HARRISBURG -- If the experts are right, Lancaster's Travis Jankowski is in for a spectacular junior season.
Jankowski, a centerfielder at Stony Brook University, has been named a preseason All-America by Baseball America; College Baseball Daily and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA), respectively.
The Lancaster Catholic graduate was a first-team selection from Baseball America, which consults major league scouting directors in assembling its All-America teams. The scouting directors place a heavier emphasis on a player's pro potential, rather than just college statistics.
"He's pretty intriguing," one National League director told the magazine, while assessing Jankowski's talent. "The swing is good, it's impact speed and he's a pretty good defensive outfielder."
Baseball America rates Jankowski as the 24th-best prospect in the upcoming June draft, meaning he could be selected in the first round.
Jankowski was also named a second-team preseason All-America by College Baseball Daily; and earned third-team honors from the NCBWA.
The 2011 MVP of the Cape Cod League, Jankowski hit .329 with 22 RBI and 15 steals for the Bourne Braves this past summer; while leading the Cape League in hits (57), runs (31), and triples (seven).
He earned first team All-America East honors for the Seawolves last season as he ranked second in the conference with a .355 batting average and ranked 14th in the nation with 31 steals in 34 attempts.
