Indians’ Jason Kipnis named to All-Star team

On Sunday afternoon when starting All-Stars for the American and National Leagues were officially announced, Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis was not voted in to the All-Star Game.

He was voted a reserve in the Player Balloting portion and is going to the All-Star Game for the second time; the first was in 2013.

“He’s just been a force”, Francona said. He’s played the game with such a vengeance. It’s been fun to watch. In just 320 at-bats, Kipnis has collected 109 hits, including 27 doubles, four triples and six home runs.

And his performance has been a big departure from 2014’s injury-filled campaign for the left-handed hitter. That’s the best word I can come up with.

Previous year was one Kipnis would like to forget. Late in the season, he was also bothered by some hamstring issues which further slowed him down.

“I think he’s one of the best players in the league, and I’m probably not in the minority saying that”, Francona said. “You could see him kind of shoving the bat through the zone as opposed to [driving the ball]”. “Not because I didnt win it this year, but because once they decided that the All-Star means something (the winning league has the home-field advantage in the World Series), I think you have to take the voting out of the hands of the fans.

Although the Indians have yet to reach the midway point of the 2015 regular season, Kipnis is nearing the numbers he posted a year ago, when the veteran middle infielder battled through a torn right oblique muscle, an injury that happened early in 2014. 640 OPS in 129 games. “We’ve always worded it, ‘Being part of the solution, not part of the problem.’ I think previous year you could definitely write me off as more part of the problem”.

He has been anything but in 2015, consistently producing as the Indians’ most valuable player throughout the first half.

Health and improved confidence have been two big reasons why. “He just didn’t have his good stuff, but sometimes when you don’t have your good stuff, you have to find a way”, manager Terry Francona said. “He hasn’t taken his foot off the gas, ever”.

It doesn’t really matter how often players say they’d rather win than capture those individual accomplishments – it’s still nice to get recognized in the midst of a great season.

Kipnis, who finished third in the fan voting among second basemen, was voted onto the AL team by the players.