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| Kinsler was named the ] ] for the period ending April 15th. He batted .476 (10-for-21) with four home runs, eight RBIs, and seven runs scored. | Kinsler was named the ] ] for the period ending April 15th. He batted .476 (10-for-21) with four home runs, eight RBIs, and seven runs scored. | ||
| In 2007, Kinsler had 20 home runs, and was 23-2 in stolen base attempts. He was one of only 6 batters in the AL to have at least 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases, along with ], ], ], ], and ]. Kinsler finished the year 7th in the American League in power/speed number (21.4), 9th in sacrifice hits (8), and tied for 10th in bunt hits (5). On defense, Kinsler led all major league second basemen in range factor (5.69), leading the league for the second straight year. | In 2007, Kinsler had 20 home runs, and was 23-2 in stolen base attempts. He was one of only 6 batters in the AL to have at least 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases, along with ], ], ], ], and ]. It was the seventh time in franchise history a player reached the 20-20 plateau. | ||
| Kinsler finished the year 7th in the American League in power/speed number (21.4), 9th in sacrifice hits (8), and tied for 10th in bunt hits (5). On defense, Kinsler led all major league second basemen in range factor (5.69), leading the league for the second straight year. | |||
| The Rangers made a renewed effort in November 2007 to lock up Kinsler to a contract that would keep him with the club through at least 2012. Rangers officials met with Kinsler's representatives, Jay Franklin and Jeff Frye, to discuss a five-year deal. | |||
| ==Awards== | ==Awards== | ||
Revision as of 04:40, 20 November 2007
Ian Michael Kinsler (born June 22, 1982, in Tucson, Arizona) is a Major League Baseball second baseman for the Texas Rangers.
High school
Kinsler graduated from Canyon del Oro High School in the Tucson suburb of Oro Valley, Arizona. He helped lead the baseball team to state titles in 1997 and 2000. He hit .380 as a junior, to earn 2nd-team all-league honors, and .504 with 5 home runs and 26 stolen bases during his senior year, in which he was named 1st-team all-state and 1st-team all-league.
Draft and college
He was drafted by his home state Arizona Diamondbacks in 2000 (29th round) and 2001 (26th round), but declined to sign.
He opted instead to take a college tour, attending Central Arizona College (hitting .405 with 17 doubles, 37 RBIs, and 24 stolen bases; named 2nd-team All-ACCAC), Arizona State (where he played alongside fellow middle infielder Dustin Pedroia), and the University of Missouri (.335/.416/.536, with 16 steals in 17 attempts).
The Texas Rangers selected Kinsler in the 17th round in the 2003 draft as a shortstop.
Minor league career
He had a breakout year in 2004, splitting the season between the low-A Clinton Lumberkings (.401/.465/.687 in 224 at bats) and the AA Frisco RoughRiders (.300/.400/.480 in 277 at bats). Overall, in 501 at bats Kinsler had 51 doubles, 20 home runs, 103 runs, 99 RBIs, 18 HBP, and 23 steals. He tied for 1st in the minor leagues in doubles (51), and was 7th in batting average (.345).
Kinsler was named to the Midwest League all star team at shortstop. Baseball America rated him the 11th-best prospect in the minors, the # 8 prospect in the Midwest League, and the # 9 prospect in the Texas League. Kinsler was also named the Rangers' Minor League Player of the Year.
Kinsler spent 2005 at AAA with the Oklahoma Redhawks, transitioning from shortstop to second base. He hit .274 with 23 home runs, 102 runs, 94 RBIs, and 12 steals in 14 attempts, in 530 at bats. His solid season contributed to the Rangers' decision to trade Alfonso Soriano during the 2005-06 offseason.
Major league career
Texas Rangers (2006-present)
2006
Kinsler won the Rangers' starting second base job in spring training, 2006. He made his Major League debut in a game against the Boston Red Sox on April 3, 2006. He also got his first Major League hit in the same game, off Curt Schilling. He was hitting .476 before he dislocated his left thumb sliding into second base on April 11, 2006. On May 25, 2006, Kinsler came back after being on the 15-day disabled list. He went 3-4 with a single and 2 home runs, to lead the Rangers to an 8-7 victory over the Oakland Athletics.
Kinsler finished 2006 with a .286 batting average, 14 home runs, 11 stolen bases, and 55 RBIs in 423 at bats. He batted .300 with runners in scoring position, and .333 when the game was late and close.
After a successful rookie season, Kinsler seemed to have the starting second base job locked up, as the Rangers elected to let fellow second baseman Mark Derosa walk in free agency.
Defensively, Kinsler led all AL second basemen in both range (5.58) and errors (18).
2007
In spring training in 2007 he hit .429 and was 4th in the major leagues in RBIs (19), and 6th in hits (27).
Kinsler was named the American League Player of the Week for the period ending April 15th. He batted .476 (10-for-21) with four home runs, eight RBIs, and seven runs scored.
In 2007, Kinsler had 20 home runs, and was 23-2 in stolen base attempts. He was one of only 6 batters in the AL to have at least 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases, along with Alex Rodriguez, Gary Sheffield, Grady Sizemore, B.J. Upton, and Curtis Granderson. It was the seventh time in franchise history a player reached the 20-20 plateau.
Kinsler finished the year 7th in the American League in power/speed number (21.4), 9th in sacrifice hits (8), and tied for 10th in bunt hits (5). On defense, Kinsler led all major league second basemen in range factor (5.69), leading the league for the second straight year.
The Rangers made a renewed effort in November 2007 to lock up Kinsler to a contract that would keep him with the club through at least 2012. Rangers officials met with Kinsler's representatives, Jay Franklin and Jeff Frye, to discuss a five-year deal.
Awards
- 2004 - Baseball America 2nd-team Minor League All-Star SS
- 2004 - Low A All-Star SS
- 2004 - Midwest League All-Star SS
- 2004 - Texas Rangers Minor League Player of the Year
- 2006 - Texas Rangers Rookie of the Year
- 2007 - American League Player of the Week (Mid-April)
Miscellaneous
- Kinsler's approach-the-plate song is Black Betty by Ram Jam.
- Married his high school sweetheart Tess Brady on November 18, 2006.
- Hobbies include golf.
- Outfielder Brian Anderson of the Chicago White Sox was his best friend and teammate in high school.
- Kinsler is Jewish.
Career statistics
- Career statistics from Error: Template:Baseballstats must contain at least one valid parameter name.
External links
- Career statistics from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs
- BR Bullpen profile
- Hardball Times stats
- Baseball America bio