Longtime second baseman Jason Kipnis, who played for Cleveland and the Chicago Cubs, officially announced his retirement on Monday (Feb. 20).
In a post to his social media accounts, Kipnis expressed his appreciation for being able to play the sport he loves and thanked all those who got him to this point.
“My mind and body just aren’t up for the commitment anymore,” Kipnis wrote. “Frustrating at first, but there’s only one feeling I’m left with that stands out above all … Gratitude.”
Thank you baseball. @MLB pic.twitter.com/GpR5XuibvC
— Jason Kipnis (@TheJK_Kid) February 20, 2023
An All-Star in 2013 and 2015, Kipnis spent nine of his 10 seasons in the MLB with Cleveland, where he now sits among the top second basemen in the franchise. His 123 home runs ranks first among his position, while his 252 doubles and 135 stolen bases both rank second. A second round pick out of Arizona State in 2009, Kipnis broke Cleveland’s team record for most hits in a month with 51 in May of 2015.
Throughout his career, Kipnis was known for his consistent play. From 2012 to 2016 he batted .272 over 727 games averaging 14 home runs, 67 RBIs, 82 runs and 22 stolen bases a season. He was also an integral part of Cleveland’s 2016 World Series run, slashing .364/.417/.636 in the ALDS and hitting two home runs in the team’s eventual seven-game loss to the Cubs in the World Series.
A native of Northbrook, Ill., Kipnis got the opportunity to play with his hometown Cubs during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.
He finished his career as a part of the Atlanta Braves‘ organization, appearing in 59 games for the Triple-A Gwinnett Stripers in 2021. What do you think? Let us know by leaving a reaction below or by sending us a tweet at @celebsecrets.
