Travis Jankowski Impressive Leading Off
7 years agoSan Diego Padres outfielder Travis Jankowski continues to be a reliable bat atop the Padres lineup. After a 1-for-4 evening Thursday against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Jankowski has reached base safely in 11 of 12 starts and is slashing a robust .360/.458/.500. Primarily batting leadoff, Jankowski has scored 10 runs and is 4-for-4 in stolen base attempts. A former first-round pick, the 26-year-old Jankowski had previously struggled with contact (26 percent strikeout rate) and staying healthy but has improved his BB/K to 0.90 after some adjustments in Triple-A earlier this season. Jankowski's .436 BABIP suggests the average isn't sustainable but if he continues to play regularly and get on base, 20-plus steals is a legitimate possibility. The Padres have a crowded outfield, but Jankowski and outfielder Franchy Cordero seemingly have a leg up on playing time.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com