The Outlaw is back!
The best center fielder in franchise history will make his return to Tropicana Field later tonight to toss out the ceremonial first pitch ahead of the second game of the American League Championship Series between the Tampa Bay Rays and Cleveland Guardians.
Kevin Kiermaier was taken by the Rays in the 31st round of the 2010 draft. However, Kiermaier was a gifted athlete who had already had a commitment to Purdue, which led to many teams passing over him. The Rays took a shot in the 31st round and
almost immediately signed him. It quickly became apparent that the Rays had made the right choice as Kiermaier excelled during first impressions and Baseball America stated that he “could prove to be one of the biggest late-round steals from the 2010 draft.”
As Kiermaier rose through the system, his defense became a standout tool and eventually paved the way to him making his Major League debut during game 163 in 2013. After starting the 2014 season in the minor leagues, Kiermaier earned his way onto the big league roster and eventually forced himself into the starting lineup due to his extraordinary defense and solid offensive capabilities.
Over the next nine seasons, Kiermaier would be a staple in center field for the Rays, dazzling most every day with a new incredible catch or an offensive hustle that caused defensive chaos. Overall, Kiermaier spent 9 seasons with the Rays (plus 1 game in 2013), and he hit .248/.308/.407 with 82 HR, registering 97 wRC+ and accruing 23.6 fWAR over 914 games.
Kiermaier received three Gold Glove awards during his time with Tampa Bay, plus a Platinum Glove in 2015 which is given to the best defender overall in the league. FanGraphs has Defensive Runs Saved data going back to 2003. Since that time, Kevin Kiermaier has the 5th highest DRS of any player in baseball and the highest among outfielders. Kiermaier would finish his career with the 5th highest bWAR all-time of a player selected in the 31st round or later.
After leaving the Rays via free agency following the 2022 season, Kiermaier joined up with the Toronto Blue Jays and picked up another Gold Glove award. In 2024, Kiermaier announced he would retire following the season and would split the year between Toronto and the Los Angeles Dodgers, mainly serving as a defensive replacement. With the Dodgers winning the World Series, Kiermaier received his first and only ring of his career.
Kevin Kiermaier makes his return to Tropicana Field tonight as the Rays hope to even out the series against the Cleveland Guardians.
