Rob Refsnyder facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rob Refsnyder |
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Refsnyder with the St. Paul Saints in 2021
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| Boston Red Sox – No. 30 | |||
| Outfielder | |||
| Born: Kim Jung-tae 김정태 March 26, 1991 Seoul, South Korea |
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| debut | |||
| July 11, 2015, for the New York Yankees | |||
| MLB statistics (through 2024 season) |
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| Batting average | .253 | ||
| Home runs | 24 | ||
| Runs batted in | 124 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Robert Daniel Refsnyder (born Kim Jung-tae; Korean: 김정태, March 26, 1991) is a Korean American professional baseball outfielder for the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB).
Refsnyder was born in Seoul, South Korea and was adopted by a couple from Southern California when he was five months old. He became a three-sport star at Laguna Hills High School and enrolled at the University of Arizona, where he played college baseball for the Arizona Wildcats as their right fielder. Winning the 2012 College World Series (CWS) with the Wildcats, Refsnyder was named the CWS Most Outstanding Player.
The Yankees selected Refsnyder in the fifth round of the 2012 MLB draft. He began playing second base and became one of the Yankees' top prospects. He made his MLB debut with the Yankees in 2015. Subsequently, he played for the Toronto Blue Jays, the Tampa Bay Rays, Texas Rangers, and Minnesota Twins before signing with the Red Sox ahead of the 2022 season. During his major league career, Refsnyder has played all three outfield positions and has played every infield position except shortstop.
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Early life
Refsnyder was born Kim Jung-tae in Seoul, South Korea. When he was five months old, he was adopted by Jane and Clint Refsnyder, a couple of German and Irish descent from Laguna Hills, California, through Holt International Children's Services. Three years before the Refsnyders adopted Rob, they had adopted a girl, Elizabeth, also from South Korea.
Amateur career
Refsnyder attended Laguna Hills High School in Laguna Hills, California, and he played baseball, basketball, and American football. He played as a wide receiver and outside linebacker for the football team in his junior year, and as the quarterback in his senior year. In his senior season, he was named his division's Offensive Player of the Year for the football team and co-most valuable player of the Pacific Coast League for the baseball team. Colleges in the Pacific-10 Conference recruited Refsnyder to play quarterback for their football teams.
Enrolling at the University of Arizona, Refsnyder played college baseball for the Arizona Wildcats baseball team in the Pacific-10 Conference. In his freshman year, in the 2010 season, Refsnyder batted .344 with two home runs in 57 games. He was an All-Pacific-10 Honorable Mention. As a sophomore, Refsnyder played in all 60 Wildcats games and batted .320 with six home runs. Refsnyder was a first team selection for the All-Pacific 10 Conference teams. After his sophomore season, Refsnyder played collegiate summer baseball for the Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod Baseball League.
As a junior during the 2012 Wildcats season, Refsnyder batted .364, leading the Wildcats with eight home runs, and recording 66 runs batted in (RBIs) and 14 stolen bases. In the first game of the 2012 College World Series (CWS), Refsnyder hit a home run. Refsnyder batted 10-for-21 (.476) in the 2012 CWS and the Wildcats defeated the South Carolina Gamecocks. He was named the CWS Most Outstanding Player.
Professional career
New York Yankees (2012-2017)
The New York Yankees selected Refsnyder in the fifth round, with the 187th overall selection, in the 2012 MLB draft. Refsnyder signed with the Yankees on July 6, receiving a $205,900 signing bonus. He reported to the Charleston RiverDogs of the Single–A South Atlantic League, where he made his professional debut on July 10, 2012. He batted .241 for Charleston in 2012.
The Yankees assigned Refsnyder to Charleston to start the 2013 season. After posting a .370 batting average and a .452 on-base percentage (OBP) in 13 games, Refsnyder was promoted to the Tampa Yankees of the High–A Florida State League on April 19. He batted .283 with a .408 OBP and a .404 slugging percentage in 117 games for Tampa, hitting six home runs and recording 51 RBIs.
Refsnyder began the 2014 season with the Trenton Thunder of the Double–A Eastern League. With the help of Marcus Thames, the Thunder's hitting coach, Refsnyder made changes to his swing that increased his power output. He won the Eastern League Player of the Week Award for the week of May 26 – June 1. After batting .342 with six home runs in 60 games for Trenton, Refsnyder was promoted to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders of the Triple–A International League on June 10. Refsnyder finished the season with a .300 average, eight home runs, and 33 RBI in 77 games for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Playing second base, he was one of the Yankees' top prospects.
The Yankees gave Refsnyder an opportunity to compete for a spot with the major league team in 2015, but assigned him to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to start the season so that he could continue to work on his defense. The Yankees promoted Refsnyder to the major league club on July 11. With his callup, Refsnyder became the fourth position player in MLB history to be born in South Korea, following Hee-seop Choi, Shin-Soo Choo, and Jung-ho Kang. He made his major league debut that day and recorded his first two major league hits--including a two-run home run--on July 12. After Refsnyder played four games, the Yankees optioned him to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The Yankees promoted Refsnyder to the majors once again on September 1, 2015, as part of their September call-ups. Refsnyder finished the regular season with a .302 average and two home runs in the major league, where he played second base. He started for the Yankees in the 2015 American League Wild Card Game, which they lost.
In 2016, Refsnyder competed with Ronald Torreyes for a utility infielder role with the Yankees. The Yankees chose Torreyes and optioned Refsnyder to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on March 27. The Yankees promoted him to the major leagues on May 17. Following injuries to first baseman Mark Teixeira and Dustin Ackley, the Yankees began to play Refsnyder at first base. He batted .262 in 122 at bats before he was optioned back to the RailRiders on August 11. He was again promoted to the major leagues as a September call-up. Refsnynder finished the 2016 season with a .250 average in 58 major league games.
Refsnyder competed for a role on the Yankees' Opening Day roster in 2017, but was optioned to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre for the start of the season. When the Yankees acquired David Robertson, Todd Frazier, and Tommy Kahnle on July 19, Refsnyder was designated for assignment to make room on their 40-man roster. Through July 19, Refsnyder had a .135 batting average in 37 at bats for the Yankees.
Toronto Blue Jays (2017)
On July 23, 2017, the Yankees traded Refsnyder to the Toronto Blue Jays for Ryan McBroom. The Blue Jays assigned Refsnyder to the Buffalo Bisons of the International League. The Blue Jays promoted Refsnyder to the major leagues on July 29 to provide infield depth. Refsnyder received playing time with Toronto as a second baseman, batting .196 in 32 games in the majors in 2017.
Tampa Bay Rays (2018)
After the Cleveland Indians claimed Refsnyder off of waivers on November 20, 2017, the Tampa Bay Rays acquired him from the Indians in exchange for cash considerations on March 27, 2018.
The Rays included Refsnyder on their Opening Day roster, and he batted ninth in the batting order as the designated hitter. Primarily playing against left-handed pitchers, Refsnyder batted .167 in 40 games before the Rays designated him for assignment on June 19. Refsnyder cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Durham Bulls of the International League. Refsnyder batted .283 in 51 games for Durham. Durham won the International League championship, and Refsnyder was named the postseason's most valuable player, as he batted .367 with two home runs and six RBI in the postseason. Refsnyder elected free agency following the season.
Arizona Diamondbacks (2019)
Refsnyder signed a minor-league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks for the 2019 season on November 20, 2018. The Diamondbacks assigned him to the Reno Aces of the Triple–A Pacific Coast League to start the 2019 season. He played one game for Reno, going 0-for-4 with one strikeout.
Cincinnati Reds (2019)
On April 7, 2019, the Diamondbacks traded Refsnyder to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations. The Reds assigned him to the Louisville Bats of the International League. Refsnyder batted .315 with 10 home runs and 45 RBI in 85 games for the Bats. The Reds released him from the organization on August 26.
Texas Rangers (2020)
Refsnyder signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers for the 2020 season on December 5, 2019. He made the Rangers' Opening Day roster in 2020, which had been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After hitting .200/.265/.233 without a home run in 34 plate appearances for the Rangers, Refsnyder was designated for assignment on August 24. He elected to become a free agent.
Minnesota Twins (2021)
The Minnesota Twins signed Refsnyder to a minor league contract with a non-roster invitation to spring training on December 17, 2020. He began the 2021 season with the St. Paul Saints. On May 15, the Twins selected Refsnyder to the active roster. Despite the fact that he had never before played center field in the major leagues, Refsnyder served as the backup center fielder to Max Kepler.
When Kepler went on the injured list, on May 30, Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said that he had no choice but to "ride Refsnyder" in center field. Refsnyder suffered a concussion on June 2 and a strained left hamstring on June 8. Refsnyder finished the 2021 season with a .245 batting average, two home runs, 12 RBIs, and one stolen base in 51 major league games. On November 5, 2021, the Twins outrighted him off of the 40-man roster, and he elected for free agency.
Boston Red Sox (2022–present)
Refsnyder signed a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox on November 30, 2021. After starting the season batting 14-for-35 (.400) for the Worcester Red Sox of the International League, he was added to Boston's active roster on April 19. Refsnyder made his debut with Boston on April 23 as the team's designated hitter. Refsnyder was returned to Worcester on April 29. On June 10, the Red Sox promoted Refsnyder once again. He served as a fourth outfielder until being placed on the injured list with a right knee sprain on August 2. He rejoined the team on August 16. The Red Sox placed Refsnyder on the injured list due to back spasms on October 3, ending his season with a .307 average, a .384 OBP, and six home runs in 177 plate appearances across 57 major league games.
Refsnyder and the Red Sox agreed to a $1.2 million salary for the 2023 season, avoiding salary arbitration. On June 3, 2023, Refsnyder signed a one-year, $1.85 million contract extension with the Red Sox that included a club option for the 2025 season. During the 2023 season, he batted .248 with one home run and 28 RBIs in 89 games.
During spring training in 2024, Refsnyder fractured a toe on his left foot, delaying his availability for the regular season. For the season, he appeared in 93 games and batted .283 with 11 home runs and 40 runs batted in. After the season, the team exercised its $2.1 million club option to bring Refsnyder back for the 2025 season.
Personal life
Refsnyder met his wife, Monica (née Drake), while they were both students at the University of Arizona in 2012. She is an All-American swimmer and competed in the 2008 and 2012 United States Olympic trials, attempting to qualify for the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics. They married in December 2015. Their son was born in 2021.
Refsnyder is supportive of adoption. He helped to design a T-shirt with Athletes Brand to raise money for A Kid's Place, an organization in the Tampa Bay area that helps foster children.
During the 2012 College World Series, Refsnyder claimed that he regularly heard racist taunts from South Carolina fans, later tweeting in response that he would never live in South Carolina "because they can't accept Asians playing baseball".
See also
- List of Major League Baseball players from South Korea
- International adoption of South Korean children
