University of Missouri Athletics

Although he played only one baseball season at Mizzou, former Tiger Head Coach Tim Jamieson credits him with being a key figure in leading Mizzou back to the NCAA Tournament in 2003 after a six-year drought. That 2003 NCAA appearance started a string of seven-consecutive NCAA Tournament trips for Missouri. After transferring to Mizzou from Arizona State and junior college, the Tucson native batted .335 for Mizzou in 2003, and was third on the team with six home runs and 45 RBI. He also went 16-of-17 in stolen bases during the season and was named second-team all-Big 12 Conference shortstop for his efforts. Most people, though, know Kinsler for his outstanding professional baseball career as a second baseman. After being drafted by the Texas Rangers in 2003, Kinsler made the big-league squad in 2006, and was the Rangers’ “Rookie of the Year” for hitting .286 with 14 homers and 55 RBI. He played 14 seasons in the majors with the Rangers, Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox, San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Angels. He was a .269 career hitter with 257 home runs. He made four American League All-Star teams (2008, 2010, 2012, 2014), and hit a career-best .319 in 2008, which he followed with a career-high 31 homers and 86 RBI in 2009. He won two Gold Gloves for his defense and received MVP votes four times. He played in the 2020 Olympic Games for Israel.