Padres Travis Jankowski: Fantasy Speed Demon

By Brad Kelly | Aug 13, 2016

Aug 2, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres center fielder Travis Jankowski (16) advances to second on a ball hit by second baseman Ryan Schimpf (not pictured) during the first inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /

Padres outfielder Travis Jankowski is running wild. After being named the starting center fielder, could he be a fantasy difference maker?

The San Diego Padres will not be able to take too many positives away from the 2016 season, but they had their fair share of players emerge as quality contributors. Guys like Wil Myers, and Yangervis Solarte have had breakout performances, but could Travis Jankowski be the next one to shine?

Jankowski was a first round draft pick by the Padres out of Stony Brook University in 2012. Out of college, Jankowksi’s calling card was his pure speed, and not much has changed. He stands at 6’2 and 185 pounds, and his lanky frame allows him to fly all over the field. He was never billed as a top flight prospect, but his value has been evident in the minors.

In 2013, Jankowski’s first full year of minor league ball, he would go on to post a, .286/1 HR/38 RBI/71 SB line. He was caught stealing 14 times, but to have 71 SB in only 122 games is certainly impressive. Jankowski would go on to struggle in 2014, while bouncing around every minor league level, but he rebounded nicely in 2015.

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After batting .335 and stealing 35 bases between AA and AAA, Jankowski did earn a cup of coffee with the Padres last season. His performance was very pedestrian, .212/2 HR/12 RBI/2 SB, over only 94 plate appearances.

But, Jankowksi found his way to the majors in 2016 rather quickly, making the team out of Spring Training, but was sparingly used the first three months of the season. Yet, when the Padres traded away Melvin Upton Jr., the starting job in center was now Jankowski’s to lose.

So far in the month of August, Jankowski has been on a tear at the plate and on the base paths. It is only a 10 game sample size, but he has a .432 AVG and has already stolen 7 SB. He has ascended to the top of the lineup, and his aggressiveness on the bases has been on display. With speed down across baseball, Jankowski all of a sudden looks the part of a potential fantasy dynamo.

Jankowski is a slap or slash type of hitter, so owners should not expect anything in the power department. The Padres’ lineup is top-heavy, allowing Jankowski solid Runs totals, but he will lack consistent RBI numbers as well. He has a 83% SB success rate this season, so with 25 SB on the season so far, there is no reason to think that he can not flirt with 40 SB by the end of the season.

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Fantasy owners has been looking for SB from wherever they can find them, and Jankowski provides them with a waiver wire option that could be key during a fantasy playoffs run. Travis Jankowski utilizes his speed to buoy his fantasy value, and as of late, things are going better than ever. Fantasy owners should wait no longer to add Jankowski.

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