December 20, 2019

Kinsler Retires

Ian Kinsler announced his retirement today, but he will stay with the Padres:

Kinsler, whose 1,999 career hits rank 288th all-time and whose 879 runs in the 2010s were second in the majors to Mike Trout’s 903, will serve as an advisor working with major league and minor league players in spring training and throughout the season. It is a similar role to the one former catcher A.J. Ellis assumed upon his retirement before last season.

SanDiegoUnionTribune.com

Kinsler posted a very nice career. During his peak years, he posted a .270/.351/.461 slash line, not bad for a middle infielder. He cracked thirty home runs in a season twice in that time. He finishes with a Prince like 1999 hits. He would have easily cracked 2000 had he come to the majors earlier, but it looks like Texas held him back until his age 24 season, allowing the Rangers to capture all of Kinsler’s prime. His power faded after that, followed by his OBP. He was a poor hitter the last three years, but his teammates loved him. That’s a big reason the Padres are keeping him in the fold.

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