Kouz is back in the majors
Happy Day!
Kouz is back in the majors.
On Wednesday, I headed for the Yankees game and listened
to the Texas Rangers game while on my way to the ballpark. Yes, I have
something of a baseball problem too, but that’s not the point. As I was
listening, there was a name mentioned recalled from the depths of my collection
– Kevin Kouzmanoff.
to the Texas Rangers game while on my way to the ballpark. Yes, I have
something of a baseball problem too, but that’s not the point. As I was
listening, there was a name mentioned recalled from the depths of my collection
– Kevin Kouzmanoff.
He did well in Spring Training with Texas, but they sent
him to triple-A to start the season. However, Adrian Beltre tends to get a bit
banged up during the year, so I wondered if Kouz would eventually get a shot.
him to triple-A to start the season. However, Adrian Beltre tends to get a bit
banged up during the year, so I wondered if Kouz would eventually get a shot.
It came sooner than expected.
Kouzmanoff pinch hit in the top of the seventh and singled
off Boston’s Junichi Tazawa. I screamed in my car like a little girl on her
birthday getting shiny new bike – or something
like that.
off Boston’s Junichi Tazawa. I screamed in my car like a little girl on her
birthday getting shiny new bike – or something
like that.
Kouzmanoff hasn’t played in a Major League game since
2011 with the Colorado Rockies. He spent the last two years in the minors in
the Kansas City and Miami organizations. I wondered if he would ever make it
back because he is 32 years old. He started his career the flashiest way
possible – he hit a grand slam on the first Major League pitch he saw.
2011 with the Colorado Rockies. He spent the last two years in the minors in
the Kansas City and Miami organizations. I wondered if he would ever make it
back because he is 32 years old. He started his career the flashiest way
possible – he hit a grand slam on the first Major League pitch he saw.
One of Kouz’s best years was in 2007 where he hit .275/.329/.457.
In 2008, he had a career-high 23 home runs. However, his career regressed from
there. He never hit higher than a .260 batting average and never hit more than
18 home runs.
In 2008, he had a career-high 23 home runs. However, his career regressed from
there. He never hit higher than a .260 batting average and never hit more than
18 home runs.
He did have defense on his side though. In 2009, Kouz
broke the National League single-season record with a .990 fielding percentage
and his glove wound up in the Hall of Fame (FYI, Washington’s Ryan Zimmerman
won the gold glove that year).
broke the National League single-season record with a .990 fielding percentage
and his glove wound up in the Hall of Fame (FYI, Washington’s Ryan Zimmerman
won the gold glove that year).
I got a chance to check it out when I visited the Hall of
Fame this winter.
Fame this winter.
No matter what happens to him this season, I’m happy to
see him back in the Majors. I think he could be a serviceable backup while
Beltre deals with a quad issue. He may even prove a little useful off the
bench.
see him back in the Majors. I think he could be a serviceable backup while
Beltre deals with a quad issue. He may even prove a little useful off the
bench.
Who knows? I may even see a few more cards in my Kouz collection.
Here are a couple of past posts on Kouz and my collection:
Dec. 17, 2008: A little fun with … Kevin Kouzmanoff
Oct. 13, 2009: Kouzmanoff in the Hall of Fame
June 6, 2011: My collection just took a drastic hit
July 27, 2011: Chasing a minor leaguer
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still collecting Kouz?? If so, I came across a couple….
I am. Send me an email with what you have. Maybe we can work something out if I don't have the cards already.