Since Ian Kinsler was traded to Detroit in a surprise blockbuster swap of all-star caliber players, he's transformed himself as a player.
No longer is he a threat to hit 20 bombs and steal 20 bases, as he was in Texas, and a lot of that has to do with the vast confines of Detroit's Comerica Park, but also has something to do with a drop in weight that has him looking much different than his days in Texas.
This year, he has five home runs through the first month of the season and despite a recent slump over the last week, he's still batting .295 and has five homers and 15 RBIs — all numbers better than perennial MVP candidate Miguel Cabrera has posted so far this year.
To put that in perspective, Kinsler would currently be the second-leading hitter on the Rangers behind rookie Nomar Mazara. He'd lead the team in homers and sit third in RBIs (Fielder leads the Rangers despite his .213 batting average).
Kinsler has been a bear against the Rangers since the trade, hitting nearly .400 in his matchups with his former teammates, and the Rangers will have to hope that doesn't continue this weekend.
