New Mets Player Breaks Silence After Joining the Team

As the New York Mets navigate what has been a season-worst stretch of play, pressure continues to mount on manager Carlos Mendoza and president of baseball operations David Stearns to find answers. Their latest move: a familiar face returns. Veteran outfielder Travis Jankowski has been called up for a second stint with the club, offering a potential spark of stability and speed.

Jankowski, 34, last appeared for the Mets in 2022, logging 43 games before a broken hand sidelined him. Though his slash line that season (.167/.286/.167) was underwhelming, his value transcends offense. Across 1,552 career at-bats, Jankowski owns a .236 average with 11 home runs, 98 RBIs, and 104 stolen bases—a testament to his disruptive speed and intelligent base running.

With defensive lapses and poor situational base running plaguing the Mets throughout their current slide, Jankowski’s recall signals a need for experience and versatility. His skillset is tailor-made for late-inning leverage—pinch running, outfield coverage, and instinctive reads on the basepaths. Unlike Luisangel Acuña, who was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse to secure consistent playing time, Jankowski can slot into any role without sacrificing long-term development goals.

“I’ve played every day, I’ve come off the bench, pinch hit, pinch ran, defensive replacement—everything but pitch,” Jankowski told SNY. “And if [Carlos Mendoza] asks me to pitch, I’ll go out there and eat an inning up.”