ARLINGTON — When Adolis Garcia was forced out of Game 3 of the World Series with an oblique strain, the Texas Rangers had an answer.
Veteran outfielder Travis Jankowski, who re-signed a one-year, $1.7 million deal with the club on Friday, stepped up. It's what he did throughout the 2023 season, playing an invaluable utility role.
After replacing Garcia in the eighth inning of Game 3, Jankowski had two hits, including a double, two runs and two RBI in the Rangers' 11-7 Game 4 win. He also made a circus catch down the right-field line in which he tumbled over teammate Marcus Semien.
"He’s a manager’s dream, to be honest," Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said. "He’s a guy who gives you a lot of flexibility, versatility."
Jankowski, a first-round pick by the San Diego Padres in the 2012 MLB Draft, gives the Rangers not only an experienced bat off the bench but also a solid defender with speed.
Jankowski, 32, was hoping for a multi-year deal, but the Rangers were always his first choice as a free agent.
"I didn’t make it a secret that I wanted to come back, but there were some other teams out there that did make it a tough decision," said Jankowski, who batted .263 with 12 doubles, a homer, 30 RBI, and 19 stolen bases in 107 games in 2023, his first season with the Rangers.
Jankowski's affinity for the Rangers' clubhouse and the culture created by Chris Young was too enticing.
"The Bottom line is, what CY has built here is a rich culture," Jankowski said. "I didn’t think I was going to get that anywhere else. It’s not every day you get to play for a Hall of Fame manager, that’s really tough to pass up."
Bochy likes the consistency Jankowski's return gives his roster.
"You can give a guy a day off, and he’s going to give you a quality start," Bochy said. "He’s a good teammate. He’s got experience with the role that he was in last year. He did a great job with that. Those guys are invaluable on a team. They’re kind of the unsung heroes when you look back on a season."
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