Ian Kinsler

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Ian Kinsler
Position Second Base
Team Texas Rangers
Years of Experience 1
Age 23
Height 6 ft (1.83 m)
Weight 175 lb (79 kg)
Bats Right
Throws Right
College University of Missouri
2006 Salary $327,000
Place of Birth Tucson, Arizona
Selection 17th round amateur draft, 2003
Drafted by Texas Rangers
Major League Debut April 3, 2006

Ian Michael Kinsler (born June 22, 1982 in Tucson, Arizona) is a Major League Baseball second baseman for the Texas Rangers.

Contents

[edit] 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.[1]

[edit] Draft and college

He was drafted by his hometown 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, 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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] Major league career

[edit] Texas Rangers (2006-present)

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 .280 batting average, 11 home runs, 10 stolen bases, and 48 RBIs in 378 at bats. He batted .300 with runners in scoring position, and .333 when the game was late and close.[2]

Kinsler is now the undisputed starter at second base. He will no longer need to worry about partially splitting time with Mark DeRosa, as the former Ranger has signed with the Chicago Cubs.

Defensively, Kinsler led all AL second basemen in both range (5.58) and errors (18).

[edit] 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[3]

[edit] Miscellaneous

  • Married Tess Brady, his high school sweetheart, on November 18, 2006, followed by a honeymoon in Hawaii.
  • Hobbies include golf.

[edit] Career Statistics

Ian Kinsler (Updated as of September 17, 2006)
Games AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BA
Career 107 378 56 106 26 1 11 48 10 .280


[edit] External links

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