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Ian Kinsler Set To Make Impact In Los Angeles
Los 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.
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