Career stats

Career highlights (through 2011)

• Drafted twice by the Arizona Diamondbacks but did not sign (2001, 2002)
• Selected by the Texas Rangers in the 17^th round of 2003 draft (496^th overall)
• Has four of the all-time top 20 stolen-base seasons among Jewish players
• Selected for two All-Star games (2008, 2010)
• Is 250th in career slugging percentage in baseball history (.469)
• One of only 12 players in baseball history to join the 30/30 club — have a season with at least 30 HRs and 30 stolen bases — twice (2009, 2011)
• Best range factor/game among active second basemen

MLB career bests, by statistic

• AVG: .319 (2008)
• 2B: 41 (2008)
• 3B: 4 (2008, 2009, 2011)
• HR: 32 (2011)
• RBI: 86 (2009)
• R: 121 (2011)
• BB: 89 (2011)
• SB: 31 (2009)
• OBP: .382 (2010)
• SLG: .517 (2008)
• At bats per home run: 18.3 (2009)

2011 highlights

• Rejoined the exclusive “30/30 club,” with 32 HRs and 30 stolen bases
• His 30 stolen bases was the 4th highest all-time among Jewish baseball players
• Finished 11th in voting for the A.L. MVP award
• Ranked second among World Series players in batting average (.360) and on-base percentage (.500)
• 2nd in runs scored, A.L. (121)
• 3rd in power-speed number (3rd)
• 5th in home runs, A.L. (32)
• 5th in walks, A.L. (89)
• 8th best in at-bats per strikeout, A.L. (8.7)
• 9th in stolen bases, A.L. (30)

2010 highlights

• Played in career-low 103 games due to mid-season injury
  Went 0/1 with a walk and flyout in All-Star game
• 10th in runs scored, A.L. (101)

2009 highlights

• 7^th in steals, AL (31)
• Tied for 10^th in bunt hits, AL (5)
• Tied for 12^th in extra-base hits, AL (67)
• Had 5 two-home run games
• Went 6-for-6 and hit for the cycle (single, double, triple and homer) on April 15
• Went 1-for-5 in All-Star Game
• Had career highs in home runs, RBIs and stolen bases
• Became second player in Texas Rangers history with 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases in same season

On being Jewish

• “Add Ian Kinsler to the names of Jewish major leaguers. A reader gave me a lead on the Texas rookie second baseman. My friend Shel Wallman, editor of Jewish Sports Review newsletter, ran with the lead and contacted Ian’s Jewish uncle. He told Shel that Ian, his brother’s son, had no problem being listed as a Jewish athlete in the Review even though Ian’s mother isn’t Jewish and Ian wasn’t raised in a faith..” (JWeekly.com, San Francisco; May 19, 2006)
• Kinsler’s Jewish heritage is “‘something I’m very, very proud of.’ The son of a Catholic mother and Bronx-born Jewish father, young Ian was brought up in Tucson, Ariz., relatively non-religious, but celebrated all of the Jewish and Christian holidays. ‘We’d have Chrismas, and I’d be excited. Then we’d have Chanukah and I’d be excited, too…Then every year for Passover we’d have a seder, which I always looked forward to. I’m not a devoutly spiritual person, but I’m very into the cultural identity that comes with being Jewish. If there are Jewish kids out there who look up to me or see me as a role model of what’s possible, I embrace that proudly.’” (Sportsillustrated.cnn.com; June 12, 2009)

For more information

• Click here for Jewish Baseball News articles about Ian Kinsler