Ian Kinsler, #5 Second Baseman

Age: 26
Born: 6/22/82
Birthplace: Tucson, AZ
Height: 6'0" Weight: 200
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
High School: Canyon del Oro (Tuscon, AZ)
College: Missouri (2003), Arizona State (2002), Central Arizona 2000-2001
Acquired by Texas: 17th Round of 2003 June Draft

Leadoff man Ian Kinsler knows how to start things off. He entered this season, his third at the Major League level with the only professional team he has known since being drafted by the Rangers in 2003, with a brand new contract that keeps him in Arlington through the 2012 season. The five-year deal is worth $21.5 million and would jump to $32 million if the Rangers exercise an option for 2013. Including the option, the deal is the largest financial commitment made by the Rangers to a player that they drafted and developed.

“Ian represents the past, present and future of this organization,” said Thad Levine, the Rangers assistant general manager who was instrumental in negotiating Kinsler’s new contract. “As we continue to build towards being a championship organization, we wanted to try to continue to identify core players and get them to commit here. It was important to us that he be the first of that next wave of young players to commit. We think he will have a huge impact.”

The commitment shown by the Rangers to their second baseman has been rewarded by Kinsler who, through the first three months of the 2008 season, has hit for a .300+ average and is on-pace to set a team record for doubles in a single season. In spring training, teammates and coaches talked about the possibility of Kinsler developing into a 30-30 player meaning that he has enough power at the plate to hit 30 home runs in a season and enough speed and savvy on the base paths to steal 30 bases in the same season. Only one Ranger in team history (Alfonso Soriano) has accomplished a 30-30 season.

Through the first 3 months of 2008, Kinsler is on pace to accomplish the feat. Through the 3rd week of June, he swatted 12 home runs and stolen 19 bases.   As leadoff batter, he is the catalyst to the Rangers offense.

“I want to hit leadoff, I want to be the tablesetter,” said Kinsler. “I’m normally an aggressive hitter, but you’ve got to be a little more patient when you hit leadoff.”

“I didn’t think of Ian as the prototypical leadoff guy last year, but he changed my mind” admitted Rangers manager Ron Washington. “ I think it’s an advantage if a guy knows pretty much every single day where he’s going to be.

Last season Kinsler shared leadoff duties over the second half of the season with Frank Catalanotto. In 2008, Kinsler is the undisputed #1 in the batting order.

In 2008, Kinsler is building on what he accomplished in 2007. Last year, Kinsler showed increased power by hitting 20 home runs, thus becoming only the third 2nd baseman in team history to record 20-or-more homers in a single season. In spite of missing 5 weeks due to injury (stress fracture, left foot), Kinsler totaled 61 RBIs and finished the season with a .263 average. He also stole 23 bases. Kinsler and the Reds’ Brandon Phillips were the only major league 2nd basemen to have 20-20 seasons last year (at least 20 home runs, at least 20 stolen bases).

Kinsler made a splash in first season in the big leagues, winning 2006 Rangers Rookie of the Year honors and becoming the first rookie in team history to record at least 100 hits (121), 10 home runs (14) and 10 stolen bases (11) in a season.   He played in 120 games at the major league level as a rookie, but began the season at Triple-A Oklahoma where he played 10 games before being called up to the Rangers.

Kinsler’s professional career began in June 2003 when the Rangers selected him in the 17th round of the June draft. He made his pro debut with Spokane in the Northwest League appearing in 51 games. In 2004, he split time between Clinton and Frisco. By 2005, he was at Triple-A in Oklahoma and spent the entire season with the RedHawks.

A native of Tucson, Arizona, Kinsler first enrolled at Central Arizona College in 2001 before transferring to Arizona State in 2002. In 2003, he attended the University of Missouri but only played one season for the Tigers before being drafted by the Rangers and beginning his professional career.

PERSONAL: Kinsler married his wife, Tess, in November 2006 in his hometown of Tucson. For the past two years they both served as Honorary Chairperson for the Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots program.   Kinsler is involved in numerous charitable activities in North Texas.

FUN FACTS:

*Kinsler has led the Rangers in steals in each of his two seasons with the team. His 96.3% steal percentage in 2007 (23-for-25) was second-best in the American League.

*Kinsler was drafted twice by the Arizona Diamondbacks (2000, 2001) but declined to sign with the team, opting instead to play college baseball.

*Alfonso Soriano is the only Ranger second baseman to hit more home runs in a single season than Ian Kinsler