Remembering Random Twins: Jason Kubel and His 2014 return

[William Malone]

Everyone had fond memories from Metrodome-era Jason Kubel. But do you remember when he resurfaced in 2014?

Image courtesy of © Kim Klement-Imagn Images

 

Jason Kubel had a complicated career.

He was a very good player, but maybe fell a little short of meeting his high expectations as a top prospect. Kubel was once a top 20 prospect in all of baseball, turning himself from a 12th round pick into a guy who dominated every level of the minor league system. After driving in 100 minor league runs between Double-A and Triple-A during the 2004 season, Kubel made his much anticipated big league debut on August 31st of that year. About a month later, he was starting for them in the playoffs.

After Minnesota was eliminated in the ALDS, they sent Kubel to the Arizona Fall League to get some more at-bats. That’s where he suffered a knee injury that ended his 2005 season before it even began. Kubel then Kubel slashed .241/.279/.386 across 73 big league games in 2006.

Things slowly started to get better, and he eventually established himself as a capable designed hitter with a knack for hitting high-leverage grand slams. Kubel even got MVP votes in 2009, hitting .300 and driving in 103 runs for a division-winning Twins team.

These are mostly good times. The years were full of several division titles and meaningful September baseball on a consistent basis. It’s an era of Twins baseball that fans look upon fondly. Nobody needs a history lesson on those years. But fans might need a quick refresher on Kubel’s 2014 return to Target Field.

He had an injury-riddled 2011 season, missing all of June and most of July with a foot sprain. Kubel struggled after his return, batting .229 over his final 47 games of the season. He was just 4-for-28 (.143) with no extra-base hits in September, getting shut down for good with 13 games remaining. Minnesota quickly signed Josh Willingham and Ryan Doumit in free agency. They were also high on 23-year-old Ben Revere and 24-year-old Chris Parmelee, who both debuted in 2011. This took away a lot of DH and corner outfield at-bats, paving the way for Kubel to walk as a free agent.

The Arizona Diamondbacks signed Kubel to a two-year contract that winter, and year one was great! He launched a career-high 30 home runs, and his 120 OPS+ was second only to his 2009 campaign. Year two was less successful, and the Diamondbacks designated Kubel for assignment in late August. He finished the year out by hitting .167 over an eight-game cup of coffee for the Cleveland Indians.

This brought Kubel back to the Twins on a minor league deal. He was joined in camp by former Metrodome-era teammate Jason Bartlett, who also inked a minor league deal that winter. They both made the Opening Day roster, although Bartlett retired after three hitless appearances.

Meanwhile, Kubel was a productive hitter out of the gate. He hit .288 in April, getting 19 starts and appearing in 22 of 24 games for the Twins that month. Minnesota was also playing pretty well, at least relative to some of their recent starts. They were 12-12 in April, compared to a collective 26-46 clip in the opening month over the previous three seasons.

The clutch gene that fans loved Kubel for also made an appearance. His first RBI of the season was a game-tying double in the seventh inning of a game on April 2nd. It seemed like every hit was part of a rally, even if the team ultimately came up a bit short that day. Kubel’s first, and only, home run of the season came with the Twins down 4-0 in an April 9th game against Oakland. They came all the way back, only to fall in 11 innings.

April ended, and Kubel had three hits with an RBI on May 1st, good for a 785 OPS on the season. It felt like this would be a fun redemption story for a Twins team that felt a bit more exciting than they had in previous seasons. But then the magic died for Kubel and the club.

The RBI on May 1st was the last of his career, and he played 22 more games before ultimately being designated for assignment. Kubel ended things on a 0-for-26 skid at the plate, although that last hit could be called “clutch” by some. Down to their final strike, Kubel kept the game alive with a base hit against Seattle Mariners closer Fernando Rodney. Eduardo Escobar grounded out to end the game, and Kubel’s 0-for-3 the next day began his career-ending slide.

He finished 2014 with a .607 OPS across 45 games, and he finished his big league career with a .777 OPS over ten seasons. His 42 home runs as a designated hitter are tied with David Oritz for the second most in Twins history. Nelson Cruz has the most, with 76.

 

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[CharlieDee]

If my memory is correct, I believe Jason hit the first home run at Target Field.

[Parfigliano]

The pride of Belle Fourche SD.

[Fire Dan Gladden]

Yet another example of a high ranking Twins prospect that suffered a serious injury having a major impact on their career.

[jud6312]

Definitely a "what could've been" kind of guy. Favorite memory was the grand slam off Rivera in 2010.

 

He also hit really well off some really good pitchers. OPS: Verlander (.750), Rivera (1.489), Freddie Garcia (1.805), Matsuzaka (1.141), Oswalt (1.125), Scherzer (1.125), Greinke (.946).