Wednesday was a busy one for the Purple Sox: the 40-man roster is full as soon as extra (IKF and Mickey Gasper) and the group is, presumably, set. There are query marks remaining, like the place Marcelo Mayer will play or what degree Triston Casas begins the season at, or if, at this late stage, they commerce an outfielder.
Within the meantime, we’ve a brand new participant to speak, suppose, and write about: Isiah Kiner-Falefa. I’d been saving “the place did you come from, the place did you go, why’d Breslow signal you, Connor Joe” all winter and that didn’t occur, so let’s break down the frivolities of IKF.
Kiner-Falefa has participant in eight huge league seasons. His profession slash line is .262/.311/.349. He’s hit between .261 and .271 5 instances. His highest batting common was .280 and his lowest .238. He’s by no means posted an OPS of .700 or extra in a full season (when traded, he has accomplished so throughout elements of seasons).
He’s stolen double-digit bases in every of the final 5 seasons.
He’s by no means hit greater than eight residence runs, which he’s accomplished twice.
He’s had not less than one triple ever yr besides 2022 when he performed 142 video games — the second highest whole of his profession.
He spent 4 years with the Texas Rangers after which (elements of) two seasons with the Yankees, Pirates, and Blue Jays.
In December 2023, Kiner-Falefa signed with the Toronto Blue Jays.
On the deadline in 2024, the Jays traded him to the Pirates for a minor league infielder (Charles McAdoo) who performs second and third plus some proper subject. IKF has performed principally shortstop, third, and second however you get the purpose.
On August 31, 2025 the Blue Jays claimed him off waivers and he bought 60 plate appearances within the postseason together with 18 within the 2025 World Sequence.
Over three seasons (6.2 innings), IKF has a 1:2 Okay:B and an ERA of two.70.
He depends on two pitches:
The hot button is finding the eephus and fastball in the identical space of the field.
Will he turn into Alex Cora’s default place participant pitcher? If Marcelo Mayer and Romy Gonzalez are wholesome and efficient, that’s another reason to hold onto a roster spot. Defensive flexibility being the first one.
In opposition to the Purple Sox he’s been nearly as common to himself as he will be: .254/.305/.387 over 54 video games.
At Fenway Park particularly he’s struggled: .228/.282/.304. Though a pattern of simply 23 video games, like his historical past going through Boston, is comparatively meaningless.
He received a Gold Glove in 2020 at third base. A few of that infield protection Craig Breslow was speaking about!
He was born in Hawaii. The Purple Sox singed a man from Hawaii earlier than…it went effectively.
