There are utility players who can fill multiple positions in times where a starter can’t make a start, there are super utility guys who can provide impact while moving around the diamond a bit, and then there’s what the Rangers have: Isiah Kiner-Falefa.
Kiner-Falefa doesn’t have many loud tools, but he does something that no other MLB player can at this time; he can play all 8 non-pitcher positions on the field passably or better. (EDITOR’S NOTE: Did the name Ben Zobrist pop into your head? Well, Zobrist can’t catch …as far as we know.) The 5’10” 195 lbs. Kiner-Falefa was drafted out of Hawaii as a prep shortstop, but over the years he has been adding positions to his repertoire in addition to refining his offensive skillset.
In 2016 the Rangers put him on the unique path of converting him to catcher and it stuck. Kiner-Falefa’s great athleticism, makeup, and work ethic allowed him to take to a conversion that rarely sticks due to the difficulty of the position. Over the past two years he has grown into an average backstop with the ability to control the run game and work with pitchers. Going into spring training in 2018, Kiner-Falefa will be with the big league club for the first time. “I think it’s going to be great,” Kiner-Falefa said this week at a mini-camp in Arlington. “I’ll be working with the catchers. Chirinos was a guy who converted, so is Trevino, so having those two guys around really helps me out. They’re willing to help me, which is the biggest thing – they’ve been through it.”
He doesn’t just catch though; his above average range, arm, and glove give him the ability to be an average SS, a good 2B and 3B, and he’s taking reps in LF/CF as well. A utility player who can start the game at SS and move to catcher after using a pinch hitter provides unique efficiency when building a 25 man roster.
No matter how many positions he can play, there’s a question of vast importance the first time you hear, “utility player”: Can he hit? Kiner-Falefa is quick and coordinated with a compact stroke that sprays hard liners and groundballs to all fields. To go with the above-average hit tool, he has an advanced approach and discerning eye at the plate and should be a moderately high OBP player.
The limit on Kiner-Falefa’s offensive ceiling is his power. Until 2017 he had never hit a home run and his extra base hits came sparingly despite some potential for raw power with quick strong legs and a swing that is efficient at getting momentum going towards the ball. In 2017 he made an adjustment and took huge strides. He had career highs in doubles— 31 compared to his previous high of 8—triples, and even hit 5 home runs. With the advanced eye, above-average hit tool, and regular gap power, Kiner-Falefa could be one of the better offensive utility players in the MLB.
With these things in mind, it’s no surprise that the Rangers decided to add Kiner-Falefa to the 40-man roster before the Rule 5 draft. While unlikely to provide significant impact in 2018, an NL team could see big utility in taking a guy who could be used with extreme efficiency in a league where pitchers have to hit. In addition, they’d be getting a talented athlete with good offensive instincts and a unique defensive profile that could evolve into something more down the line.
Isiah Kiner-Falefa’s defensive versatility, plate approach, and advanced hit tool give him a nice projection as an MLB role player. His athleticism and improving power indicate that an MLB average player isn’t out of reach and it wouldn’t surprise me at all to see him starting 150 games for a team down the line. In addition, Kiner-Falefa plays the game hard with a quiet intensity and it truly a joy to watch on the field. Regardless of where his future on the field lies, he is a truly interesting player with a distinct role to fulfill.
Michelle Hembree says
I like his attitude, his tattoo, his face, and his name. Love to see guys like this in our organization.
Kevin Carter says
You and me both Michelle