GLENDALE, Ariz. — Travis Jankowski said he gave Chicago White Sox first baseman Andrew Vaughn a hug Wednesday morning and added, “I’m sorry, man.”
Jankowski made one of the top catches of last season in left field with the Texas Rangers, robbing Vaughn of a potential game-winning home run in the ninth inning on Aug. 28. Jankowski apologized to Vaughn the next day — and again Wednesday.
“I told him if he finishes with 399 career homers, I’m going to have to buy him a car or something,” Jankowski said. “I still feel bad about that. But I had to do it.”
The outfielder joined the Sox on Wednesday on a minor-league deal that included a nonroster invitation to major-league camp. The Sox have taken some hits in the outfield this spring, with Andrew Benintendi recovering from a nondisplaced fracture in his right hand and Austin Slater rebounding from a strained left oblique. Jankowski provides another option.
“(Sox manager) Will (Venable) was my bench coach for two years (with Texas), awesome guy,” Jankowski said. “And the transparency. He just kind of let me know what they thought coming in.
“It was just come in — and obviously there are some injured outfielders here — could be a spot, but performance is going to play. Come in, have a good camp and we’ll take it from there.”
Jankowski, 33, was in Chicago Cubs camp earlier this spring. He has a career .236 average with 52 doubles, 11 home runs, 96 RBIs and 102 stolen bases in 681 games during parts of 10 big-league seasons with the San Diego Padres (2015-19), Cincinnati Reds (2020), Philadelphia Phillies (2021), New York Mets (2022), Seattle Mariners (2022) and Rangers (2023-24).
“He’s just extremely professional, extremely good guy that works extremely hard and is also willing to help younger guys,” Venable said. “Just love the speed, the defensive production and versatility. And he’s a guy that can put the ball in play, which we love too.”
Jankowski is among the players with big-league experience at Sox camp as nonroster invitees on minor-league deals. That list includes catcher Omar Narváez, infielders Brandon Drury, Bobby Dalbec, Tristan Gray, Andre Lipcius and Nick Maton, outfielder Cal Mitchell, first baseman/outfielder Joey Gallo and pitchers Dan Altavilla, Justin Dunn, James Karinchak, Jonathan Heasley and Mike Clevinger.
Drury has been one of the standout players in camp, batting .300 (9-for-30) with five doubles, one home run and five RBIs in 10 games.
“Trying to keep my head as still as possible and keep my swing as short as possible,” Drury recently told the Tribune.
Drury is looking to rebound after hitting .169 with four home runs and 15 RBIs in 97 games last season with the Los Angeles Angels. He hit 28 home runs in 2022 with the Reds and Padres and 26 in 2023 with the Angels.
“It is spring training, so it doesn’t obviously count, but it is nice to get some results,” Drury said. “And I’m trying to make this team too. So getting results in games is obviously good because that’s positive feedback from offseason work.”
Dalbec (2-for-15) and Gallo (2-for-20) are working on their timing while also showcasing their defensive versatility.
Dalbec, 29, who played parts of five seasons with the Boston Red Sox, has appeared this spring at first base, third and left field, along with serving as a designated hitter.
“It’s about being ready for opening day, not right now,” Dalbec told the Tribune. “Obviously, there’s some competition in here and I don’t know what the plans are or anything, but I’m just trying to take it how I would if I was just preparing for any season and not trying to put too much pressure on myself.”
In addition to playing first, Gallo has seen action in left field and has made solid throws to second and the plate when tested.
“That’s part of what can make me provide value to a team and stay on a roster,” Gallo, a two-time Gold Glove winner in the outfield, recently told the Tribune. “I love playing defense.”
Like many hitters at this time, the 31-year-old Gallo is making adjustments.
“Trying to simplify my swing a little bit,” he said.
Clevinger, 34, is adjusting to a potential relief role as he competes for a roster spot. He made his first appearance of the spring Sunday, pitching a scoreless inning with two strikeouts. He had one strikeout in a scoreless inning Wednesday in a 1-1 tie against the Angels at Camelback Ranch.
“Just trying to iron out the routine,” Clevinger said after Sunday’s outing. “It wasn’t as alien as I thought it was going to be. I like the idea of just airing it out for an inning.”
Dunn pitched three hitless innings in Wednesday’s start.
“Control what I can control and that’s getting better and fine-tuning my process and plan, and that’s really all I’m focused on,” Dunn said of the future. “Whenever God says I’m ready, I’m ready, and I’ll just be ready to walk through the door when he opens it.”
Colson Montgomery staying focused
Montgomery is keeping the same mindset after being optioned to Triple-A Charlotte on Tuesday.
“I have to be ready for my season,” the shortstop prospect said Wednesday morning. “I’m not just going to break down and not try to do my best. I know what I have to do to get myself ready. … I’m going to get ready for my season.”
Montgomery, 23, expressed a little surprise, but added that “at the end of the day you know it’s a business.”
“They’ve got to do what they have to do, and I respect everything they said,” Montgomery said. “They pretty much told me keep doing what I’m doing, it’s a matter of time.
“I’m not really stressing about it. I mean, yeah, I was bummed for a couple hours. Once I woke up this morning I was like, all right, I have to go to work, do the same thing and be a pro.”
