Ian Kinsler
FameRank: 5

"Ian Michael Kinsler" is an American professional baseball second baseman for the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball. He formerly played for the Texas Rangers (baseball)/Texas Rangers. He is listed at 6' 0" and 200 lbs.

Despite having been drafted in only the 17th round out of college, Kinsler has risen to become a four-time All Star, and a member of the Sporting News" 2009 list of the 50 greatest current players in baseball. He is known as a five-tool player, hitting for average and power, and excelling in baserunning, throwing, and fielding.

Kinsler has twice hit 30 home runs and stolen 30 bases in the same season (2009 and 2011), and is one of 12 ballplayers in major league history who have had multiple 30–30 club seasons. In 2011, he also joined the 30–30 club#20–20 season/20–20 club for the third time, one season shy of the major league record for a second baseman. He hit for the cycle in a game in 2009, while getting hits in all six of his at-bats.

Through 2013, Kinsler led the Texas Rangers, all-time, career-wise, in stolen bases and power-speed number. In November 2013, Kinsler was traded to the Detroit Tigers for Prince Fielder. Through 2014, on defense Kinsler had the best career range factor of any active second baseman in Major League Baseball.

More Ian Kinsler on Wikipedia.

It's going to be a weird and exciting year competing with these guys and trying to win a job here. It's either going to be something I did last year, or it'll be a brand new experience. Either way, it won't be something I've done before.

It was about learning my swing and learning how to correct my swing. I'd never had struggles like that in my pro career until last year. It definitely taught me some stuff.

This definitely happened faster than I thought.

My approach to each at-bat as the season nears is the more pitches I see, the more comfortable I feel and the more it helps the team. That's my goal this year, to help the team win, no matter if I hit .230 or .360.

I mean, it's the same game, it just takes a little more concentration. I think I'm just kind of riding a little momentum right now. Hopefully I can ride it the rest of the year.

I try to perform at the highest level every spring. It's a chance to prove yourself in front of the office and a chance to assert yourself in front of coaches with every club. This year is no different.

It's a little tough to deal with. But since I have to be on the disabled list, it's better to be hitting what I am rather than a buck-fifty. I have to think positive.