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Jason Kubel
Jason Kubel
Jason Kubel
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Jason James Kubel (born May 25, 1982) is an American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Minnesota Twins, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Cleveland Indians.

Key Information

Early life

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Kubel was born May 25, 1982, in Belle Fourche, South Dakota, to Myron and Debbie Kubel. His family moved to Palmdale, California, where he played baseball at Highland High School in Palmdale, California. Kubel had a .491 batting average during his sophomore and junior years at Highland. He was ranked the number 50 high school prospect by Baseball America.[1] Kubel signed a letter of intent to play college baseball for the Long Beach State Dirtbags.[2]

Professional career

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Minor leagues

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The Minnesota Twins drafted Kubel in the 12th round (342nd overall) of the 2000 Major League Baseball draft.[3] In 2004, Kubel played outfield in the Twins' minor league system, starting out with the Double-A New Britain Rock Cats, where Kubel batted .377 with six home runs and 29 RBI in 37 games before being promoted to the Twins' Triple-A affiliate, the Rochester Red Wings. He continued to excel with the Red Wings, posting a .343 average, 16 home runs and 71 RBI in 90 games.[4] His impressive play landed him a place in the 2004 All-Star Futures Game.[5] Kubel's play impressed manager Ron Gardenhire enough to warrant a call-up to the majors for the Twins' American League Central Division championship run in September. Kubel played well over the course of 23 games, batting .300 with two home runs and 7 RBI in 67 plate appearances.[6]

Kubel suffered a serious knee injury in the Arizona Fall League later that year, which caused him to miss the entire 2005 season.[7]

Minnesota Twins

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Kubel's clutch June 13, 2006 grand slam.

Kubel returned to action in spring training 2006, made the Twins' Opening Day roster, and started in right field on Opening Day. However, he got off to a slow start at the plate, batting just .188 in his first seven games. On April 16, 2006, Kubel was optioned to Triple-A Rochester, and was replaced on the active roster by Rubén Sierra.[8] Kubel returned to the Twins lineup on May 23, 2006, as a replacement for the injured Shannon Stewart.[9] He hit well in his return, including a walk-off grand slam against the Boston Red Sox in the 12th inning at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome on June 13, 2006.[10] After that, continued soreness in his knees limited his playing time and success for the rest of the 2006 season. Kubel finished the season batting .241 with eight home runs and 26 RBI in 73 games.[6]

Kubel's 2007 statistics showed improvement, as he finished the season with a .273 average, 13 home runs and 65 RBI in 128 games with 418 at-bats.[6] On July 6, 2007, Kubel drove in a career high seven runs in a 20–14 victory over the Chicago White Sox.[11]

Kubel in a 2008 plate appearance at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome.

During the 2008 season, Kubel primarily served as the designated hitter slot due to the acquisition of left fielder Delmon Young from the Tampa Bay Rays. Kubel hit well in the clutch and provided much needed power in the middle of the Twins' lineup.[12] In 141 games, he batted .272 with 20 home runs and 78 RBI.[6]

The 2009 season proved to be Kubel's most productive. On April 17, Kubel hit for the cycle against the Los Angeles Angels in the Metrodome. After a double in the first inning, single in the third, triple in the sixth, and strikeout in the seventh, Kubel capped the Twins' seven-run eighth inning with an upper deck grand slam to right-center field, which would prove decisive in the Twins' 11–9 victory. Kubel finished the game 4-for-5 with two runs scored and 5 RBI.[13][14] On June 4, Kubel hit two three-run home runs in an 11–3 win over the Cleveland Indians, and hit another pair of three-run home runs to help defeat the Kansas City Royals on October 4. Kubel finished the season with career highs in batting average (.300), doubles (35), RBI (103), total bases (277), and OPS (.907), and games played (146).[6] He also hit a then-career high 28 home runs in 514 at-bats.[6] For his efforts, Kubel would be honored with a 24th-place finish in AL MVP voting that year.[15]

Kubel played more often in the field for the Twins in 2010 due to a number of roster changes and injuries. Following the trade that sent center fielder Carlos Gómez to the Brewers for all-star shortstop J. J. Hardy, and the off-season acquisition of veteran slugger Jim Thome to fill the designated hitter position, Kubel found himself being used as a utility player and pinch hitter. However, due to the defensive shifting resulting from Justin Morneau's ongoing health issues, Kubel settled in as the Twins' right fielder, platooning with Michael Cuddyer. On April 12, Kubel hit the first home run in a regular-season game at Target Field, helping the Twins christen their new stadium in a 5–2 victory over the Boston Red Sox.[16] On May 16, Kubel hit a grand slam off legendary closer Mariano Rivera to help the Twins beat the Yankees. It was only the fourth grand slam that Rivera had surrendered in his career.[17]

Kubel started out the 2011 season hitting extremely well by peaking his batting average at .354 in May.[18] This brought on speculation the Twins may try to trade Kubel to make room in an otherwise crowded team outfield. Due to injuries by fellow outfielders Delmon Young,[19] Denard Span,[20] and call-up Jason Repko,[21] Kubel's position was critical to the Twins before finally getting hurt himself and missing all of the month of June.[22] Kubel was limited to 99 games in 2011, batting .273 with 12 home runs and 58 RBI.[6]

Arizona Diamondbacks

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On December 19, 2011, Kubel signed a two-year, $15 million deal with an option for a third year with the Arizona Diamondbacks.[23] For the 2012 season, Kubel served as the designated hitter during interleague play at American League ballparks. He played in 141 games with Arizona in 2012, batting .253 with a career-high 30 home runs and 90 RBI.[6]

Kubel struggled to begin the 2013 season, batting just .220 with five home runs and 32 RBI in 89 games.[6] The Diamondbacks designated him for assignment on August 27, 2013.[24]

Cleveland Indians

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The Diamondbacks traded Kubel to the Cleveland Indians for a player to be named later on August 30, 2013.[25] He appeared in eight games with Cleveland, batting .167 (3-for-18).[6]

The Indians declined their club option on Kubel's contract for the 2014 season on November 1, 2013, making Kubel a free agent.[26]

Second stint with Twins

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Kubel signed a minor league deal to return to the Twins on December 13, 2013.[27] Kubel was designated for assignment on June 8, 2014,[28] and released on June 16.[29] Kubel ended his 2014 season with a .224 batting average, one home run, 13 RBI, and 59 strikeouts in 176 plate appearances.[6]

Personal life

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Kubel is the brother-in-law of Michael Tonkin.[30] They briefly played together for the Twins in 2014.

At the conclusion of his career as a professional baseball player, Kubel became a Little League coach.[31]

See also

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References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Jason Kubel

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Jason Kubel is an American former professional baseball and who played in (MLB) for the , Arizona Diamondbacks, and Indians from 2004 to 2014. Born Jason James Kubel on May 25, 1982, in , he attended Highland High School in , before being selected by the Twins in the 12th round (342nd overall) of the 2000 MLB June Amateur Draft. Kubel made his MLB debut on , 2004, with the Twins, where he spent the majority of his career across three stints (2004, 2006–2011, and 2014), appearing in 798 games and batting .269 with 105 home runs and 432 RBIs. A left-handed batter and right-handed thrower, he transitioned between outfield positions and duties, showcasing power at the plate during his prime years. His most productive season came in 2009 with , when he hit .300 with 28 home runs, 103 RBIs, and a 3.5 WAR, earning 24th place in voting and an Player of the Week award. After signing a two-year, $15 million contract with the Diamondbacks as a following the 2011 season, Kubel enjoyed a strong 2012 campaign, batting .253 with 30 home runs, 90 RBIs, and 30 doubles in 141 games—marking the only 30-30 (homers-doubles) season of his career—while earning another Player of the Week honor. Injuries limited him in 2013, leading to a midseason to the Cleveland Indians, where he appeared in just 8 games before becoming a . He returned to the Twins on a minor-league deal in 2014 but struggled with a .224 in 45 games before being released on June 15, after which he did not play professionally again, effectively retiring from MLB. Over his 10-year career, Kubel compiled a .262 , 140 home runs, 564 RBIs, and a .777 () in 1,036 games, with 12 stolen bases and a reputation for consistent middle-order production despite recurring health issues. He never earned an selection but contributed to three playoff appearances with the Twins (2004, 2009, and 2010), appearing in eight postseason games though the team was eliminated in each. In August 2025, Kubel was inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Early life and amateur career

Early life

Jason Kubel was born on May 25, 1982, in . His parents, Myron and Debbie Kubel, relocated the family to , during his early years.

High school career

Jason Kubel attended Highland High School in , where he excelled as a during his senior year in 2000. Kubel earned recognition as one of the top high school prospects in the country, ranked No. 50 nationally by Baseball America and receiving preseason third-team High School All-America honors from the publication. He was also named to the All-Golden League First Team for his performance in the local conference. Despite signing a to play for Long Beach State, Kubel chose to enter the instead. The selected Kubel in the 12th round, 342nd overall, of the 2000 MLB June Amateur Draft out of Highland High School, and he signed with the team on June 13, 2000.

Professional career

Minor league career

Kubel signed with the organization following his selection in the 12th round of the 2000 MLB Draft and began his professional career in the rookie-level Gulf Coast League, where he appeared in 23 games for the GCL Twins, batting .282 with no . He returned to the GCL Twins in 2001, improving to a .331 over 37 games with one , demonstrating early plate discipline with a .422 . In 2002, Kubel advanced to full-season ball with the Class A of the , posting a .321 with 17 home runs and 74 RBIs in 115 games, showcasing emerging power potential. He progressed to High-A Fort Myers Miracle in the the following year, hitting .298 with five home runs in 116 games, maintaining solid contact skills while adjusting to advanced pitching. Kubel's breakout came in 2004, starting at Double-A with the Rock Cats, where he batted .377 with six home runs in 37 games before a midseason promotion to Triple-A , slashing .343/.430/.645 with 16 home runs and 71 RBIs in 90 games; his performance earned him a selection to the 2004 as a representative of the World Team. Kubel's rapid ascent was halted shortly after the 2004 regular season when he suffered a severe left injury—tearing both the ACL and PCL—during a collision in the , causing him to miss the entire 2005 season as he underwent surgery and rehabilitation. He returned to Rochester in 2006, batting .283 with four home runs in 30 games (134 plate appearances) before earning a call-up to the major leagues in .

Minnesota Twins (2004–2011)

Jason Kubel made his major league debut with the on August 31, 2004, as a against the Indians, recording a single in his only at-bat of the game. He appeared in six games that season, batting .286 with no home runs or RBIs, primarily serving as a late-season call-up from Triple-A Rochester after a strong campaign. Kubel missed the entire 2005 season due to a severe sustained in the following the 2004 season, which required surgery and rehabilitation, delaying his full emergence in the majors. Kubel broke out in 2006, establishing himself as a power threat in the Twins' lineup despite playing in 73 games with a .241 , eight home runs, and 26 RBIs. A highlight came on June 13, when he hit a full-count walk-off grand slam in the 12th inning against the Boston Red Sox, securing a 5-2 victory after the Red Sox had intentionally walked to face him. He built on this momentum in 2007 and 2008, posting .273 and .272 averages respectively, with 13 and 20 home runs, contributing significantly to the Twins' AL Central contention. Kubel's 2009 season marked his career peak with the Twins, as he batted .300 with 28 home runs and a personal-best 103 RBIs over 146 games. On , he hit for the cycle against the , capping it with a grand slam in an 11-9 win that underscored his offensive surge early in the year. In 2010, Kubel hit the first in history on April 12, a solo shot off Boston's Scott Atchison in the Twins' home opener, finishing the year with a .249 average, 21 home runs, and 92 RBIs in 143 games. The 2011 season proved challenging for Kubel, limited to 99 games after suffering a sprained left foot on May 30 that sidelined him through most of June and July. He batted .273 overall with 12 home runs and 58 RBIs, but struggled upon return with a .229 average in his final 40 games. Persistent knee issues from his earlier injury contributed to a shift toward the role, where he spent increasing time to preserve his mobility. Over his first stint with the Twins from 2004 and 2006 to 2011, Kubel appeared in 647 games, batting .267 with 82 home runs and 333 RBIs.

Arizona Diamondbacks (2012–2013)

On December 19, 2011, Kubel signed a two-year, $15 million free-agent contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks, despite an injury-limited season with the , where he had hit 12 home runs in 99 games during 2011. In 2012, Kubel enjoyed a career resurgence in his first season with Arizona, posting a .253 with 30 home runs and 90 RBI over 141 games, primarily serving as the left fielder while occasionally filling the role. His 30 home runs marked a personal best and tied for the team lead, contributing significantly to the Diamondbacks' 81-81 record that year. Kubel's performance declined sharply in 2013 amid a series of leg injuries, including a strained left that sidelined him for the minimum 15 days starting April 13 and recurring discomfort in his left quad and ankle throughout the spring and early season. These issues, compounded by his history of problems from earlier in his career, limited him to 89 games with a .220 , just 5 home runs, and 32 RBI before the Diamondbacks designated him for assignment on August 27 to clear roster space. Three days later, on August 30, the Diamondbacks traded Kubel and cash considerations to the Indians in exchange for a , pitcher Matt Langwell. Over his two seasons with Arizona, Kubel appeared in 230 games, batting .241 with 35 home runs and 122 RBI, splitting time mainly between left field and duties.

Cleveland Indians (2013)

On August 30, 2013, the Cleveland Indians acquired Jason Kubel from the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for cash considerations and a , who was later identified as pitcher Matt Langwell. The trade came shortly after the Diamondbacks had designated Kubel for assignment to clear roster space. Kubel appeared in eight games for the Indians down the stretch, primarily as a left fielder and , but struggled at the plate with a .167 (3-for-18) to go along with a .348 , no home runs, and no RBI. His limited role stemmed from the late-season arrival, which restricted his integration into the lineup, compounded by his broader performance decline throughout the campaign marked by reduced power output. On November 1, , the Indians declined Kubel's $7.5 million club option for the 2014 season, paying him a $1 million and allowing him to become a .

Minnesota Twins (2014)

Following his free agency after the Cleveland Indians declined his 2013 club option, Kubel signed a minor-league contract with the on December 13, 2013, including an invitation to . Kubel earned a spot on the Twins' roster in 2014, primarily serving as the and in . In 45 games, he batted .224 with one and 13 RBI, providing limited production as a left-handed bat off the bench. His performance declined sharply in May and June, where he hit .188 amid ongoing struggles with strikeouts and power. The Twins designated Kubel for assignment on June 8, 2014, and released him on June 16 after he cleared waivers. This brief second stint allowed a reunion with former teammates, including his brother-in-law, reliever , who was also on the roster. Kubel did not play professionally after his release from the Twins.

Postseason play

Kubel's postseason appearances were confined to the (ALDS) with the in 2004, 2009, and 2010, all against the New York Yankees. In the 2004 ALDS, the rookie Kubel made brief appearances in two games, recording one hit—a double—in seven at-bats while batting .143 with no RBIs. His limited role reflected his early-career status following a midseason call-up. Kubel saw more action in the 2009 ALDS, starting in all three games primarily as a or , but struggled offensively with one hit in 14 at-bats for a .071 average and no RBIs. The following year in the 2010 ALDS, he started in right field across three games, going hitless in eight at-bats with three walks. Over his eight total postseason games, Kubel batted 2-for-29 (.069) with one double, no home runs, and no RBIs, often limited to or pinch-hitting duties due to well-documented defensive shortcomings in , where his career totaled -36.

Personal life and later career

Family

Jason Kubel is married to Blake Kubel, with whom he has welcomed two children: a son named Owen Michael, born on January 23, 2008, and a daughter named Heidi, born in 2012. Public details about his family life remain limited, as Kubel has maintained a private personal sphere amid his professional commitments. Kubel is the brother-in-law of former pitcher , having married Tonkin's sister. The relatives briefly shared time in the organization during the 2014 season.

Post-playing activities

Following his release by the in June 2014, Kubel retired from professional baseball, pursuing opportunities outside the sport. In the years after his MLB tenure, Kubel served as a Little League coach in , focusing on youth development for a limited period. On August 15, 2025, Kubel was inducted into the Hall of Fame during a pre-game ceremony, honoring his standout performance with the team in 2004, 2006, and 2011, where he batted .328 with 21 home runs, 95 RBIs, and 36 doubles in 125 games. As of November 2025, Kubel has shown no involvement in professional scouting, coaching at higher levels, or broadcasting roles within .

References

  1. https://www.mlb.com/player/jason-kubel-430585
  2. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kubelja01.shtml
  3. https://www.latimes.com/sports/la-xpm-2011-dec-19-la-sp-newswire-20111220-story.html
  4. https://pickinsplinters.com/2025/08/15/jason-kubel-inducted-into-red-wings-hall-of-fame/
  5. https://rapidcityjournal.com/news/local/communities/belle_fourche/article_ebb29e4c-4bbd-58a5-a341-deba4b4bcc33.html
  6. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-apr-14-sp-19399-story.html
  7. https://www.baseballamerica.com/players/673180-jason-kubel/
  8. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-may-16-sp-30727-story.html
  9. https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=kubel-001jas
  10. https://www.mlb.com/all-star/saturday/futures-game/all-time-roster
  11. https://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/april-17-2009-twins-jason-kubel-hits-for-the-cycle-sets-tone-for-career-year/
  12. https://www.mlb.com/video/kubel-hits-1st-hr-at-target-field
  13. https://bleacherreport.com/articles/989702-2011-mlb-free-agency-arizona-diamondbacks-sign-outfielder-jason-kubel
  14. https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/9168729/arizona-diamondbacks-place-jason-kubel-dl-activate-cody-ross
  15. https://arizonasports.com/mlb/arizona-diamondbacks/d-backs-jason-kubel-healthy-heating-up/27821/
  16. https://www.mlb.com/guardians/news/arizona-diamondbacks-strike-deal-sending-jason-kubel-to-cleveland-indians/c-58978824
  17. https://www.minorleagueball.com/2013/9/3/4689734/indians-diamondbacks-complete-jason-kubel-trade-with-matt-langwell
  18. https://arizonasports.com/mlb/arizona-diamondbacks/arizona-diamondbacks-trade-jason-kubel-to-cleveland-indians-for-cash-minor-leaguer/28564/
  19. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2013/11/indians-decline-jason-kubels-option.html
  20. https://www.spotrac.com/mlb/player/_/id/525/jason-kubel
  21. https://www.baseballprospectus.com/player/31757/jason-kubel/
  22. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.fcgi?id=kubelja01&year=2014&t=b
  23. https://www.si.com/si-wire/2014/06/16/twins-release-jason-kubel
  24. https://www.mlb.com/news/spring-training-a-family-affair-for-minnesota-twins-jason-kubel-michael-tonkin/c-68230602
  25. https://www.foxsports.com/stories/other/brothers-in-law-kubel-tonkin-hoping-to-make-twins-roster
  26. https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/2004_ALDS2.shtml
  27. https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/2009_ALDS1.shtml
  28. https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/2010_ALDS2.shtml
  29. https://people.com/parents/jason-kubel/
  30. https://www.sbnation.com/2012/5/30/3053587/jason-kubel-paternity-leave-list-diamondbacks-news
  31. https://hashtagido.wordpress.com/2017/04/04/a-love-for-the-game-and-each-other/
  32. https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/free-agent-of-jason-kubel-still-not-actively-seeking-contract/
  33. https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/jason-kubel-not-actively-seeking-job-in-the-majors/
  34. https://www.milb.com/rochester/news/2025-rw-hof
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