Will Jason Kipnis be remembered as a Cleveland Guardians legend?

Former Cleveland Guardians second basemen Jason Kipnis has officially retired.

The Cleveland Guardians are wishing one of their own thanks for a strong career, as former second-basemen Jason Kipnis has retired from the game of baseball. Kipnis, who didn’t play at all in 2022, had a long run with the Guards. He debuted with the club in 2011, as a 24-year-old and settled into the everyday starting job at second base the following year.

For nine seasons, the Guardians ould depend on Kipnis at second base, and at the plate, averaging a career split of .260/.333/.417 with Cleveland, while putting up an OPS of .750.

He had 529 career RBIs with the Guardians, and 123 home runs. His bat saw him get two nods to the All-Star Game; once in 2013, and the other in 2015. He was also the starting second basemen for the club’s run to the World Series in 2016 and helped the squad amass three AL Central titles along the way.

In 2020 he left the squad and went to the Chicago Cubs where he had a down year, hitting just. 237. He would spend 2021 in Atlanta’s minor league system where he had a good year, with splits of .290/.390/.518 and an OPS of .909.

He hit 10 home runs, 32 RBIs, and scored 36 runs in just 59 games with AAA-Gwinnett. Apparently, he didn’t want to put his body through the work anymore to be ready for professional baseball, so he quietly retired a year later.

But how will he be remembered?

Jason Kipnis was a popular player but a franchise great he was not

I wouldn’t be surprised if Kipnis got into the team’s ring of honor or even if his jersey was retired. But the question isn’t will it happen, but should it? I don’t think so. Look at the guys he played with, Francisco Lindor, Corey Kluber, Jose Ramirez, and others. He did well, and was a steady bat, but was he an all-time great in Cleveland?

I wouldn’t say so, and I’m a fan of the guys. He’ll be remembered fondly like Richie Sexton or Travis Fryman, and may even be a feature name at the reunions later in the years, but his legacy will always just be a good hitter for a second baseman and a very popular player, but never one who touched greatness with his glove, bat or arm.