to go get it," Jankowski said. In a part-time role for the Rangers so far in 2023, the 31-year-old is hitting .340 with an .862 OPS, three doubles, a triple, five RBI, four stolen bases and 10 runs scored in only 18 games played. He has very little fantasy value in AL-only leagues because of his limited playing time, and he's mostly just useful for his speed.
Texas Rangers outfielder Travis Jankowski has left Wednesday's game against the Reds early due to left hip tightness. Jankowski was seemingly injured after diving for a ball in the outfield and was replaced by Leody Taveras who took over in center field and hit second in the lineup in Jankowski's stead. It's been a scorching-hot start for the speedy Jankowski even if he lacks power. Prior to Wednesday, he was hitting .356 with four stolen bases across 51 trips to the plate. According to wRC+, his bat has been 58% superior to the league average as he's also walked in 11.8% of his plate appearance with a quality 17.6% K% to boot.
