Kiermaier brings home the gold for defensive skills

by Gary Shelton on November 11, 2015 · 1 comment

in general, Tampa Bay Rays

Kiermaier was gold in center field for the Rays./ANDREW J. KRAMER

Kiermaier was gold in center field for the Rays./ANDREW J. KRAMER

Tuesday, 11:05 p.m.

He was never supposed to be this good. He was never supposed to be this popular.

He was never supposed to be this essential.

He is Kevin Kiermaier, and before he was golden, he was pretty much an afterthought. He was drafted in the 31st round, the 941st player taken in 2010. In thirty rounds, thirty teams looked and said “Nah. Not yet.'' The Rays liked a guy named Nick Schwaner  (30th round) more, but they did like Kiermaier more than they liked outfielder Brian Fogle (32nd).

In short, baseball never saw Kiermaier coming. He was supposed to be just another guy on his way to just another minor league park before settling down as a high school coach.

But then teams got a load of his glove. Oh my, that leather.

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