2024 review: Kevin Kiermaier

The midseason acquisition of the defensive specialist paid dividends for all parties as he heads off into retirement as a champion.

Twelve-year veteran Kevin Kiermaier started this self-declared final campaign in his second season in Toronto. He got off to a slow start, hitting .193/.246/.228 with three RBI in 22 games before going down with left hip flexor inflammation on April 24. Ironically enough, Kiermaier’s injury occurred right before the Dodgers came to Toronto.

Kiermaier returned two weeks later and played another 60 games, with 45 starts. The offense did not improve much, with a slash line of .196/.232/.343 during this stretch. In this period, Kiermaier hit four home runs, two triples, and five doubles with 15 RBIs. He also struck out an eye-popping 48 times.

While Kiermaier’s bat was suspect in 2024, he always had speed and defense in spades throughout his career. He had four Gold Gloves and was a three-time Fielding Bible Award winner.

In a move that few saw coming, rocking those who love three-inning saves and long-form, rubber-armed relievers, the Dodgers acquired Kiermaier at the deadline for Ryan Yarbrough. The move was a roster crunch based on Amed Rosario’s now-annual migration. At the time of the trade, Kiermaier ranked fifth in the majors with plus-seven Defensive Runs Saved in center field and sixth in the majors with plus-seven Outs Above Average.

For the year, Kiermaier ended up ranking tenth and seventh, respectively. Kiermaier had long worn the number 39 during his career. However, the Dodgers have retired number 39 in honor of Roy Campanella. Therefore, Kiermaier wore number 93 while in Los Angeles.

With the current batters present in the Dodgers lineup, the team did not need Kiermaier to slug. They just needed his glove in center when needed and not be an offensive liability in the lineup.

Have glove and arm did travel. Kiermaier’s bat? Not so much. He had a few two-hit games, but these were few and far between. His slash line with the Dodgers was .203/.242/.322, with one home run and eight RBI in 34 games and 19 starts.

Chances are that if you saw Kiermaier in a Dodger uniform, odds were high that you saw the Outlaw (80-grade nickname, by the way) either warming up before the game or entering the game late as a defensive replacement or pinch runner.

Kiermaier was only on the active postseason roster against the Mets in the National League Championship Series. He appeared in four games and went hitless in two at-bats. Oddly enough, he scored a run in each game where he got his at-bat.

In Game 1, he reached base by way of a fielder’s choice and then scored. In Game 4, he pinch-ran for Teoscar Hernandez and scored before having his own at-bat, where he struck out.

Kiermaier was grateful and energized by the trade to Los Angeles. Moreover, he was good at what he did, and he departed baseball as a champion. Not too many people get to write that kind of exit for themselves.

2024 particulars

Age: 34

Stats: .203/.242/.322, 57 wRC+, 64 PA, 1 HR, 7 R, 8 RBI, 1 SB with Dodgers

Salary: $10.5 million (with the Dodgers responsible for $3.5 million)

Game of the year

As a Dodger, Kiermaier had one really solid day with the bat. On August 16, he went 2 for 4 with a HR and 4 RBIs as the difference maker in a 7-6 win against the Cardinals in St. Louis.. The home run he hit off Andrew Kittredge was his only home run as a Dodger. Okay, KK, indeed. The view from field level was not too shabby for that dinger.

Roster status

Kiermaier has already announced his retirement.