Kiner-Falefa impressing the Blue Jays at Spring Training

The Blue Jays signed Kiner-Falefa to a 2 year $15 million contract in the off-season.

Yesterday, the Blue Jays took on the Red Sox at Spring Training in which Kiner-Falefa hit his first home run as a Blue Jay in the 5-1 win.

Kiner-Falefa was selected by the Texas Rangers in the fourth round of the 2013 Major League Baseball Draft. He started his professional career with the Arizona League Rangers in 2013, where he had a batting average of .322 along with 11 RBIs and 12 stolen bases in 41 games. The following year, he played for different teams within the Rangers organization, including the Hickory Crawdads and Spokane Indians, and recorded a .246 batting average with 16 RBIs in 79 games. In 2015, he continued playing with Hickory and the High Desert Mavericks, achieving a batting average of .296 with 40 RBIs in 98 games. His 2016 season was with the Frisco RoughRiders, where he had a .256 batting average with 27 RBIs in 108 games.

Throughout his time with the Rangers, Kiner-Falefa showcased his versatility by playing various positions such as shortstop, second base, third base, and catcher. In 2017, he batted .288 with five home runs and 48 RBIs while playing for Frisco, leading to his inclusion in the Rangers' 40-man roster after the season. He began the 2018 season with the Round Rock Express before joining the major league team, making his debut against the Los Angeles Angels and hitting his first career home run against the Houston Astros. His rookie season in 2018 saw him playing in 111 games with a .261 batting average, four home runs, and 34 RBIs across different positions.

In the pandemic-affected 2020 season, Kiner-Falefa won the AL Gold Glove Award for third basemen while maintaining a .280 batting average. He continued to excel defensively and offensively in the following seasons, earning recognition for his skills and contributions to the team. However, in March 2022, he was traded to the Minnesota Twins and then to the New York Yankees the next day. In 2023, he transitioned into a utility role for the Yankees, even making pitching appearances during games. Despite his diverse contributions, he became a free agent after the 2023 season.