The Rangers announced Monday that they’ve hired four-time All-Star Ian Kinsler as a special assistant to general manager Chris Young. Kinsler is slated to serve as the manager for Team Israel in the upcoming World Baseball Classic but will begin his duties in this new role with the Rangers following the WBC.
Kinsler, 40, was a 17th-round pick by the Rangers back in 2003 and, despite that humble draft status, reached the Majors early in the 2006 campaign. He never looked back. Kinsler finished seventh in AL Rookie of the Year voting after turning in a .286/.347/.454 batting line with 14 home runs, 27 doubles, a triple and 11 steals in 120 games, and by 2008 he’d made the first of those four All-Star appearances.
Kinsler spent eight seasons in a Rangers uniform, hitting .273/.349/.454 with 156 home runs and 172 steals in 4791 trips to the plate. Traded to Detroit prior to the 2014 season, he went on to play another six years with the Tigers, Rangers, Red Sox and Padres. The Rangers inducted him into their team Hall of Fame this past summer — the 26th player to receive that honor.
In his new position, Kinsler will join a handful of former big leaguers — including some former teammates — in providing some insight to the baseball operations staff. He joins Michael Young, Darren Oliver, Colby Lewis, Nick Hundley and Hall of Famer Ivan Rodriguez as a special assistant to Young. The Rangers didn’t provide concrete details on Kinsler’s duties in his new role, noting only that he’ll assist Young “in many facets of baseball operations.”
You missed one of the teams he played for was the Angels.
One hit short of 2000 for his career. Bummer.
“Mr. 2000”.
Didn’t he say that he wanted Texas to go 0-162 after they traded him?
He said it because they were both competitive AL teams, not out of spite
Kinz was angry at Daniels for moving him, and he was right: Kinsler had a bounce back season and was named to another All Star game. Rangers got Prince Fielder..:nuff said.
My favorite player at the time until Joey Gallo – This is amazing news! Maybe, he can teach hitters what the strike zone is. He had 89 walks and 71 strikeouts in 2011, a season that amazes me for many reasons.
Welcome home Kinsler!
He’s also a part owner of the Warstic baseball bat company! They do more than bats, but they’ve jumped in head-first and have made quite the impact. Sounds like Mr. Kinsler is quite the busy man.
One of my favorites. Just a really good all around player
Terrible base runner. Worst ever.
Mr. Pop Up
Hope he goes 0-162 in his job responsibilities.
A couple more real solid years and he’d have some legit HOF consideration. Perhaps if he does some other things in the game it could help but he isn’t a HOFer likely. Very good though
Within 1 WAR of Jeff Kent, who at least some consider a HOFer.
Pretty sure his job responsibilities won’t include his giving input on players from Puerto Rico or the Dominican Republic
Thanks
One of my favorite players and possibly the worst trade Texas ever made.
Looks like Bartolo Kinsler in that BR pic.
Will he flip off the fans like he did in San Diego? Kinsler was having a tough time, but doing crap that’s on video is never a good idea.
Must say, I always liked Nick Hundley, especially when he called out Yasmani Grandal for something stupid like PED use.
It’s a mini Padre reunion under the tutelage of Chris Young, a very intelligent dude.
Texas Friars
The second to last paragraph should say Angels instead of Rangers again.
One of my faves of all time.
Two 30/30 seasons are amazing
I am not a fan. Hopefully, they won’t allow him anywhere near the players.
My opinion is that Kinsler ruined Elvis as a player. It took Beltre years to straighten Elvis out after Kinsler left town. By that time, it was too late, and the ship had sailed on Elvis’s mediocre career.
I can’t tell if this is a joke or not. How would Kins have “ruined Elvis as a player”?
He played next to him for a number of years and the bad attitude rubbed off.
LOLOL he also played with Michael Young almost just as long, what’s your point?
Elvis was with the Rangers from ’09 – ’20
Michael Young was ’00 – ’12
Ian Kinsler ’06-’13
Adrian Beltre ’12-’18
Michael was the leader of the team, not Kinsler. When MY left, Adrian became the leader of the team. Both of those guys played “next to Elvis.”
Heard he likes the smoke
He’s still going to find a way to get picked off a first somehow.
Worst base runner of all-time.