ARLINGTON, Texas - After making his presence felt on the biggest stage for the Texas Rangers, Stony Brook baseball legend Travis Jankowski has agreed to terms on a one-year deal that will bring him back to the reigning World Series champions for the 2024 season.
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Finishing his eighth season in the MLB and first with the Rangers, Jankowski played in 107 games for Texas this past season. During his time with the champs, the former Seawolf had a career year, hitting .263/.357/.332 with a home run, 30 runs batted in, a .689 OPS and a 1.4 WAR over 107 games. Jankowski was a force on the basepaths as well, stealing 19 of his 20 attempts successfully and posted a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage in the field.
During the 2023 championship run, the former Seawolf became the first player in Stony Brook baseball history to appear in an American League Championship Series game on Oct. 16, 2023 against the Astros in Game 3. He then became the first player in program history to record a hit in the ALCS after his base-knock in Game 7 on Oct. 23.
After the Rangers defeated the Astros to punch their ticket into the World Series, Jankowski became the first Seawolf to appear on the biggest stage Major League Baseball has to offer after he went into the game to play rightfield in Game 3.
In the following game, the Lancaster, Pa. native found himself starting in the nine-spot of the order and playing right field, becoming the first player in program history to start a World Series game. He contributed a pair of hits in four at-bats, with two runs batted in and a pair of runs scored in the 11-7 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks in Game 4 of the World Series.
Jankowski, a member of the Stony Brook Hall of Fame, was the 2012 ABCA/Rawlings National Co-Player of the Year and a first team All-American by four different news outlets for the Seawolves during his time on the Island. During the historic 2012 run for Stony Brook, he led the NCAA in hits, runs scored and triples en route to Omaha. He was selected in the first round of the MLB Draft (44th) and currently stands as the only player in program history to be recognized as the National Player of the Year.
The Stony Book Hall of Famer is one of five players who have made the show, joining Daniel Zamora, Nick Tropeano, Tom Koehler and Joe Nathan.
The Rangers open up their Spring Training slate on Feb. 23 when they host the Kansas City Royals at Surprise Stadium in Arizona. Texas will begin their title defense on March 28, hosting the Chicago Cubs at Globe Life Park.
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