Jason Kipnis
| AB | 4404 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .26 |
| OBP | .333 |
| SLG | .416 |
| HR | 126 |
- Full name Jason Michael Kipnis
- Born 04/03/1987 in Northbrook, IL
- Profile Ht.: 5'11" / Wt.: 200 / Bats: L / Throws: R
- School Arizona State
- Debut 07/22/2011
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Drafted in the 2nd round (63rd overall) by the Cleveland Guardians in 2009 (signed for $575,000).
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Kipnis turned down fourth-round money from the Padres last year as a draft-eligible sophomore, and it's looking like a good decision, as he'll likely be a higher selection this time around. Kipnis redshirted at Kentucky as a freshman and was suspended from the team as a sophomore, but he has impressed the Sun Devils with his work ethic and was Pac-10 newcomer of the year in 2008. He has been even better this season, leading the team in batting, on-base percentage and slugging, as well as stolen bases. Kipnis doesn't have one standout tool, but can do a little bit of everything. He has a patient approach and a line-drive swing. He has shown he can hit quality pitching, though he doesn't profile for big power with a wood bat, making him a potential tweener. While his defense in center field has improved, he doesn't have the range to stay there long-term--yet he might not hit enough to man a corner spot. He may also get a chance to try second base.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Kipnis was named Pacific-10 Conference player of the year and signed for $575,000 as a second-round pick in 2009. He had a strong pro debut as an outfielder, then moved to second base in instructional league. He made the transition surprisingly smoothly, tearing through two levels and joining Columbus for the playoffs. Kipnis is an advanced, aggressive hitter who takes advantage of mistakes with a simple, balanced stroke. His swing can get big, but he usually stays inside the ball, employs the whole field and hangs in well against lefties. Despite his size, he generates average power with strong hands and forearms. He's an average runner with good baserunning instincts. Though he's still learning how to play second, Kipnis doesn't look like a converted outfielder. He's athletic, has good range and reads ground balls well. He has a fringy arm and lacks classic infield actions, but his feet are quick and his hands are solid. His lack of experience still shows with his double-play pivots and positioning on relays. The Indians have youngsters Luis Valbuena and Jason Donald at second base in the majors, but neither has Kipnis' offensive potential. He'll likely return to Triple-A to start 2011 but could end the season in Cleveland. -
After a redshirt year and an uneven freshman season at Kentucky--one that ended with him kicked off the team--Kipnis transferred to Arizona State. He turned down a fourth-round offer from the Padres as a draft-eligible sophomore in 2008, then went 63rd overall last June after winning Pacific-10 Conference player of the year honors. After signing him for $575,000, the Indians asked him to work at second base in instructional league. Cleveland drafted Kipnis for his bat and advanced hitting approach. He has good bat speed, a quick trigger and a loose, flat swing that stays in the zone a long time. There's occasional length to his stroke, but he centers the ball consistently, uses the whole field and handles lefties and righties. An average runner, Kipnis immediately showed surprising skill at second base with good hands, footwork, body control and the ability to make plays to both sides. Kipnis is a tweener as an outfielder. His average speed and fringe-average arm fit better in left field than center, and while he has surprising pop for his size, he'll likely max out at average power. Though he looked good at second base in instructional league and dabbled there in college, he hasn't played the position extensively. Kipnis will report to Cleveland's complex in Goodyear, Ariz., in January to get a head start preparing for second base, where he'll get more work in spring training. He'll be 23 at the start of the 2010 season, so he'll skip a level and advance to high Class A.
Minor League Top Prospects
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Kipnis' hitting always has been his trademark, with his balanced swing and bat speed producing line drives from gap to gap. He homered in four consecutive games in his second week in the majors and slugged .507 with Cleveland, and most IL observers felt that power show was legitimate. He's a heady baserunner with average speed who could swipe 10-15 bases a year. "He was a tough out," Gwinnett manager Dave Brundage said. "I liked his approach. He was one guy who stood out facing our tough pitching." It's a tribute to his athleticism and hard-nosed approach that Kipnis has made significant strides at second base since moving from the outfield two years ago. He's still a below-average defender by big league standards and needs to improve his footwork, but he has nice range and enough arm. -
Some EL observers preferred Kipnis to Chisenhall because his bat is more explosive. In his first full pro season, Kipnis shifted from outfield to second base and didn't miss a beat offensively. Kipnis swings aggressively and attacks the ball. He has loose hands, bat control and good balance in his swing, producing power to all fields. He could wind up hitting 40 doubles and 20-25 homers annually, and he has a chance to match Chisenhall as a consistent .290-.300 hitter. He's a solid-average runner. The biggest question with Kipnis is his defense. His athleticism, quick feet and solid hands give him the tools to be at least a fringe-average defender. He'll have to continue to put in the work to improve his positioning, as well as his double-play pivot. -
Scouts love this guy. The terms often used to describe the lefthanded-hitting Kipnis are "hard-nosed" and "blue collar." He shows a natural feel for second base in only his first season at the position and even threw in some third base. He's an aggressive contact hitter with gap power and the ability to also drive the ball out of the park. He tied for the AFL lead in doubles with 11 and batted .295/.337/.628. Kipnis, 23, should be ready for a move to Triple-A (where he finished the 2010 season) next year. -
The Indians moved Kipnis from the outfield to second base in instructional league last fall. While his defensive remains a work in progress, he batted .307/.386/.492 between Kinston and Double-A and has more offensive promise than most players at his new position. Kipnis has a balanced approach and drives the ball to all fields. He's aggressive at the plate but not overly so, and he should hit at least .280 in the majors with average power, if not more. He's an average baserunner. Though Kipnis doesn't have classic middle-infield actions and his inexperience at second base shows, he has the tools to make it work. He has enough range, especially up the middle, and decent arm strength. -
After a redshirt year and a rocky freshman season at Kentucky, Kipnis transferred to Arizona State and slugged 30 homers over his next two seasons. He earning first-team All-America honors as a junior this spring, when he led a young Sun Devils team to the College World Series. He followed that up by carrying Mahoning Valley to the NY-P finals, standing out in all phases of the game, especially with his bat. "That swing is going to play," Haines said. "It's loose, it's in the zone a long time. I like that swing." The undersized Kipnis doesn't fit a typical profile, but he laces hard line drives to all fields and has average power potential in his lefthanded stroke. He has a patient, mature approach at the plate and is a savvy baserunner with slightly above-average speed. Kipnis played center field for Arizona State but slid to left for much of this summer in deference to Jordan Henry. Kipnis doesn't quite have the range for center in the big leagues and his arm is fringy. He'll have to hit a lot to stick as an everyday left fielder, but his solid overall package and excellent instincts help his cause.
Top 100 Rankings
Scouting Reports
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Scouts love this guy. The terms often used to describe the lefthanded-hitting Kipnis are "hard-nosed" and "blue collar." He shows a natural feel for second base in only his first season at the position and even threw in some third base. He's an aggressive contact hitter with gap power and the ability to also drive the ball out of the park. He tied for the AFL lead in doubles with 11 and batted .295/.337/.628. Kipnis, 23, should be ready for a move to Triple-A (where he finished the 2010 season) next year.
