GOOD NEWS: ‘El Blondí’ Returns to Arlington — Rangers Bring Back Travis Jankowski as 1B Coach for the 2026 Season
The hair, the hustle, the heart — it’s all coming back to Texas.
The Texas Rangers announced on Friday that they have hired Travis Jankowski, one of the most beloved figures from their 2023 World Series championship team, as their new first base coach for the 2026 season.
The move marks a full-circle moment for a player whose grit and personality made him an instant fan favorite in Arlington. From his flowing blonde hair to his fearless base running, Jankowski embodied the selfless energy that helped define the Rangers’ first-ever title run.
“El Blondí is back,” the team wrote on social media, and within minutes, the post went viral. Fans flooded the comments with photos, memories, and the same chant that echoed through Globe Life Field during the 2023 postseason: “Let’s go, Blondí!”
For Jankowski, now 35, the transition to coaching has been a natural one. Known throughout his career for his clubhouse leadership and tireless work ethic, he spent much of his final playing season mentoring younger outfielders and base runners. Those traits — along with his deep understanding of game tempo — made him a perfect fit for a staff that values culture as much as performance.
“I’ve always seen the game through a team-first lens,” Jankowski said in a statement released by the club. “Texas is where I found that identity, and to come back here, to teach and help others grow — that’s something truly special.”
Manager Bruce Bochy — who coached Jankowski during the 2023 championship campaign — expressed excitement about the reunion.
“Travis brings everything you want in a coach,” Bochy said. “He’s passionate, smart, and respected by everyone who’s shared a dugout with him. He knows what winning baseball looks like, and he knows what it takes to get there.”
The Rangers have been subtly reshaping their coaching staff over the past few months, adding fresh voices to support player development and clubhouse chemistry. Jankowski’s hiring aligns perfectly with that philosophy — a bridge between the franchise’s glorious past and its ambitious future.
He will join a staff that includes pitching coach Mike Maddux, bench coach Donnie Ecker, and hitting coordinator Seth Connor, all working under Bochy’s guidance as the Rangers look to sustain their championship standard.
But for fans, this hire is about more than strategy — it’s about sentiment.
Jankowski was never the team’s biggest star, but his role in 2023 was unforgettable. His energy sparked late-inning rallies, his defense saved games, and his leadership in the dugout helped stabilize a team that refused to quit. In the World Series, he contributed key at-bats and defensive plays that drew standing ovations from the home crowd.
“He was our heartbeat,” one Rangers player said at the time. “He did the dirty work, and we all fed off that.”
Now, he’ll bring that same pulse to the coaching box, guiding base runners and helping younger players understand the nuances of aggressive, intelligent baseball.
As Jankowski himself once said: “The game’s about connection. When you play for each other, great things happen.”
Texas knows that well — because with Travis Jankowski, great things already did.
And if his return is any indication, they’re not done happening yet.
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