In a career that is in its 14th season, Ian Kinsler has four walks and three hits in 18 pinch-hit appearances.
The idea has always been that he would get many more than that this season.
“Yeah, absolutely,” Kinsler said of knowing he’d eventually transition into a role player when he signed a two-year, $8 million contract with the Padres in the offseason. “I knew the situation of the ball club.”
The initial thinking was it would already have happened. But second baseman Luis Urias struggled, and shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. got hurt.
So Kinsler has pinch-hit just three times this season and on Saturday made his 33rd start at second base.