I don’t expect you associate Jason Kipnis too closely with the Chicago Cubs, and if you do, it’s probably for the Game Seven, 9th inning foul ball that gave you a heart attack. I still shudder thinking about it.
But Kipnis, in addition to nearly ruining the dreams of every Cubs fan everywhere, was also briefly a Cub, himself. It was the pandemic season in 2020, and Kipnis’s final in the big leagues. He hit .237/.341/.404/103 wRC+, and always had a good and positive energy about him, even amidst so much crap. The Cubs were the only non-Cleveland club Kipnis ever played for, which made sense, as he is originally from the Chicago area, in Northbrook. (You may have heard that before.)
Kipnis is officially retiring:
Overall, Jason Kipnis hit .260/.333/.416/103 wRC+, and posted a 21.0 WAR across 10 seasons, nine of which were in Cleveland. Did you know he stole 136 bases in his career? I wouldn’t have guessed that.
And now, since he definitely can’t ever hurt us anymore:
Look, I get it. The thing was NEVER REMOTELY close to being a hit, much less a home run. But in that moment, with the tension as high as it could possibly get, and with Aroldis Chapman having already given up a surprising homer … it just looked gone off the bat. I was temporarily incapacitated. Even now, watching it, I get palpitations.
Anyway, all the best in retirement to Kipnis, who could have a second life in baseball if he wants to stay involved, I’m sure.