Jason Kubel is a former professional baseball player who played in the Major League Baseball (MLB) for over a decade. He was born on May 25, 1982, in Belle Fourche, South Dakota, and grew up in California. Kubel was a left-handed outfielder and designated hitter who played for several teams during his career.
Kubel was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 12th round of the 2000 MLB draft. He made his debut with the Twins in 2004 and played with them until 2011. During his time with the Twins, Kubel was known for his power hitting and ability to hit for extra bases. He hit a career-high 28 home runs in 2009 and had a career-best 103 runs batted in (RBIs) in 2010. Kubel was also a reliable fielder, playing primarily in left field.
In 2012, Kubel signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks as a free agent. He played with the Diamondbacks for two seasons, hitting 30 home runs and driving in 90 RBIs in 2012. However, his performance declined in 2013, and he was traded to the Cleveland Indians in August of that year.
Kubel played with the Indians for the remainder of the 2013 season and became a free agent at the end of the year. He signed a minor league contract with the Minnesota Twins in 2014 but was released in May of that year. Kubel then signed with the Philadelphia Phillies but was released again in August 2014.
Overall, Kubel had a solid career in the MLB, hitting 139 home runs and driving in 578 RBIs. He had a career batting average of .262 and an on-base percentage of .327. Kubel was known for his power hitting and ability to hit for extra bases, with 288 doubles and 21 triples in his career. He was also a reliable fielder, with a career fielding percentage of .986.
Kubel retired from baseball in 2015, ending his 11-year career in the MLB. He currently lives in Arizona with his family and is involved in coaching youth baseball.
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