Lancaster Catholic grad Travis Jankowski has moved to the next phase of his professional baseball career.
The 34-year-old was named the first-base coach for the Texas Rangers on Wednesday under new manager Skip Schumaker.
That brings an end to Jankowski’s playing career, during which he played for eight major league teams over 11 seasons, making his mark with his defense and baserunning.
In 2025, the outfielder appeared in 21 big league games for three teams — the Chicago White Sox, Tampa Bay Rays and New York Mets — hitting .244 with two RBIs.
Lancaster Catholic grad Travis Jankowski is playing for the Texas Rangers in the World Series.
AP Photo
He rejoins the Rangers after spending the 2023 and 2024 seasons with the team, helping it win its first World Series in 2023.
In 2023, he hit a career-best .263 with 30 RBIs and 19 stolen bases.
In Game 4 of the World Series, starting in right field in place of the injured Adolis Garcia, he went 2-for-4 with a two-run double in Texas’ 11-7 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks.
He also started in right and played the whole way in the Rangers’ 5-0 victory in the clinching Game 5.
Jankowski was selected by the San Diego Padres with the 44th overall pick of the 2012 draft out of Stony Brook University.
He made his major league debut with the Padres in 2015. He also played for the Cincinnati Reds, Philadelphia Phillies and Seattle Mariners.
He played his final big league game with the New York Mets on July 8. He elected free agency after being designated for assignment on July 10, then being outrighted. He did not sign with another team.
In 706 major league games, Jankowski hit .236 with 11 homers, 98 RBIs and 104 stolen bases.
He is one of four newcomers on Texas’ coaching staff.
The others are Rod Barajas (quality control), Alex Cintrón (hitting) and Colby Suggs (bullpen).
The holdovers from former manager Bruce Bochy’s staff are Luis Urueta (bench) and Dave Bush (assistant pitching), Jordan Tiegs (pitching; moving from bullpen), Justin Viele (lead hitting), Corey Ragsdale (third base; moving from first base) and Brett Hayes (catching; moving from quality control).
The Rangers said one more coach would be added at a later time.
Jankowski will begin the regular-season portion of his new job in familiar territory.
Texas opens the 2026 season in Philadelphia on March 26. The final two games of that series are March 28-29 before the Rangers play a three-game series in Baltimore March 30-April 1.
Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup.
Error! There was an error processing your request.