Ian Kinsler, a former Texas Rangers player and current special assistant to general manager Chris Young, received a warm welcome from fans as he threw out the ceremonial first pitch before Game 3 of the American League Championship Series at Globe Life Park on Wednesday night.
Kinsler, who spent eight of his 14 years in the Major Leagues with the Rangers and earned three All-Star nods during his time in Arlington, has always been a fan favorite.
However, on this particular night, Kinsler had more than just baseball on his mind. As an American-Israeli, with a Jewish father, Kinsler obtained Israeli citizenship in 2020 and represented the country in the 2020 Olympics. He also had the honor of managing Team Israel in the World Baseball Classic earlier this year. With his Team Israel jersey proudly displayed, Kinsler took the field to the roaring applause of the crowd.
In addition to his impressive career achievements, Kinsler holds the record for the most stolen bases among Jewish players, with a total of 243. While Israel's performance in the Olympics and the World Baseball Classic was not as successful as they had hoped, Kinsler experienced victory as a member of Team USA when they won the WBC in 2017.
Despite Kinsler's ties to the Rangers and his status as a member of their Hall of Fame, he also achieved the ultimate goal of winning a World Series with the Boston Red Sox in 2018.
As the Rangers faced a challenging Game 3, trailing 5-0 at their own home ballpark, the crowd's appreciation for Kinsler's contributions to the team and his continued involvement in the sport was evident.
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