RADIO
Ian Kinsler Set To Make Impact In Los Angeles
7 years agoLos Angeles Angels second baseman Ian Kinsler was acquired by the Angels from the Tigers this offseason and looks to bounce back after a rough 2017 season with Detroit. Kinsler slumped to a career-worst .725 OPS last season (mainly because of a career-low .235 batting average), but still had 22 home runs, 14 stolen bases, and 90 runs scored. He may not be the 30/30 threat that he once was, but it is rare that a second baseman can contribute 20 home runs (nine in 2017) and Kinsler is a year removed from a season where he had an .831 OPS. While Kinsler struggled in 2017, he was a bit unlucky, as a career-best 37% hard hit ball rate matched a career-low .244 BABIP. His soft hit ball rate was high at 18.7% (his career average is 18%), but it is odd that a player matches his best hard hit ball rate with his worst BABIP. What is even more surprising is that his fly ball percentage rose to 46.5% (second best of his career), but his HR/FB rate dropped from 12.5% in 2016 to 10.2% last season. It is odd for a player to hit the ball that hard, that consistently, and see their numbers drop that much. He is coming into his 36-year-old season, so he has lost a bit of shine, but Kinsler is likely to improve in Los Angeles and will be a late round steal at 2B.
