Those of you who aren't Ranger fans wont know about him unless you're a minor league guru, but the rangers just promoted a guy to double A last week who's been on fire.
I've been waiting to comment on Ian Kinsler until I was for sure about his current streak not just being a fluke.
But the guy has been absolutely f-ing raking this year.
excerpts from www.newbergreport.com
</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
Kinsler was drafted in the 29th round by the Diamondbacks on June 5, 2000, coming off a first-team all-state season in
which he hit .504 with five home runs and 26 stolen bases, leading Canyon
del Oro to its second Class 5A state title in four years.
He didn't sign.
He resisted overtures from Missouri, Nebraska, and Long Beach State, among
others, opting instead to play for Central Arizona Community College. Later
Kinsler would tell the Columbia Missourian: "I knew I wasn't ready to go
pro, but I wasn't sure whether I should choose a big school or a small
school. Finally, I decided getting reps at a Juco would be better than
sitting the bench at a big school."
Doubt I'd have been that self-assured at age 17. Strike that: I know I
wasn't.
At Central Arizona in 2001, where his teammates included big leaguers Rich
Harden and Scott Hairston, Kinsler hit .405 with 17 doubles, three home
runs, and 37 RBI, stealing 24 bases, helping the Vaqueros win the Arizona
Community College Athletic Conference title. He was named second-team
all-conference. And the Diamondbacks drafted him again, this time in the
26th round.
He didn't sign.
Kinsler: "I was pretty tempted to sign; I wanted to sign. I was kind of
torn. I wanted a college education. I wanted to play big-time college
baseball. I knew the opportunity was going to be there for me later, so I
pretty much decided it would be best for me to go to college."
So he transfered to Arizona State for the 2002 season. And he hit
.230/.246/.262 in 29 games (appearing in just half the Sun Devils'
contests), getting only 17 starts and 61 at-bats. He didn't homer, and he
doubled twice.
Kinsler didn't give up on himself. He transfered again. It was on to
Missouri: "A lot of my mental strength, baseball-wise, came from Arizona
State. That prepared me for the upcoming year at Missouri. I felt good
about the situation, that I was going to play every day. That's what I
wanted going into my junior year. I wanted to get drafted and go to the
next level."
He'd just hit .230 with an aluminum bat, with no power. And he still
planned on getting drafted.
Kinsler opened eyes at Missouri right away, hitting .619 in 21 at-bats in
the 2002 Fall World Series (the college equivalent of instructional league).
He then hit .335/.416/.536 for the Tigers in the spring of 2003, with 13
doubles, six homers, and 45 RBI in 194 at-bats, stealing 16 bases in 17
tries. And before the Diamondbacks could take another flier on him, Grady
Fuson stepped in, taking the recommendation of scout Mike Grouse and using
the Rangers' 17th-round pick on the 20-year-old.
He was ready.
Kinsler signed with the Rangers on June 24. He debuted for Spokane on July
3, going 3 for 4 with two steals. The rest of the month wasn't so kind. He
hit just .239 in July. And then .294 in August. And .333 in September.
And then he hit .448/.568/.655 at instructs, in 29 at-bats.
Kinsler then showed up in Surprise in March with 10 pounds of added muscle
and, according to Fuson, "a gleam in his eye."
Mike Hindman and I spent a few days at camp and the kid caught our
attention. Said Mike in his March 29 report: "Ian Kinsler is a Michael
Young starter kit. Keep your eye on him." From my March 31 report: "Ian
Kinsler: Revelation."
So then the 2004 season gets underway, and he's the starting shortstop in
Clinton(Low A). But you understand now that Kinsler probably didn't expect to be a
LumberKing for too long -- he's proven that getting comfortable in one place
isn't part of his plan.
He hit .361 in April. And then .407 in May. And .462 in June. And last
week, the Rangers moved him up -- not to Stockton, but to Frisco(AA). Big jump.
He's now hitting .412/.474/.882 as a RoughRider. He has hits in all four
games since his promotion, going 7 for 17 with two home runs and two doubles
and having at least one more homer and one more double stolen by Seattle
outfield prospect Shin-Soo Choo.
Nobody in baseball -- major leagues or minors -- has as many as Kinsler's 97
hits or 32 doubles. And at age 21 (he'll be 22 next week), he hasn't been
in pro ball for a full 12 months yet.
<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">
since that was reported, he's played in three games, including the night before last when he homered off Andy Pettite, and then last night when he got two more home runs and five more rbi.
I think he's hitting .417 now since being promoted TWO STEPS UP.
It's amazing to think that he's got more hits and doubles than anyone in pro ball and he's continuing to hit like a fiend in double A, after starting the year in low A. Amazing.
I'm not sure what his average is through the whole year but it's over .400.
I've been waiting to comment on Ian Kinsler until I was for sure about his current streak not just being a fluke.
But the guy has been absolutely f-ing raking this year.
excerpts from www.newbergreport.com
</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
Kinsler was drafted in the 29th round by the Diamondbacks on June 5, 2000, coming off a first-team all-state season in
which he hit .504 with five home runs and 26 stolen bases, leading Canyon
del Oro to its second Class 5A state title in four years.
He didn't sign.
He resisted overtures from Missouri, Nebraska, and Long Beach State, among
others, opting instead to play for Central Arizona Community College. Later
Kinsler would tell the Columbia Missourian: "I knew I wasn't ready to go
pro, but I wasn't sure whether I should choose a big school or a small
school. Finally, I decided getting reps at a Juco would be better than
sitting the bench at a big school."
Doubt I'd have been that self-assured at age 17. Strike that: I know I
wasn't.
At Central Arizona in 2001, where his teammates included big leaguers Rich
Harden and Scott Hairston, Kinsler hit .405 with 17 doubles, three home
runs, and 37 RBI, stealing 24 bases, helping the Vaqueros win the Arizona
Community College Athletic Conference title. He was named second-team
all-conference. And the Diamondbacks drafted him again, this time in the
26th round.
He didn't sign.
Kinsler: "I was pretty tempted to sign; I wanted to sign. I was kind of
torn. I wanted a college education. I wanted to play big-time college
baseball. I knew the opportunity was going to be there for me later, so I
pretty much decided it would be best for me to go to college."
So he transfered to Arizona State for the 2002 season. And he hit
.230/.246/.262 in 29 games (appearing in just half the Sun Devils'
contests), getting only 17 starts and 61 at-bats. He didn't homer, and he
doubled twice.
Kinsler didn't give up on himself. He transfered again. It was on to
Missouri: "A lot of my mental strength, baseball-wise, came from Arizona
State. That prepared me for the upcoming year at Missouri. I felt good
about the situation, that I was going to play every day. That's what I
wanted going into my junior year. I wanted to get drafted and go to the
next level."
He'd just hit .230 with an aluminum bat, with no power. And he still
planned on getting drafted.
Kinsler opened eyes at Missouri right away, hitting .619 in 21 at-bats in
the 2002 Fall World Series (the college equivalent of instructional league).
He then hit .335/.416/.536 for the Tigers in the spring of 2003, with 13
doubles, six homers, and 45 RBI in 194 at-bats, stealing 16 bases in 17
tries. And before the Diamondbacks could take another flier on him, Grady
Fuson stepped in, taking the recommendation of scout Mike Grouse and using
the Rangers' 17th-round pick on the 20-year-old.
He was ready.
Kinsler signed with the Rangers on June 24. He debuted for Spokane on July
3, going 3 for 4 with two steals. The rest of the month wasn't so kind. He
hit just .239 in July. And then .294 in August. And .333 in September.
And then he hit .448/.568/.655 at instructs, in 29 at-bats.
Kinsler then showed up in Surprise in March with 10 pounds of added muscle
and, according to Fuson, "a gleam in his eye."
Mike Hindman and I spent a few days at camp and the kid caught our
attention. Said Mike in his March 29 report: "Ian Kinsler is a Michael
Young starter kit. Keep your eye on him." From my March 31 report: "Ian
Kinsler: Revelation."
So then the 2004 season gets underway, and he's the starting shortstop in
Clinton(Low A). But you understand now that Kinsler probably didn't expect to be a
LumberKing for too long -- he's proven that getting comfortable in one place
isn't part of his plan.
He hit .361 in April. And then .407 in May. And .462 in June. And last
week, the Rangers moved him up -- not to Stockton, but to Frisco(AA). Big jump.
He's now hitting .412/.474/.882 as a RoughRider. He has hits in all four
games since his promotion, going 7 for 17 with two home runs and two doubles
and having at least one more homer and one more double stolen by Seattle
outfield prospect Shin-Soo Choo.
Nobody in baseball -- major leagues or minors -- has as many as Kinsler's 97
hits or 32 doubles. And at age 21 (he'll be 22 next week), he hasn't been
in pro ball for a full 12 months yet.
<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">
since that was reported, he's played in three games, including the night before last when he homered off Andy Pettite, and then last night when he got two more home runs and five more rbi.
I think he's hitting .417 now since being promoted TWO STEPS UP.
It's amazing to think that he's got more hits and doubles than anyone in pro ball and he's continuing to hit like a fiend in double A, after starting the year in low A. Amazing.
I'm not sure what his average is through the whole year but it's over .400.
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