Travis Jankowski : Back Here Where We Need You

Welcome Back, Jankowski

(And yes, you’ll be singing that theme song all day. Sorry !)

Somewhere, Gabe Kaplan is smiling. Not because Mr. Kotter finally got promoted to vice principal (he didn’t), but because Citi Field has its own comeback story that would make the Sweathogs proud.

You remember Welcome Back, Kotter, don’t you? A lovable guy returns to his old stomping grounds to find a bunch of familiar faces, a few new wrinkles, and the task of keeping everything from going completely off the rails. Sound familiar?

Well, enter Travis Jankowski—baseball’s own Mr. Kotter. Only with better hair, more stolen bases, and (probably) fewer run-ins with Vinnie Barbarino.

And yes, we know. You’re already humming it.

“🎵 Welcome back… your dreams were your ticket out…”

Sorry about that. You're now doomed to sing it every time Jankowski legs out a bunt single or makes a diving catch in center. We don’t make the rules.

But if Welcome Back somehow becomes Jankowski’s walk-up music? You heard it here first. I want credit. Heck, I’ll settle for a shout-out in the program and a wave from the on-deck circle.If you blinked this season, you might’ve missed Travis Jankowski’s travel itinerary. Four organizations, a minor league grand slam, and a championship ring later, the fleet-footed, ever-smiling outfielder is back in Queens—and Mets fans should be thrilled.

“Yeah, this would be organization number four for me this year,” Jankowski told me before last night's game. “Making some new friends, making a lot of new teammates... it’s been fun.”

You’ve gotta love a guy who can call ping-ponging across baseball clubhouses “fun.”

But for the Mets, who’ve already lost José Siri to injury and just sent Luisangel Acuña down to Syracuse to get regular reps, this wasn’t about fun. This was about need. A gaping, center-field-shaped need. And as fate—or maybe just a well-timed grand slam—would have it, Jankowski was available.

“That might have been the cherry on top,” he said with a grin. “All right guys, hey, call me up.”

So they did. And just like that, the Mets' outfield gained something they desperately needed: flexibility, familiarity, and flat-out speed.

Let’s be honest here: Jankowski was the first to admit that he isn’t the kind of name that sends fans stampeding to the merchandise stand. But what he brings is the kind of stuff championship teams are made of—professional at-bats, game-saving defense, and the ability to swipe a base when everyone in the ballpark knows he’s going. He’s the baseball version of duct tape.

“I would like to spend as least amount of time in Triple-A as possible and be up in the big leagues for any team,” he admitted. “And the Mets calling, and them being a contender this year, it was an easy choice.”

For those keeping track at home, this is Jankowski’s second stint with the Amazins. Last time he wore No. 16. This time? Not so much.

“Yeah, 16 is now in the rafters,” he chuckled. “So I guess I can say I was the last one to wear it... Maybe people think for some reason they retired my jersey.”

He’s not wrong. It was a pretty good 2022 campaign.

Now donning No. 21, he brings more than just wardrobe changes. He brings memories from a title run with Texas, including all the intensity that comes with it.

“It wasn’t very fun,” he joked. “It’s stressful during the time. The celebration is fun, the ring is great, the trophy's awesome… but during it? A lot of stress.”

He compares the adrenaline to his college days—when dreams of winning a World Series were just that: dreams. “If you accomplish that in your life, it’s complete euphoria,” he said. “It’s emotional. It’s great.”

Jankowski will be the first to admit he’s not here to hit 40 homers or anchor the middle of the lineup. But in a tight ballgame, when Carlos Mendoza needs a spark—whether it’s a diving grab in the gap or a swipe of second base—he’s the kind of guy you want at the top step of the dugout.

“That’s kind of been my MO the last few years,” he said. “Play all three outfield positions at a high level, steal a base at any given moment... and give professional at-bats.”

And as for his new skipper?

“Talked with Mendy a little bit,” Jankowski said. “He knows the type of player I am. He said, ‘Go out and play your game.’”

Music to a veteran’s ears.

And then there’s the clubhouse. In sports, chemistry gets thrown around like sunflower seeds, but in Jankowski’s case, it matters. He’s a guy teammates want around.

“Pete gave me a big hug. McNeil, big hug. Me and Brandon caught up in the outfield, big hug out there,” he said with a smile. “To come in and know where the locker room is, the food room is, the cages are... it makes the transition a lot easier.”

We’ve said it before: Not every hero wears a cape. Some wear eye black, play three outfield spots, and make everyone in the clubhouse better just by being there.

So welcome back, Travis. We see you. And something tells me this team just got a little faster, a little looser, and a whole lot better.

Here is my complete conversation with Travis: