ORLANDO, FL - The Angels today acquired INF Ian Kinsler from the Detroit Tigers in exchange for OF Troy Montgomery and RHP Wilkel Hernandez. Today's announcement was made by Angels General Manager Billy Eppler.
Kinsler, 35, completed his 12th big league season in 2017, fourth as a Tiger, batting .236 (130/551) with 25 doubles, three triples, 22 home runs, 52 RBI and 90 runs scored. The 90 runs ranked fourth in the A.L. by a second baseman while his 22 homers ranked sixth. Kinsler was one of just five second basemen in the Majors to log 20 home runs, 25 doubles and 90 runs scored, joining Jose Altuve, Brian Dozier, Daniel Murphy and Jonathan Schoop. 2017 also marked the fifth time during Kinsler's big league career he tallied a 20 HR/25 2B season, which ranks third all-time by an American League second baseman, trailing only Robinson Cano (8 seasons) and Joe Gordon (6).
Kinsler appeared in 139 games for Detroit last season with 135 coming as a second baseman. 2017 saw him appear in at least 135 games for the seventh straight year and eighth time in the last nine campaigns. In the 135 tilts at second, he posted a .983 fielding percentage and committed just 10 errors. He led American League second baseman with six defensive runs saved and a 6.1 UZR. Since making his big league debut in 2006, Kinsler leads all Major League second baseman with 108 defensive runs saved which rank seventh overall in the Majors (DRS leader since the start of 2006 is Andrelton Simmons with 163).
A native of Tucson, Ariz., Kinsler is a four time All-Star (2008, 2010, 2012 & 2014) and was the recipient of an American League Gold Glove in 2016. Originally drafted by Texas in the 17th round of the 2003 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Missouri, Kinsler has compiled a career batting average of .273 (1826/6678) with 378 doubles, 41 triples, 234 home runs and 839 RBI across his 12 Major League seasons with the Rangers (2006-13) and Tigers (2014-17). Since his debut in 2006, he ranks third among all Major League second basemen in hits, doubles, and home runs and fourth in RBI.
Montgomery, 22, appeared in 100 games across three different levels of the Angels organization last season, batting a combined .271 (101/373) with eight home runs and 38 RBI. An eighth round pick by the Angels in 2016, Montgomery owns a .279 (168/603) average over his two minor league seasons.
Hernandez, 18, posted a 4-1 record with a 2.64 ERA (44.1 IP-13 ER) in 2017 for the AZL Angels and Single-A Orem. Hernandez has played in 17 games since signing with the Angels in 2016, posting a 6-1 record with a combined 2.28 ERA (59.1 IP - 15 ER).