Retired MLB Gold Glove winner Ian Kinsler plans to play for Israel at Tokyo Olympics
The release of the video came on the same day that International Olympic Committee member Dick Pound told USA TODAY Sports that the Olympics will likely be postponed until 2021.
Kinsler, eligible to play for Israel because of his Jewish heritage, announced his retirement at the age of 37 in December after a 14-year MLB career in which he earned four All-Star selections and two Gold Glove Awards.
He hit .269 with 257 home runs, 909 RBIs and 243 stolen bases in 1,888 regular-season games with the Texas Rangers, Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Angels, Boston Red Sox and San Diego Padres. Kinsler was a member of Boston's 2018 World Series championship team.
Kinsler came up one hit short of finishing his career with 2,000, and he also posted two seasons with at least 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases. Kinsler is one of 13 players in MLB history to have at least two 30-30 seasons. That list includes fellow Jewish slugger Ryan Braun of the Milwaukee Brewers.
Kinsler appeared in a career-low 87 games in his only season with the Padres in 2019 and hit just .217 with nine home runs and 22 RBIs. He had his season come to an end in mid-August due to a herniated cervical disc.