Grew up in suburban Chicago…His favorite team was the Chicago Bulls…Idolized Michael Jordan...His favorite baseball player was Ken Griffey, Jr...In 2014, was a charter member of the Taylor Hooton Foundation’s “Advisory Board” of active major-league players…The non-profit is widely acknowledged as the leader in the advocacy against the use of performance- and appearance-enhancing drugs by the youth of America...Throughout his career, has been very active in the community…Has hosted military personnel at games and has worked with youth baseball camps...Was Cleveland’s 2012 nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award...Played three seasons collegiately for the University of Kentucky and Arizona State University as an outfielder…Redshirted with UK in 2006, and played for them in 2007 before transferring to ASU...In 2008, was the Pac-10 Newcomer of the Year, First Team All-Pac-10 and a Third Team All-American by Baseball America… Following the season, was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the fourth round, but opted to return to college...In his final collegiate season, 2009, was the Pac-10 Player of the Year, hitting .384 with 21 doubles, 16 home runs and 71 RBI in 63 games…Earned First Team All-America honors by Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball...Graduated from Glenbrook North High School in Northbrook, Ill., where he played baseball and football...Earned First Team All-State honors on the diamond...Starred as a wide receiver on the football team…Set school records for catches, yards and touchdowns in a season, and received All-Conference honors.
2020
In his 10th major-league season, and his first outside the Indians organization, played in 44 games with the Chicago Cubs and hit .237/.341/.404 (27-for-114) with eight doubles, one triple, three home runs and 16 RBI...Defensively, played almost exclusively second base…Made 36 appearances at that position, including 31 starts…Also made his first career appearance at first base, drawing the start in the regular-season finale on 9/27 at Chicago-AL...Spent the entire season with the Cubs after signing a minor-league contract in February...Batted .272 (25-for-92) with a .799 OPS against right-handed pitching…Conversely, went 2-for-22 (.091) with a .515 OPS against left-handers...When facing a starting pitcher the first time through the order, went 10-for-32 (.313) with a .967 OPS...When leading off an inning, went 8-for-22 (.364) with a .417 on-base percentage...Half of his 12 extra-base hits on the season came in his first eight games…Had three doubles, one triple and two home runs from 7/25-8/12...Both of his homers in that stretch came in back-to-back games, on 7/31 vs. Pittsburgh and 8/4 vs. Kansas City… It marked the 11th time in his career he homered in consecutive games (career-best streak: 4 games, 7/31-8/3/11)…He homered just one other time all season...Made the Cubs’ Wild Card Series roster…Played in both games against Miami and went 0-for-3 with one walk and one strikeout...Started at second base in Game 1 and pinch hit in Game 2.
2019
Jason batted .245 (112-for-458) with 23 doubles, 17 homers and 65 RBI in 121 games with Cleveland ... Began the season on the injured list with a right calf strain ... activated, April 15, and made his season debut that night ... Drove in a career-high six runs, May 16 vs. Baltimore, including two homers ... also notched multi-homer games, June 19 at Texas and August 28 at Detroit ... Posted a .446 slugging mark vs. righties compared to a .342 mark vs. lefties.
2018
Spent full season on the active roster, and after a tough April/May, rebounded to productivity over the last four months of the campaign...Became the first player in club history to amass at least 1,000 hits, 100 home runs and 100 steals over his Indians career, eclipsing the hit and homer barriers over the last five weeks of the season in dramatic fashion...Enjoyed a career day on August 26 at Kansas City, going 4-for-5 with three runs, four RBI and connected for his second career inside-the-park-home run, the 100th of his career (first player in club history to enjoy his 100th homer via an insidethe-parker)...Marked his single game season-high in hits, runs and RBI...From August 26th-end of season, Jason batted .295 (28-for-95) with 7 doubles, 7 homers and 26 RBI (T2nd in A.L.) over his final 28 games....His 100 homers as a second baseman are tied with Joe Gordon for the most in franchise history...On the year he made 129 starts at 2B (131 overall games at second) and made one start at DH...Also made 14 starts on the year in center field, beginning on Sept. 11, after the August 31 acquisition of Josh Donaldson from Toronto...Did not appear at second base after Sept. 10...Got off to a sluggish start, batting .160 (16-for-100) in 25 April games with six 2B and seven RBI (.456 OPS)...Was batting .197 (49-for-249) through his first 64 games thru June15 with 14 2B, 4 HR & 25 RBI, but batted .260 (73-for-281) the rest of the way with 40 runs, 14 2B, 14 HR and 50 RBI over his final 83 games of the season (.816 OPS)...Connected for his first career pinch-hit home run on Sept. 1 vs. Tampa Bay off Chaz Roe...His 1,000th career base hit was one of the most dramatic of the season, a 9th-inning grand slam off Ian Hamilton and the Chicago White Sox on Sept. 19, erasing a 1-0 Sox lead...Was his second career walk-off HR and grand slam, becoming the second player in MLB history to record his 1,000th career hit with a walk-off grand slam, joining LAD's Davey Lopes (9/2/79 vs. CHI; STATS LLC)...37th player in franchise history to collect 1,000 hits in an Indians uniform…His 18 home runs were his second-most in a single season (had 23 HR in 2016)...Also just the second player to hit a walk-off grand slam with his team trailing 1-0 since Hall-of-Famer Ron Santo for the Chicago Cubs on September 25, 1968 vs. LAD (courtesy ESPN Stats & Info)...OPS in the second half was .754 compared to .672 in the first half...On the year he hit .270 (58-for-215) with runners on base and recorded an OPS of .905 with runners in scoring position...Batted .292 (38-130) with RISP, collecting eight homers, eight doubles and 59 RBI in those scenarios.
2017
Endured a tough season at the plate around three stints on the disabled list, missing a combined 62 games on the season...Came to spring training camp and developed some right shoulder soreness that limited him to just two exhibition games (March 9-10) and forced him to open the season on the 10-day D.L...Was activated to begin his season on April 21 after a rehab between AA Akron and AAA Columbus, missing the first 15 games of the season. Season started slowly, hitting .155 (11/71) with a .359 OPS over his first 19 games thru May 13 before breaking out on May 14 at Minnesota, going 4-for-5 with 2 HR and 4 RBI that took his season OPS from .359 to .518...Also recorded a 4-hit game on May 28 vs. Kansas City (2B, HR, 2 RBI)...Right hamstring issues limited him to just 24 games in the second half, forcing him on the D.L. from July 9-August 5 and August 23-Sept. 16...Originally injured hamstring running the bases on July 8 vs. Detroit...In the 3 games before second 2017 D.L. stint he recorded 4 doubles, 4 runs and 3 BB. During his August stint between hamstring injuries batted .204 (10/49) with 6 runs, 3 doubles, 3 homers and 4 RBI in 13 games (.699 OPS)...After being activated the final time on Sept. 16, he batted .273 (9/33) with 5 runs, 3 2B, 1 HR and 5 RBI to finish out the campaign, making his first career Major League appearance in the outfield (started 11 games in center field over 11 Sept/Oct. games)...No errors over his 11 games in the outfield. On the year he also made 74 starts at second base and 2 starts at DH...Batted .239 (28/117) with runners on base for the year...Made 42 starts at the lead-off spot, compiling a .780 OPS...Most productive spot was the 2-hole, batting .270 (20/74) with 4 2B, 5 HR and 11 runs (.856 OPS)...Did not hit over .248 in any month prior to Sept/Oct...Over his last 9 games (9/20-end of season) he batted .321 (9/28) with 5 runs, 3 2B, 1HR & 5 RBI (.930 OPS)...Had 16 extra-base hits out of 26 total hits (61.5%) when leading off an inning...Grounded into 0 double plays in 56 opportunities all year.
2016
Enjoyed one of the best seasons of his career, collecting career-bests in home runs (23), extra base hits (68) and runs scored (91) while falling just shy of his career-best total in RBI (82)…Was tied for first with Jose Altuve among American League second basemen in doubles (41) and T6th in RBI…Finished third on the club in RBI, runs and hits.Enjoyed a strong second half, hitting .275 (74-269) with 23 2B, 9 HR and 33 RBI (.813 OPS) after posting a career second half average/OPS of .250/.689 during the first five seasons of his career from 2011-15…Was 3rd in the American League in second half doubles (23)...Made 151 starts at second base and 4 starts at the designated hitter spot… Started 153 games in the two-hole, and hit 23 home runs in that spot (2nd-most all-time in club history batting second)…Enjoyed the second five-hit game of his career in extra-innings loss at Houston on May 11…From July 7 thru the end of the season he batted .288 (82-285) with 48 runs, 25 doubles, 12 homers and 36 RBI over the last 75 games of the season…Enjoyed the third 2-home run game of his career on July 8 vs. the New York Yankees. ‹ Stole 15 bases in 18 attempts (83%) on the year…Batted .296 (75-253) with runners on base and .312 (29-93) with men on and 2 outs…Best month came in July, batting .344 (33-96) with 9 2B, 6 HR, 21 runs and 13 RBI in 24 games (T-2nd in the A.L. in July runs scored)…Hit .233 (24-103) in Sept./Oct. but reached base safely via hit or walk in 29 of his final 33 games after August 25... OB pct. of .411 (60/146,.911 OPS) against right-handed relievers ...Hit a combined .230 (14-61) in the Postseason with 3 2B, 4 HR, 8 RBI and 9 runs over all 15 games....His 4 HR were third-most in Indians Postseason history behind Thome (6 1998) and S. Alomar (5 in 1997)...Joined Lou Gehrig and Jimmie Foxx in game 4 of WS at Chicago as only players w/3-run WS HR in Wrigley Field.
2015
Bounced back with his second All-Star season in the last three years, finishing with career-highs in hits, doubles, triples, average, on-base pct. and runs scored (equaled) as he became one of the most productive lead-off hitters in the league...Led American League second basemen in average, on-base, slugging and OPS and also ranked among American League overall leaders in a variety of categories (see box on next page) and led all A.L. lead-off batters with a .385 on-base pct. (was 3rd with 81 runs scored in #1 spot)...After hitting .218 in April with a .551 OPS (7 R, 8 RBI) he exploded in May, batting .429 (51-119) with 15 2B, 3 3B, 4 HR & 17 RBI in 29 games to earn American League Player of the Month honors for the second time in his career...He led the A.L. in all of the slash line categories and also led the league in runs (30), doubles and hits...The 22 extra base hits were the most ever in a single month by an Indians 2B, a May club record and most in any month since Hafner (22, Aug. 2006) and his 51 May hits were the most for that month in club history (prev. Joe Jackson, 49, 1913)Was also just the 16th player (3rd-ever in May) in MLB history with a month of at least 50 hits, 30 runs and a 1.200 OPS...Was just the 11th Indians player since 1914 with at least 51 hits in a month and the first since Roberto Alomar (Sept. 2000)...The 15 doubles were most for an Indians batter, in any month, since Jeff Heath in Sept. 1942... Was the first MLB player to collect 50+ hits and score 30+ runs in a single month since Philadelphia's Jimmy Rollins in Sept./Oct. of 2005 (52H/32R) and the first in the A.L. since New York-AL's Derek Jeter in Sept/Oct. of 1998 (50H/30R)...His 19 hits over a 7-game span, May 9-16, equaled a club record...Had 8 games of at least 3 hits for the month and on the year had 18 such games, tied for 2nd in the league (had 16 mutli-hit games in May)...Jason did not let up in June, hitting .358 (34-95) with 9 2B, 1 HR, 8 RBI and 15 runs scored in 25 games to seal his second All-Star bid in the player balloting...Hit in a career-best 20 straight games from June 3-26, the third-longest hitting streak in the A.L. in 2015 and the longest by an Indians player in 2015... Entered the break hitting .323 (112-347) with 59 runs, 27 2B, 6 3B, 6 HR & 37 RBI in 87 games and was 3rd in the A.L. in WAR (4.8) and average, 2nd in hits and 1st in times on base (161)...The turning point of the season was moving to the lead-off spot on April 26 as he hit lead-off for virtually the remainder of the year...For the year in the #1 spot he batted .311 (153-492) with 27 2B, 6 3B, 6 HR, 37 RBI and 81 runs scored (42 BB, .385 OB/.861OPS)...From May 9 thru the end of the season he batted .312 (140-449) with 39 2B, 6 3B, 6 HR, 40 RBI and 72 runs in 113 games...He had a solid year defensively, compiling a UZR of 4.3 with a .987 fielding pct and 1 defensive run saved in his 124 starts at second base (7E, 521TC, 5th-best fielding pct in A.L. @ 2B)...Had a 52-game errorless streak dating back to 2014 snapped on April 27...Also made 14 starts at DH...Was on the 15-day Disabled List (right shoulder inflammation) for the third time in his career from August 2-17, which contributed to his overall final second half split totals, batting .271 (59-218) with 16 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 15 RBI and 27 runs scored in 54 games (.322/.394/.717)...Upon activation from the D.L. he hit .244 (39-160) w/12 2B, 3 HR, 13 RBI and 20 runs in 40 games...Prior to D.L. stint had played all but 15.1 IP all season and after Sept. 16 he hit .339 (19-56) with 5 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR & 7 runs over his final 14 games of the year...On the year he hit safely in 101 of 138 starts and batted .300 (54-180) with runners on base...Had four lead-off home runs (6 career)...Had a .908 OPS off RHP and a .679 OPS off LHP...Was 3rd in the A.L. in home batting average (.347, 95-274) and at one point hit safely in 29 straight games from May 1-July 6, the 2nd-longest home hitting streak in club history and longest in Progressive Field history (Hal Trosky, 31-games, 1936).
2014
Did not approach 2013 A.L. All-Star levels in 2014 as he was limited the four months of the season after a late-April strained right oblique that forced him to the 15-day Disabled List for the second time in his career from April 30-May 27, an injury suffered on April 29 at the LA Angels... At the time of his injury was hitting .234 (22-94) w/12 runs, 6 double, 3 home runs and 12 RBI in 27 games (.354OB/.394SLG /.748OPS, T 6th in the A.L. in walks w/17) .... Upon his return from the D.L. he hit .241 (98-406) with 19 2B, 3 HR and 29 RBI in 102 games (.299/.315/.615) ... Finished 11th among American League second basemen in RBI and 7th in OPS among 8 A.L. 2B batting Qualifiers. Enjoyed his second career multi-home run game on July 18 at Detroit (2-5, 2HR, 4RBI)… Batted in 35 games in the lead -off spot in July when Michael Bourn was on the D.L., hitting .230 (34-148) with 22 runs scored...Hit in a season high 10 straight games, June 2-12: 14-42 (.333), 2B, 7R, 9RBI ... His 22 steals were 2nd-most on the team and were 12th-most in the American League ... Finished T -4th on the team with 61 runs scored...Hit his last home run on July 31 and did not homer over his season's final 48 games (186 at bats). Made 121 starts at second base (123 games) and posted a fielding pct. of .989 (6E, 534TC), good for 2nd among American League second basemen...Ended season with a 35-game errorless streak ... Did not hit over .261 in any single month of the season (highest monthly OPS was .666 in July)...Removed from Sept.18 game at Houston with a strained right hamstring and did not appear at second base the rest of the season (3GS at DH, shut down last two days of the season) ... Underwent surgery to his left ring finger on December 16 in Cleveland to repair a damaged extensor tendon (Dr. Thomas Graham) after off-season weight room workout (exptected to be ready for start of 2015 regular season).
2013
The 2013 American League All-Star established himself as one of the top second basemen in the AL, spending his second full season in the Major Leagues...Finished the year hitting .284 (160-564, 2nd on team) while leading the team in runs (86), hits (160), RBI (84) and steals (30)... Finished among American League leaders in walks (T7th, 76), steals (T9th, 30), RBI (T16th, 84) and on-base pct (14th, .366)...Among Major League second basemen he finished 3rd in OPS (.818), 2nd in steals and T3rd in RBI...His 84RBI were the most by an Indians second baseman since Roberto Alomar (100) in 2001 as he became the first Indians second baseman to enjoy the outright team RBI lead since Joe Gordon in 1948...After a solid May in which he finished tied for 7th in MLB in RBI (22) and tied for 6th in runs (21), Jason won the American League Player of the Month award for June after hitting .419 (39-for-93) with 12 2B, 4HR, 25RBI, 17 runs and 30BB in 27 games, the first such honor for an Indians player since Choo in Sept 2008...Led AL in June batting average, on-base pct. (.517) and was T1st in hits and 2nd in RBI, doubles, slugging% and extra-base hits...His All-Star push was also buoyed by a 36-game streak of reaching base (via hit/walk) from May 26-July 5, the longest by an Indians batter since Victor Martinez did so in 45 straight over the 2005-06 seasons...Also in that span he hit in a club season-high and career-high 16 straight games from June 18-July 5, over which he hit .446 (25-56) with 4HR & 20RBI...From June 5 thru the end of the season he hit .307 (114-371) with 25 doubles, 9 home runs & 58 RBI/57 runs in 100 games....Hit just .200 (14-70) in April with 3 2B, 1HR & 4RBI in 17 April games as season average was as low as .220 on May 14...Fell off somewhat in the second half, hitting .256 (60-234) with 30 runs, 13 doubles, 2 homers and 22 RBI from July 22 thru the end of the season (.683OPS, 62 games)...Indians were 48-17 (.738) when he scored a run... Doubled in a run off Craig Kimbrel in his first All-Star appearance and caught the game's final out to preserve a 3-0 American League win....Hit .427 (32-75) vs. Minnesota in 2013 with 6 2B, 4 3B, 4HR & 24RBI in 19 games (16RS), tied for 3rd most RBI vs. the Twins in a single-season since they moved to Minnesota in 1961...Had another solid season at second base, making 146 starts (147 games) while posting a fielding pct. of .982 (12E, 649TC), the 8th-highest fielding % among AL second basemen...Had a higher batting average (.308 to .270) and OPS (.850 to .801) against left-handed pitching than RHP after hitting .215 with a .581OPS in 2012...Hit .300 (79-237) with runners on base and .304 (17-56) with RISP-2outs...Hit safely in the last 7 games of the season after Sept 21, hitting .464 (13-38) with 3 2B, 1 3B, 4RBI and 7 runs to end the season and raise his avg ten points...Was T2nd in the AL with 10 sac flies, T7th with 2755 pitches seen, 7th in first-pitch swing % (12.7) and 10th in pitches per plate appearance (4.19).
2012
Spent his first full-season in the Major Leagues, finished tied for the team lead in RBI (76) and stolen bases (31)... Finished tied for 6th in the American League in steals (31 in 38 attempts/82%)...Also finished tied for 17th in the AL in runs (86), T14th in walks (67) and T18th in multi-hit games (47)...Season got off to a fine start and spent much of the first half leading the team and ranked in the top 20 in the AL in home runs, RBI, runs, hits and steals before falling off the last three and a half months of the season....Finished 2nd among AL second basemen in RBI (73), 5th in the Majors at the position. Was one of 3 players in the Majors in 2012 with 70+RBI, 80+RS, 10+HR and 25+SB (Kipnis, Mike Trout, Ryan Braun)... Those plateaus were only reached 8 times previously (by 5 players) in Indians history, the last coming in 2007 and 2008 (Sizemore)...Was just the 2nd player in Indians history w/ 10 HR & 20 SBs prior to All-Star break (Sizemore, '07-'08), according to STATS LLC. Thru games of June 10 was hitting .285 (68-239) with 6 2B, 3 3B, 10HR & 39RBI in 59 games (.805OPS)....In the second half he hit .233 (61-262) with 14 2B, 3HR & 27 RBI in 69 games (.651OPS) and did not homer from June 18-August 18 (206PAs)...Hit .274 (31-113) in 28 games in Sept/Oct to conclude the season on a strong note (6 2B, 1 3B, HR, 11RBI, 19RS) after entering September with a batting average of .253...Also drew 17 walks for the month to post a .369 onbase pct.and drove in 9 runs the last 13 games to tie Santana for the team lead in RBI. Made 145 starts at second and 3 starts at DH while making starts at 5 spots in the batting order. (hit 2nd or 3rd in 117 games)...Swiped a career-high 3 bases on 8/26 vNYY...Was successful on 18 straight SBs, 4/24-7/1... Hit .287 (72-251) with runners on base and led the team with a .303 average with RISP...Missed 4 games of August 9-12 vs BOS (stiff neck). Was very good defensively at second base, posting the 3rd-best fielding pct among American League second basemen (146 games, 6 errors, 687 total chances)...Had a 57-game errorless streak from May 29-August 7 and had just 3 errors the last 98 games of the season after May 28th.
2011
Had a very promising season in just his third professional campaign and 2009 draft pick spent the second half of the season in the Major Leagues around a three and a half week trip to the disabled list in August/September..Began the season in AAA Columbus out of spring training and hit .279 (95-341) with 64 runs, 15 doubles, 9 triples, 12HR, 55RBI and 12 stolen bases in 91 games (.361OBP/.481SLG/.842OPS) with AAA Columbus before he was promoted to Cleveland on July 21...Was 12 for 13 in SB attempts at AAA...At the time of his July 21 promotion he was leading the International League in triples (9), was 2nd in runs (64), T12th in RBI (55) and T17th in stolen bases (12) and he hit .316 (52-95) with runners in scoring position...Combined in May/June he hit .319 (69-216) w/12 2B, 6 3B, 9HR & 39RBI in 57 games...He started at second base in the Triple A All-Star game and homered in the XM Futures Game... Prior to the 2011 season, he was named the best prospect in the Indians organization by Baseball Prospectus and was also selected to the International League post-season all-star team, the Baseball America Triple A All-Star Team and was named Indians Minor League Player of the Year for 2nd straight year...Contract purchased from AAA Columbus on July 21 and made his MLB debut the next night vs. the Chicago White Sox (0-2, HBP)... Collected his first Major League hit on July 25 vs. the LA Angels, a walk-off 9th inning game-winner off Hisanori Takahashi...Only Indian since the RBI became an official statistic to produce his first MLB hit in walk-off fashion (Elias) and just the 5th MLB player since 2002 to do it...Hit his first Major League home run on July 31 off Kansas City's Danny Duffy...Homered in an Indians season-high 4 straight games from July 31-August 3, equaling the club record for HR in consecutive games by a Rookie (Al Rosen, June 1950)...Was the first player in major-league history to homer in four consecutive games within two weeks of his debut and first Indians batter with HR in 4 straight since Travis Hafner in August 2006...First Indians 2B to HR in 4 straight games in 111-year history of franchise...Last rookie with HR in 4 straight games, PIT OF Garrett Jones 2009...Last MLB batter to HR in 4 straight w/in first 10 games of his MLB career was Graig Nettles in 1968 with Minnesota (ELIAS)...Went 5 for 5 w/4RS, HR, 2B & 3RBI on August 10 vs. Detroit, becoming the first Indians rookie and 14th overall since 1920 to collect 5hits, 4RS & 3RBI in the same game...2nd Indian ever w/6HR in first 16 career games (Luis Medina, 1988)...Did not play from August 13-17 with a strained right oblique and was in the lineup of August 18 at Chicago-AL before injuring his right hamstring in pre-game stretching and was placed on the 15-day DL the next day...Was on the 15-day DL from August 13-September 5...Upon activation hit .265 (18-68) with 5 2B, 1HR & 8RBI in 18 games the last month of the season...Made 34 starts (36G) at second base and compiled a fielding % of .963 (164TC, 6E)...Hit .294 (33-116) with 8 2B, 7HR & 18RBI in 28 starts when batting 2nd in the order (.901OPS).
2010
In his 2nd professional season hit a combined .307 (159-518) with 96 runs scored, 32 doubles, 8 triples, 16HR and 74RBI in 133 games between Kinston and Akron and was named the Tribe's Minor League Player of the Year (Lou Boudreau Award) and was named a Baseball America Minor League All-Star, all while making the transition from outfield to second base...Following the completion of the Aeros season, Kipnis joined the AAA Columbus Clippers for their playoffs and batted .455 (10-22) with 9 runs scored, 3 doubles, 2 triples, 2HR and 3RBI in 5 games as the Clippers were International League and Triple-A Champions...Hit for the cycle in the International League championship game vs. Durham on Sept. 17 and was a single short of the cycle (3-4, 3RS) in the Triple-A Championship Game vs. Tacoma on Sept. 21... Was named to the Arizona Fall League Rising Stars game as well after the season and hit .295 (23-78) with 11 2B, 3HR & 19RBI in 19 games for Peoria (Was T5th in the AFL in RBI and 9th with a .966 OPS)...Jason began his season at Kinston where he batted .300 (61-203) with 33 runs scored, 12 doubles, 3 triples, 6HR and 31RBI in 54 games before being promoted to AA Akron in early June...While at Akron he hit .311 (98-315) with 63 runs scored, 20 doubles, 5 triples, 10HR and 32RBI in 79 games...Kipnis led the entire Indians minor league system in hits (159) and runs scored (96) and ranked T3rd in triples (8), 4th in doubles (32), T5th in HR (16) and T5th in RBI (74)...Following the season he was named the 9th best prospect in the Eastern League by Baseball America (3rd best prospect in the Indians system entering 2011)...Kipnis committed just 13 errors in 366 chances (.964 fielding%) playing in 75 games at second base for the Aeros...Began the year at A Kinston where he hit .380 (27-71) in 19 April games with 4 2B, 3HR & 9RBI and had 5 games where he had 3 or more hits...Drove in 19 runs in 27 May games and was promoted to AA Akron on June 10 and spent the rest of the regular season with the Aeros...Reached base via hit or walk in his first 18 games with the Aeros and had a stretch from July 15-20 where he had 6 straight multi-hit games and had 2HR & 4RBI on July 20 vs. Altoona...Hit .324 off LHP while at Akron (36-111, .863OPS)... Combined on the year he hit .448 (107-239) off RHP, .327 (85-260) with runners on base and .331 (43-130) with RISP.
2009
Was named 10th best prospect in the Indians system by Baseball America entering 2010 and 9th best prospect in the New York-Penn League at the end of 2009.
