The Phillies add outfield depth by signing Lancaster’s Travis Jankowski to a minor-league deal
The Phillies invited the outfielder to spring training, but he's likely ticketed for triple A to start the season.
The Phillies added to their outfield depth Monday by signing Lancaster’s Travis Jankowski to a minor-league contract.
The 29-year-old received an invitation to major-league camp but seems destined to start the season in triple A. A left-handed hitter, he has played 41 major-league games over the last two seasons with San Diego and Cincinnati. Over parts of six big-league seasons, he has hit .238 with a .628 OPS, eight home runs, and 64 stolen bases in 350 games.
Jankowski attended Lancaster Catholic High before playing at Stony Brook. San Diego drafted him in 2012 with the 44th overall pick in the first round. He has played 120 games at triple A, where he hit .324 with a .792 OPS. Jankowski can play all three outfield positions.
Last week, the Phillies signed 36-year-old outfielder Matt Joyce to a minor-league deal with a spring-training invite. The left-handed hitter has a .790 OPS over the last two seasons with Atlanta and Miami.
The Phillies will begin spring training Wednesday in Clearwater, Fla., with center field being the lone starting role to be decided among position players. Adam Haseley, Scott Kingery, and Roman Quinn are the contenders after splitting time there last season. There is likely room for one more bench player to join catcher Andrew Knapp, utilityman Brad Miller, and the two players who do not start in center field.