Former Rangers outfielder Jankowski joins coaching staff for 2026 season
ARLINGTON -- Two years ago, Travis Jankowski became an unlikely hero for the Texas Rangers when he stepped up in place of an injured Adolis García during the 2023 World Series and delivered a pair of RBIs in Game 4. Now, he's back in the organization, but this time as a coach.
Jankowski, who played his final MLB game with the Mets on July 8 this season, is joining Skip Schumaker's coaching staff as the first-base coach. His move comes after an 11-year career spanning eight teams, during which he was known for his exceptional defense and baserunning skills.
The Rangers finalized their 2026 coaching staff on Wednesday, with six returning members from Bruce Bochy's previous staff. Luis Urueta and Dave Bush will retain their roles as bench coach and assistant pitching coach, respectively. The other four coaches will take on new positions.
Corey Ragsdale will transition from first-base coach to third-base coach, Jordan Tiegs becomes the new lead pitching coach, Justin Viele takes over as lead hitting coach, and Brett Hayes moves from quality control coach to catchers coach. These changes fill the void left by Mike Maddux, Bret Boone, and Bobby Wilson, respectively.
New additions to the staff include hitting coach Alex Cintrón, quality control coach Rod Barajas, and bullpen coach Colby Suggs. Cintrón, who joins the Rangers after nine seasons with the Astros, will focus on improving the team's offense, which has struggled in recent years.
During his time with the Astros, Cintrón played a crucial role in their success, as the team led the American League in OPS (.764) and on-base percentage (.329) during his seven-year tenure as hitting coach. They also ranked second in batting average (.259), second in slugging percentage (.435), third in runs per game (4.90), third in home runs (1,386), and third in walks (3,403).
Barajas, a former Rangers catcher, recently worked as an assistant coach with the Angels' Double-A Rocket City affiliate. He also served as field coordinator in Miami under Schumaker from 2023 to 2024. Suggs, a native of Sulphur Springs, Texas, spent four seasons as bullpen coach with the Twins, where relievers recorded impressive statistics.
With these additions and changes, the Rangers coaching staff is set for the 2026 season, aiming to build on their recent success and improve areas that need attention.
