The 2025 Baseball Hall of Fame ballot features an impressive lineup of second basemen.

Ian Kinsler joins the ballot alongside his former Arizona State University teammate Dustin Pedroia and Chase Utley. He is one of 14 players being considered for the Hall of Fame for the first time.

Currently, there are 348 members in the Hall of Fame, including 275 former players from Major League Baseball. Notably, only 20 of these members are second basemen, making it one of the least represented positions. The most recent second baseman inducted was Craig Biggio in 2015.

Kinsler was undoubtedly a true second baseman, having played 15,857 innings in the field, with almost all his time spent at that position.

His case for the Hall of Fame is compelling. Known for his competitive spirit, Kinsler excelled in various aspects of the game, including power hitting, speed on the bases, and defensive skills.

Kinsler was selected in the 17th round of the 2003 draft and enjoyed a 14-year career in the majors, primarily with the Texas Rangers (2006-2013) and the Detroit Tigers (2014-2017). He had brief tenures with the Los Angeles Angels, Boston Red Sox, and San Diego Padres, and proudly represented Team Israel at the Tokyo Summer Olympics in 2021. Kinsler was part of the 2018 World Series-winning Red Sox team and retired with a batting average of .269, alongside 257 home runs, 909 RBIs, and 243 stolen bases.

Let’s examine Kinsler’s Hall of Fame candidacy in more detail:

Reasons Supporting Ian Kinsler’s Induction

Kinsler’s accomplishments include an impressive Wins Above Replacement (WAR) statistic. His WAR of 54.1 ranks as the 19th highest for second basemen in MLB history and surpasses that of eight current Hall of Famers at his position.

During his peak years from 2007 to 2016, Kinsler accumulated a WAR of 48.5, placing him sixth among position players during that timeframe, behind only notable figures such as Robinson Cano, Adrian Beltre, and Miguel Cabrera.

His reputation for power and speed stands out; Kinsler concluded his career with 257 home runs, ranking eighth all-time among second basemen, and he also stole 243 bases. Kinsler is one of only seven second basemen to exceed both 200 home runs and 200 stolen bases.

Additionally, he made history as one of just three second basemen to achieve a 30-30 season, accomplishing this milestone in both 2009 and 2011.

Kinsler also ranks fifth in MLB history for home runs hit from the leadoff position, with 185 homers, putting him in the company of legends like Rickey Henderson and Mookie Betts.

Reasons Against Ian Kinsler’s Induction

Despite his strengths, Kinsler retired with exactly 1,999 career hits, falling short of the commonly expected milestone that most Hall of Fame contenders possess. This total gives him a rank of 29th among second basemen.

In terms of traditional metrics, Kinsler also faces challenges. Among the 179 players who have had at least 4,000 plate appearances and played at least half of their games at second base, his career batting average of .269 places him 89th overall.

Moreover, his candidacy lacks strong accolades, with only four All-Star selections and two Gold Glove awards across his 14-year career.

Trends in Voting

Kinsler’s name comes up as one of 14 players making their debut on the Hall of Fame ballot, alongside notable pitchers like CC Sabathia and outfielders such as Ichiro Suzuki. So far, according to 119 public ballots compiled by Ryan Thibodaux’s tracker, Kinsler has garnered only four votes, equating to 3.2% support. To remain on the ballot for next year, he will need around 16 additional votes to reach the required 5% threshold.

Conclusion

Prospectively, Kinsler may struggle to stay on the ballot, with a higher likelihood of falling short in this first year than achieving the necessary 75% of votes for induction.

Inducted into the Rangers Hall of Fame in 2022, Kinsler was instrumental in leading Texas to American League pennants in 2010 and 2011. He holds multiple records for second basemen in the Rangers franchise, including a .273 batting average, 156 home runs, and 539 RBIs over 1,066 games played between 2006 and 2013.