Travis Jankowski Stats & Scouting Report

AB	190
AVG	.2
OBP	.266
SLG	.242
HR	1

Full name Travis Paul Jankowski
Born 06/15/1991 in Lancaster, PA
Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 190 / Bats: L / Throws: R
School SUNY Stony Brook
Debut 08/21/2015
Drafted in the C-A round (44th overall) by the San Diego Padres in 2012 (signed for $975,000).

View Draft Report

One of the best athletes in this draft class, Jankowski stands out for his speed, bat and defense. He has a live body and stands at 6-foot-2, 190 pounds, and he's a plus runner who plays above-average defense in center field with an average arm. A lefthanded hitter, Jankowski has an unorthodox swing, but it works for him. It's a handsy swing similar to Dustin Ackley's, but Jankowski doesn't have the same power or strength. His five career home runs provide evidence of his well below-average power, but that won't be his game anyway. He has a knack for putting the ball in play and has the speed to beat out infield hits. He had 30 stolen bases in 35 attempts through 47 games and doesn't strike out much (15 in 177 at-bats).

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

As a junior in 2012, Jankowski hit .414 to lead Stony Brook on a Cinderella run to the College World Series. That year he led NCAA Division I with 79 runs, 110 hits and 11 triples. Drafted 44th overall in 2012, he became the Seawolves' highest draft pick ever and finished 2015 in the big leagues. Double-plus speed and plus defense are the tickets to the majors for the man known as "Fred" because of his affection for late children's TV personality Fred "Mister" Rogers. Jankowski is an excellent, willing bunter, and his quick, short swing limits his strikeouts (15 percent as a pro). He worked with Double-A San Antonio hitting coach Morgan Burkhart on a mechanical change and pulled the ball more in 2015, but not necessarily for power. Opening the field prevented pitchers from busting him inside. Jankowski's flat bat path limits his loft ability, and his power is well below-average. He has a below-average arm. With Manuel Margot now in the organization, Jankowski has to establish himself as the Padres' center fielder in 2016. He'll have to retain some of the plate discipline he showed at Double-A to fulfill his ceiling as a table-setting regular or possible reserve.
A supplemental first-round pick in 2012, Jankowski logged just 29 games at Double-A San Antonio in 2014 when a broken wrist in late April knocked him out for nearly three months. His ticket to the big leagues will be his incredible raw speed, intelligent baserunning and plus defense in center field. He can drop down a bunt at will, doesn't strike out excessively and takes a healthy number of walks, so he's always a threat to steal when he reaches first base. He is no kind of power threat, but under the right circumstances, Jankowski would fit as a fourth or fifth outfielder on a club that values speed and defense in that role, though his below-average arm would not play in right field.
Evaluators in the high Class A California League in 2013 singled out Jankowski as fastest baserunner, best baserunner and best defensive outfielder in a survey of best tools. Those attributes will be his ticket to the big leagues. Batters seldom hit the ball over Jankowski's head in center field, with some scouts throwing 70 grades on his defensive ability. His below-average arm would not play in right field. Jankowski went 71-for-85 (84 percent) on the bases for Lake Elsinore and led the Cal League in steals, showcasing double-plus run times to first base. He improved his stealing efficiency in 2013, but he'll need to take another step forward with the bat to profile as an everyday player. Jankowski must add heft to his frame and authority to his swing to keep defenses honest, though adding loft to his swing would be fruitless given well below-average power potential. Jankowski profiles as a table-setter, one who has relied on line drives, ground balls, speed and the occasional bunt to reach base. A season at Double-A San Antonio in 2014 will tell the Padres a lot about his future potential.
Jankowski hit .414 and led NCAA Division I with 79 runs, 110 hits and 11 triples as a Stony Brook junior last spring, serving as the lynchpin for the club's improbable run to the College World Series. The Padres signed him for $975,000 as the 44th overall pick in the draft. He appeared worn down after essentially heading straight from campus to low Class A, then rallied to hit .333 (47-for-141) from July 27 on. Including the Midwest League playoffs, Jankowski collected a hit in his final 23 games, though his season ended prematurely when he broke a rib when hit by a pitch. Plus speed and range in center field are his carrying tools, and he makes steady line-drive contact with a handsy, lefthanded swing. Though he has a knack for barreling the ball, he's slightly built and projects to hit for little over-the-fence power. He stole 17 bases in 24 tries with Fort Wayne, and he'll need to improve both his proficiency and efficiency to get the most out of his speed. He doesn't throw well enough to profile in right field, but defense shouldn't be an issue. Expect Jankowski to tread the same path as 2011 first-rounder Cory Spangenberg and head to high Class A for his first full year out.

Draft Prospects

One of the best athletes in this draft class, Jankowski stands out for his speed, bat and defense. He has a live body and stands at 6-foot-2, 190 pounds, and he's a plus runner who plays above-average defense in center field with an average arm. A lefthanded hitter, Jankowski has an unorthodox swing, but it works for him. It's a handsy swing similar to Dustin Ackley's, but Jankowski doesn't have the same power or strength. His five career home runs provide evidence of his well below-average power, but that won't be his game anyway. He has a knack for putting the ball in play and has the speed to beat out infield hits. He had 30 stolen bases in 35 attempts through 47 games and doesn't strike out much (15 in 177 at-bats).

Minor League Top Prospects

Jankowski was penciled into the nine-hole early in the season, only to earn a shot at Lake Elsinore?s leadoff job by the end of April. He never gave it up. Jankowski struggled in spring training but adjusted quickly, shortening his swing and doing a better job of staying on balls once the season began. Jankowski?s best tool right now is well-above-average speed, which helped him lead the league with 71 steals and blossom into a premium defender in center field. He has an explosive first step and his routes in the outfield got better as the season progressed. He was especially adept at chasing down balls he had to go back on. He needs to refine his small-ball skills, such as bunting, but he fits the profile of a center fielder and top-of-the-order hitter. He probably won?t hit for much power, but he hits line drives to all fields. ?Defensively, he was the best outfielder in the league,? Linares said. ?He made it look really, really easy out there. He?s got such a quick first step.?
Jankowski fueled Stony Brook's storybook run to the College World Series by batting .414 and leading NCAA Division I with 79 runs, 110 hits and 11 triples. A bit worn down when he first arrived in Fort Wayne, he caught a second wind in August and hit safely in his final 23 games (including the playoffs) before he broke a rib when hit by a pitch. Jankowski fits the profile of the prototypical leadoff hitter and center fielder. There isn't much power in his handsy swing, so he concentrates on making line-drive contact to all fields. He controls the strike zone and the barrel of the bat, working to get on base so he can unleash speed that grades as a 65 on the 20-80 scouting scale. His wheels make Jankowski an asset in center field as well. He tends to play deeper than he needs to, allowing runners to take advantage of his fringy arm strength.

Career Transactions

CF Travis Jankowski elected free agency.
Texas Rangers activated CF Travis Jankowski from the 10-day injured list.
Texas Rangers sent CF Travis Jankowski on a rehab assignment to Round Rock Express.
Texas Rangers sent CF Travis Jankowski on a rehab assignment to Round Rock Express.
Texas Rangers selected the contract of CF Travis Jankowski, , , and from Round Rock Express.
CF Travis Jankowski roster status changed by Texas Rangers.
Texas Rangers signed free agent CF Travis Jankowski to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.
CF Travis Jankowski assigned to Round Rock Express.