Travis

Jankowski

Jankowski bounced around organizations in 2025, and apparently has hung up the cleats. The 34-year-old will be part of Skip Schumaker’s staff for the 2026 campaign.

Jankowski’s well-known affinity for the Mets likely means he’ll stick around as extra organizational outfield depth rather than elect free agency after going unclaimed on waivers. The 34-year-old speedster was only up for a couple weeks with New York, getting into four games and finishing with a grand total of exactly one plate appearance.

The Mets needed to create a roster spot to bring up Luisangel Acuna, so they decided to move on from Jankowski. That does mean the Mets are carrying all of Acuna, Brett Baty, Ronny Mauricio, and Mark Vientos. How playing time will be split for them is anybody’s guess. Jankowski will hope to latch on with another team. Jankowski had just one at-bat with the Mets over four games and laid down a bunt during it.

This could be a short stay for Jankowski, unless the team chooses to send down Ronny Mauricio or Jared Young to make room for Mark Vientos later this week. Jankowski, signed to a minor league contract two weeks ago, hit .244/.286/.289 in 49 plate appearances for the Rays earlier this year. He’ll likely mostly pinch-run and come in for defensive purposes late in games.

Jankowski opted for free agency after the Rays cut him earlier this month. He was previously a Met in 2022, when he hit (and slugged) .167 in 63 plate appearances over 43 games. He could see time as a reserve outfielder later this season.

Interesting. Jankowski was on the injured list with a left groin strain, but rather than add him back to the active roster, the Rays placed him on waivers and he went unclaimed. The 33-year-old should see a market for a team needing outfield depth, but he may need to sign a minor-league deal before joining the majors.

Jankowski tweaked his groin during Wednesday’s game against the Blue Jays in Toronto, and the Rays won’t play short-handed. Somewhat conveniently, the Rays have activated Josh Lowe (oblique) off the injured list to take Jankowski’s place on the roster.

Rays manager Kevin Cash told reporters Travis Jankowski tweaked his groin during Wednesday’s contest in Toronto, so it’s looking like Lowe is going to return sooner than later. It might not make sense to bring him to Canada for just one game, but he should be ready to roll for Friday’s series opener against the Marlins.

Lowe went 0-for-4 in Triple-A on Tuesday and is hitting just 2-for-13 in four games at the level. However, all of that is secondary to his health. If he continues to feel good after another game, the Rays could decide to bring him up with the team in Miami, which would likely push Travis Jankowski out of the starting lineup against righties.

Jankowski got the start in right field over Jose Caballero with a right-handed pitcher on the mound and drove in two of Tampa’s three runs on the day. After knocking a base hit in the second inning, he brought Kameron Misner home on a sacrifice fly in the fourth. Jankowski later walked it off with a base hit in the bottom of the ninth to score Misner from second base. The veteran 33-year-out outfielder is hitting .286/.316/.314 with six runs scored and two steals over 38 plate appearances.