Texas Rangers: 5 players who have been surprise contributors

3. Travis Jankowski

I know it is too early to talk about turning points in the season. I do feel like the Rangers faced a turning point on Sunday, April 9th. The Rangers lost a series the previous week against the Orioles and then lost the first two games against the Cubs. Their record was 4-4 as they were in danger of falling under .500 after that series sweep against the Phillies. Bochy started both Bubba Thompson and Travis Jankowski in the outfield. Jankowski was told in spring training he was not going to make the team. Then Taveras' oblique injury lingered and he started the season on the IL. The team came back and put Jankowski on the Opening Day roster. On Sunday April 9th, Jankowski was given his first starting assignment of the season. Jankowski played right field in the windy Wrigley Field. He played a great defensive game, but he also contributed offensively with an RBI-double that day. Since that game he started playing more regularly and has filled up the stat sheet. He has a .309 batting average, a .793 OPS, five doubles, one triple, nine RBI's, five stolen bases, and 21 total hits. That is in addition to playing great outfield defense in whatever position Bochy has placed him in. Unfortunately, he went down with a right hamstring injury on May 7th and has been on the IL ever since. Hopefully, the Rangers will be getting him back by the end of this month. The injury does not take away from what he has contributed to this team both in the batters' box and in the outfield.