Jason Kipnis, Second Base


Date of Birth: 4/3/1987
Birthplace: Northbrook, Illinois
College: Arizona State University
Nickname: Dirtbag

Jason Kipnis, second baseman, was first drafted by the Cleveland Indians in 2009. The following year, he played in the minor leagues for the Indians. On July 22, 2011, he was called up to the major leagues but he played in just 36 games with the Indians and spent the rest of the season back in the minor leagues.

In 2012, Kipnis became the Indians' starting second baseman, playing in 152 games with them that season. In 2013, he batted .284 with 160 hits, 36 doubles, 17 home runs, 84 RBIs, and 30 stolen bases in 149 games.

On April 4, 2014, Kipnis and the Indians agreed to a six-year, $52.5 million contract extension. The deal includes a club option for a seventh year. He finished the 2014 season with 120 hits, 25 doubles, 22 stolen bases, and a .240 batting average in 129 games.

During the month of May, 2015, Kipnis set an Indians record for the most hits in one month with 51. He also had 30 runs during that month, joining Ty Cobb and Al Simmons as the only other Indians to have 50 or more hits and 30 or more runs in one month. He finished the season with career highs in hits (171), doubles (43), and batting average (.303). As a second baseman, he made 311 assists, 69 double plays, 203 putouts, and 7 errors in 124 games.

Kipnis had a strong 2016 season, finishing with a .275 batting average, 168 hits, 41 doubles, a career high 23 home runs, 15 stolen bases, and 82 RBIs in 156 games. Defensively, as the Indians' second baseman in 151 games, he made 422 assists, 70 double plays, 198 putouts, and 12 errors. In the postseason, he batted .230 with 14 hits, including 3 doubles and 4 home runs, and 8 RBIs in 61 at-bats in 15 games.

Kipnis played in just 90 games in 2017. He finished the season with 78 hits, 25 doubles, 35 RBIs, 71 strikeouts to 28 walks, and a career low batting average of .232. Defensively, he played 75 games at second base and 11 games in center field.

Kipnis finished the 2018 season with 122 hits, 28 doubles, 18 home runs, 75 RBIs, and a .230 batting average in 147 games. Defensively, as the Indians' second baseman in 131 games, he made 308 assists, 68 double plays, 175 putouts, and 9 errors. In the postseason, he had just one hit in 9 at-bats in 3 games.

Kipnis spent time on the DL in 2019 with a calf strain. He finished the season with 112 hits, 23 doubles, 17 home runs, 65 RBIs, 88 strikeouts to 40 walks, and a .245 batting average in 121 games. Defensively, as a second baseman in 117 games, he made 253 assists, 51 double plays, 150 putouts, and 4 errors.

Kipnis became a free agent on October 31, 2019. He signed a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs on February 18, 2020. He played in 44 games in 2020, and he had 27 hits, 8 doubles, 3 home runs, 16 RBIs, 41 strikeouts to 18 walks, and a .237 batting average. Defensively, he played 1 game at first base and 36 games at second base. He was the DH in 6 games. In the postseason, he had no hits in 3 at-bats in 2 games.

Kipnis elected free agency on October 28, 2020. He signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves on February 15, 2021. He played only in the minors in 2021.

Kipnis was released on November 11, 2021.

Career batting statistics for Kipnis through 2020 include:

  • 1,165 games played
  • 1,147 hits
  • 260 doubles
  • 126 home runs
  • 545 RBIs
  • 136 stolen bases
  • 951 strikeouts to 467 walks
  • .260 batting average

Career fielding statistics for Kipnis at second base through 2020 include:

  • 1,086 games played
  • 2,822 assists
  • 575 double plays
  • 1,584 putouts
  • 72 errors
  • .984 fielding percentage

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Jason Kipnis
ESPN - Jason Kipnis