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. He plays for the Boston Red Sox in Major League Baseball (MLB).
Refsnyder was born in Seoul, South Korea. He was adopted by a family from Southern California when he was five months old. He was a great athlete in high school, playing three different sports.
He went to the University of Arizona and played college baseball. His team, the Arizona Wildcats, won the 2012 College World Series. Refsnyder was even named the best player of the tournament!
The New York Yankees chose Refsnyder in the 2012 MLB draft. He started playing second base and became a promising young player. He made his first MLB appearance with the Yankees in 2015. Since then, he has played for several teams, including the Toronto Blue Jays, Tampa Bay Rays, Texas Rangers, and Minnesota Twins. He joined the Red Sox before the 2022 season. Refsnyder is a versatile player, meaning he can play many different positions on the field.
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Early Life and Adoption
Rob Refsnyder was born Kim Jung-tae in Seoul, South Korea. When he was just five months old, a couple named Jane and Clint Refsnyder adopted him. They were from Laguna Hills, California.
The Refsnyders had also adopted a girl named Elizabeth from South Korea three years earlier. Rob's adoptive parents have German and Irish backgrounds.
Playing Sports in School
Refsnyder went to Laguna Hills High School in California. He was a talented athlete and played three sports: baseball, basketball, and American football.
In football, he played as a wide receiver and outside linebacker. In his final year, he was the quarterback. He was named the Offensive Player of the Year for football in his division. He was also a co-most valuable player in baseball for his league. Some colleges even wanted him to play quarterback for their football teams!
Refsnyder chose to play college baseball at the University of Arizona. In his first year (2010), he had a good batting average of .344. He hit two home runs in 57 games. He was recognized as an Honorable Mention for the All-Pacific-10 team.
As a sophomore, he played in all 60 games and batted .320 with six home runs. He was chosen for the All-Pacific 10 Conference first team. After his second year, he played summer baseball for the Wareham Gatemen.
In his junior year (2012), Refsnyder batted .364. He led his team with eight home runs and had 66 runs batted in (RBIs). He also stole 14 bases. In the first game of the 2012 College World Series (CWS), he hit a home run. Refsnyder played very well in the CWS, hitting 10 out of 21 times. His team, the Wildcats, beat the South Carolina Gamecocks. Because of his great performance, he was named the CWS Most Outstanding Player.
Professional Baseball Journey
Starting with the New York Yankees (2012-2017)
The New York Yankees picked Refsnyder in the fifth round of the 2012 MLB draft. He signed with them in July and started playing professionally. He began with the Charleston RiverDogs in 2012.
Refsnyder moved up through the Yankees' minor league teams. He played for the Tampa Yankees in 2013 and the Trenton Thunder in 2014. He worked on his hitting and became one of the Yankees' top young players.
In 2015, the Yankees called Refsnyder up to the major leagues on July 11. He was one of the first position players born in South Korea to play in MLB. He got his first two major league hits, including a two-run home run, on July 12. He played second base for the Yankees.
In 2016, Refsnyder played in 58 major league games for the Yankees. He sometimes played first base due to injuries to other players. In 2017, he started the season in the minor leagues again. The Yankees later traded him to another team.
Playing for Other Teams (2017-2021)
On July 23, 2017, the Yankees traded Refsnyder to the Toronto Blue Jays. He played second base for the Blue Jays in 32 games.
After that, the Tampa Bay Rays got him in March 2018. He started the season with the Rays, often playing as the designated hitter. He played in 40 games before being sent to the minor leagues. Refsnyder played well for the Durham Bulls, a minor league team, and was named the postseason's most valuable player!
In 2019, Refsnyder signed a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He played one game for their minor league team. Then, he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds. He played well for the Reds' minor league team, hitting 10 home runs.
In 2020, Refsnyder joined the Texas Rangers. He made their team for the season, which was shorter due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He played in 34 games for them.
The Minnesota Twins signed Refsnyder in 2021. He started the season in the minor leagues. On May 15, the Twins called him up to the major leagues. He even played center field, a position he had never played in the majors before! He finished the 2021 season playing in 51 major league games.
Joining the Boston Red Sox (2022-Present)
Refsnyder signed with the Boston Red Sox in November 2021. He started the 2022 season playing very well in the minor leagues. The Red Sox called him up to their main team on April 19. He played as a designated hitter and later as a fourth outfielder. He had a good season, batting .307 with six home runs in 57 games.
In 2023, Refsnyder and the Red Sox agreed to a new contract. He signed an extension that could keep him with the team through the 2025 season. He played in 89 games that year.
In 2024, Refsnyder had a small injury to his toe during spring training. He played in 93 games during the season, hitting 11 home runs. After the season, the Red Sox decided to keep him for the 2025 season.
Personal Life
Rob Refsnyder met his wife, Monica, when they were both students at the University of Arizona. Monica was an amazing swimmer. She tried to qualify for the Olympics in 2008 and 2012. Rob and Monica got married in December 2015. Their son was born in 2021.
Refsnyder cares a lot about adoption. He helped design a T-shirt to raise money for an organization called A Kid's Place. This group helps children in foster care.
During the 2012 College World Series, Refsnyder said he heard some mean comments from fans. He later tweeted that he would never live in South Carolina because of how some people acted.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball players from South Korea
- International adoption of South Korean children
