Ian Kinsler, Second Base, Retired


Date of Birth: 6/22/1982
Birthplace: Tucson, Arizona
College: Arizona State University, University of Missouri

Ian Kinsler, retired second baseman, was first drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2000 and again in 2001 but he opted instead for college. The Texas Rangers drafted him as a shortstop in 2003. He spent 2003 through 2005 in the minor leagues. He became a second baseman in his last season in the minors.

In 2006, his rookie season in the major leagues, Kinsler batted .286 with 121 hits, 27 doubles, 14 home runs, and 11 stolen bases in 120 games. He signed a five-year, $22 million contract with the Rangers in February, 2008. The following season was one of his best. In 2008, Kinsler had a career high batting average of .319 with 165 hits, 41 doubles, 18 home runs, 71 RBIs, and 26 stolen bases in 121 games.

Kinsler had another strong season in 2012 when he had career highs in hits (168) and doubles (42). He batted .256 with 19 home runs, 72 RBIs, and 21 stolen bases. In 2013, Kinsler batted .277 with 151 hits, 31 doubles, 13 home runs, 72 RBIs, and 15 stolen bases in 136 games.

In November, 2013, the Rangers traded Kinsler to the Detroit Tigers for Prince Fielder. He finished the 2014 season with a career high 188 hits, 40 doubles, 17 home runs, a career high 92 RBIs, 15 stolen bases, and a .275 batting average in 161 games. In the postseason, he had one hit and a .083 batting average in 12 at-bats in 3 games.

Kinsler had his 1,500th hit on September 10, 2015. He finished the season strong with 185 hits, 35 doubles, 73 RBIs, and a .296 batting average in 154 games. As a second baseman, he made 425 assists, 109 double plays, 289 putouts, and 13 errors in 153 games.

In 2016, Kinsler batted .288 in 153 games. He had 178 hits, 29 doubles, 28 home runs, 14 stolen bases, and 83 RBIs. Defensively, as the Tigers' second baseman, he made 432 assists, 109 double plays, 303 putouts, and 9 errors in 151 games. He was awarded his first Gold Glove in 2016.

Kinsler batted a career low .236 in 139 games in 2017. He finished the season with 130 hits, 25 doubles, 22 home runs, 14 stolen bases, 52 RBIs, and 86 strikeouts to 55 walks. Defensively, as the Tigers' second baseman in 135 games, he made 327 assists, 95 double plays, 263 putouts, and 10 errors.

The Tigers traded Kinsler to the Los Angeles Angels on December 13, 2017. He was traded again on July 31, 2018, this time to the Boston Red Sox. He finished the 2018 season with 117 hits, 26 doubles, 14 home runs, 16 stolen bases, 48 RBIs, 64 strikeouts to 40 walks, and a .240 batting average in 91 games with the Angels and 37 games with the Red Sox. In the postseason, he had 7 hits, 3 doubles, 1 stolen base, and 3 RBIs in 34 at-bats in 11 games. He struck out 14 times and walked once.

A good defensive player, Kinsler won his second Gold Glove in 2018. As a second baseman in 128 games, he made 310 assists, 89 double plays, 213 putouts, and 9 errors.

Kinsler became a free agent on October 29, 2018. He signed with the San Diego Padres on December 20, 2018. He spent part of the 2019 season on the DL with a herniated disk. He played in 87 games and he had 56 hits and a .217 batting average. As a second baseman in 72 games, he made 155 assists, 36 double plays, 96 putouts, and 5 errors.

Kinsler retired on December 20, 2019.

Statistics for Kinsler in fourteen seasons (2006-2019) in the major leagues include:

  • 7 seasons with over 150 hits, with a high of 188 in 2014
  • 7 seasons with over 30 doubles, with a high of 42 in 2012
  • 5 seasons with 20 or more home runs, with a high of 32 in 2011
  • 5 seasons with over 20 stolen bases, with a high of 31 in 2009

Career batting statistics for Kinsler through 2019 include:

  • 1,888 games played
  • 1,999 hits
  • 416 doubles
  • 257 home runs
  • 243 stolen bases
  • 909 RBIs
  • 1,046 strikeouts to 693 walks
  • .269 batting average

Career fielding statistics for Kinsler at second base through 2019 include:

  • 1,828 games played
  • 5,219 assists
  • 1,291 double plays
  • 3,397 putouts
  • 168 errors
  • .981 fielding percentage

Personal Life

Kinsler and his wife Tess were married on November 18, 2006. They have one son and one daugher.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Ian Kinsler
ESPN - Ian Kinsler