Jason Kipnis

Jason Kipnis spent ten years in Major League Baseball as a second baseman, including the 2020 pandemic season with the Chicago Cubs,

Kipnis, a Glenbrook North High School alumnus, was drafted in the second round of the 2009 MLB Draft by the then-Cleveland Indians, one year after being drafted in the fourth round by the San Diego Padres. In rapid fashion, Kipnis quickly became one of the best prospects in baseball, earning consensus top-30 status after winning Minor League Player of the Year honors in Cleveland's organization in 2010. After representing Cleveland in the 2011 All-Star Futures Game, Kipnis finally got the call to the big leagues on July 22, 2011.

Though he went about his work quietly, Kipnis was literally one of the best second basemen in baseball in the five-year stretch from 2012-16. In that time, he slashed .272/.346/.419 with 69 home runs and 110 stolen bases, accruing 17.2 WAR. He was also incredibly durable, playing an average of 145.4 games per season. He was an All-Star in both 2013 and 2015, receiving down-ballot MVP support in both campaigns as well.

Of course, as it relates to the Cubs, Kipnis was the starting second baseman for the opposition in the 2016 World Series. He was a huge thorn in the Cubs' side, slashing .290/.313/.581 with two home runs while playing all seven games. He very well could have been named series MVP had Cleveland won the decisive Game 7, at least had it not been for that Rajai Davis home run.

The Arizona State alum's career took a downswing from there, as he dealt with injuries in 2017 and never returned to All-Star form in the following seasons. After nine seasons with the Guardians, Kipnis had his option declined and was made a free agent in the 2019-20 offseason.

"If you can't beat 'em, join 'em" proved to be the mantra of his free agency, as Kipnis joined the Cubs on a minor league deal prior to the 2020 season. Of course, the Covid-19 pandemic then shut everything down for months, but Kipnis did make the 40-man roster once the season got going in July. It was a rather nondescript tenure, as Kipnis hit .237/.341/.404 in 44 games. He was the team's primary second baseman that season, and fun fact, he hit third more often than anyone else in manager David Ross' lineup that year. That 2020 season was so, so weird.

I don't remember much of that season, but I do remember that Kipnis was weirldly on fire in the early going. In his first four starts with the team, he had four extra-base hits, including two home runs. He only hit one more the rest of the way.

Kipnis played the 2021 season in the Atlanta Braves organization. After being released, he spent the next year away from baseball. He officially retired from the game prior to the 2023 season. As a bit of fun trivia, he played in a Savannah Bananas game as an honorary Banana in 2024, getting a single in front of a sold-out Progressive Field in Cleveland.