Jeff Kunkel
Shortstop · Career Stats, Bio & Records (1984-1992)
Jeff Kunkel was a shortstop who played in Major League Baseball from 1984 to 1992 for the Texas Rangers and the Chicago Cubs, a span of 9 seasons. In 357 career games, he hit .221 with 192 hits, 18 home runs, and 73 RBI.
- AVG (Batting Average):
- Hits divided by at bats. .300 is the traditional mark of an excellent hitter.
- HR (Home Runs):
- Hits on which the batter circled the bases and scored, almost always by clearing the outfield fence.
- RBI (Runs Batted In):
- Runs that scored as a direct result of a batter's plate appearance.
- OPS (On-Base Plus Slugging):
- On-base percentage plus slugging percentage, the quickest single summary of offensive value. .900 or better is star-level.
Data updated
- Position
- Shortstop
- Bats / Throws
- R / R
- Height / Weight
- 6'2" / 180 lb
- MLB Debut
- 1984-07-23
- Last Game
- 1992-09-14
Full name: Jeffrey William Kunkel
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 357 | 867 | 88 | 192 | 44 | 9 | 18 | 73 | 9 | 37 | 234 | .221 | .259 | .355 | .614 | -1,463 |
Career AVG .221 vs. league average .257 across their career seasons — 14.0% below league average.
Career OBP .259 vs. league average .323 across their career seasons — 19.9% below league average.
Career SLG .355 vs. league average .388 across their career seasons — 8.4% below league average.
Career OPS .614 vs. league average .711 across their career seasons — 13.6% below league average.
Season-by-Season Batting
Click a stat to plot it across every season.
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | Lg AVG | Lg OBP | Lg SLG | Lg OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | TEX | AL | 50 | 142 | 13 | 29 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 35 | .204 | .259 (-21%) | .322 (-33%) | .384 (-16%) | .707 (-23%) | -582.3 |
| 1985 | TEX | AL | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .250 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 1986 | TEX | AL | 8 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .231 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 1987 | TEX | AL | 15 | 32 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 10 | .219 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 1988 | TEX | AL | 55 | 154 | 14 | 35 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 15 | 0 | 4 | 35 | .227 | .254 (-11%) | .317 (-21%) | .377 (-5%) | .695 (-13%) | -364.6 |
| 1989 | TEX | AL | 108 | 293 | 39 | 79 | 21 | 2 | 8 | 29 | 3 | 20 | 75 | .270 | .254 (+6%) | .319 (+1%) | .375 (+16%) | .694 (+9%) | 445.2 |
| 1990 | TEX | AL | 99 | 200 | 17 | 34 | 11 | 1 | 3 | 17 | 2 | 11 | 66 | .170 | .257 (-34%) | .324 (-32%) | .385 (-27%) | .710 (-29%) | -961.1 |
| 1992 | CHN | NL | 20 | 29 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | .138 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| Career · 8 seasons | 357 | 867 | 88 | 192 | 44 | 9 | 18 | 73 | 9 | 37 | 234 | .221 | — | — | — | — | -1,463 | ||
Lg columns show the league average for that season, with the player's figure as a percentage above or below it. Career totals the seasons listed above.
Season-by-Season Pitching
Click a stat to plot it across every season.
| Year | Team | Lg | W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | Lg ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | TEX | AL | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.00 | — | 0.0 |
| 1989 | TEX | AL | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.2 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 21.60 | — | 0.0 |
| Career · 2 seasons | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.2 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 13.50 | — | 0 | ||
Lg columns show the league average for that season, with the player's figure as a percentage above or below it. Career totals the seasons listed above.
Game Log & Splits
View full game log (359 games) →Per-game data from Retrosheet (regular season, through 2025).
Batting — Home / Away
| Split | G | AB | R | H | HR | RBI | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home | 174 | 422 | 50 | 91 | 13 | 39 | .216 |
| Away | 183 | 445 | 38 | 101 | 5 | 34 | .227 |
Pitching — Home / Away
| Split | G | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home | 2 | 2.2 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 13.50 |
Last 10 Games — Batting
| Date | Tm | Opp | Res | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992-09-14 | CHC | NYN | L | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1992-09-12 | CHC | STL | L | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1992-09-11 | CHC | STL | W | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1992-09-09 | CHC | PIT | L | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1992-09-06 | CHC | SDP | L | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1992-09-05 | CHC | SDP | L | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1992-09-04 | CHC | SDP | L | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1992-09-01 | CHC | LAD | L | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1992-08-26 | CHC | SDP | L | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1992-08-25 | CHC | SDP | L | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Last 2 Games — Pitching
| Date | Tm | Opp | Dec | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989-05-20 | TEX | MIN | — | 1.2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| 1988-08-31 | TEX | MIN | — | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2B | 62 | 40 | 90 | 129 | 9 | 33 |
| 3B | 32 | 19 | 16 | 50 | 6 | 3 |
| OF | 47 | 27 | 74 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| P | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| SS | 207 | 156 | 264 | 451 | 46 | 81 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | TEX | SS | 48 | 43 | 81 | 120 | 17 | 22 |
| 1985 | TEX | SS | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| 1986 | TEX | SS | 5 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 0 |
| 1987 | TEX | 1B | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1987 | TEX | 2B | 10 | 9 | 17 | 25 | 2 | 8 |
| 1987 | TEX | 3B | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1987 | TEX | OF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1987 | TEX | SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1988 | TEX | 2B | 28 | 22 | 42 | 70 | 6 | 15 |
| 1988 | TEX | 3B | 10 | 5 | 4 | 15 | 0 | 0 |
| 1988 | TEX | OF | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1988 | TEX | P | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1988 | TEX | SS | 19 | 12 | 28 | 34 | 2 | 8 |
| 1989 | TEX | 2B | 8 | 4 | 14 | 12 | 0 | 6 |
| 1989 | TEX | 3B | 4 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| 1989 | TEX | OF | 30 | 23 | 59 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| 1989 | TEX | P | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1989 | TEX | SS | 59 | 53 | 68 | 150 | 15 | 21 |
| 1990 | TEX | 2B | 13 | 4 | 12 | 18 | 0 | 3 |
| 1990 | TEX | 3B | 15 | 12 | 10 | 28 | 2 | 3 |
| 1990 | TEX | OF | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1990 | TEX | SS | 67 | 42 | 77 | 126 | 9 | 28 |
| 1992 | CHN | 2B | 3 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| 1992 | CHN | OF | 3 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1992 | CHN | SS | 6 | 1 | 4 | 10 | 0 | 1 |
Career Games by Position
Circle size = games played at each position.
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | 2 |
| First Base | 1 |
| Second Base | 62 |
| Third Base | 32 |
| Shortstop | 207 |
| Left Field | 14 |
| Center Field | 30 |
| Right Field | 4 |
| Designated Hitter | 12 |
Salary History
Jeff Kunkel's recorded salaries total $220,000 over 2 seasons, 1989 to 1990. This total is partial: the salary data covers 1985 to 2016, and Kunkel's career ran from 1984 to 1992. His seasons before 1985 are not included, and no salary is recorded for 5 of his seasons between 1985 and 2016.
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | TEX | AL | $140,000 |
| 1989 | TEX | AL | $80,000 |
| Total recorded salary (partial) | $220,000 | ||
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rider University | Lawrenceville | NJ | 1981, 1982, 1983 |
Jeff Kunkel: the record in brief
The profile opens with Jeff Kunkel's first major league game on July 23, 1984; the last one listed came on September 14, 1992. The team column moves through the Texas Rangers (1984 to 1990) and the Chicago Cubs (1992). At 180 pounds on a 6-foot-2 frame, Kunkel is listed as a shortstop. Kunkel both batted and threw right-handed, per the bio block. The recorded birth is March 25, 1962, in West Palm Beach, FL, USA. Jeff Kunkel was the playing name; the full given name is Jeffrey William.
Kunkel collected 192 hits in 867 at bats across 357 games, good for a .221 batting average, along with 18 homers and 73 runs batted in. The on-base percentage is .259 and the slugging percentage .355, for an OPS of .614. The league as a whole hit .257 across Kunkel's seasons, which puts the .221 career mark 14.0% below average. Kunkel collected a career-high 79 hits in 1989. 1989 was the strongest of the full seasons by average: .270 against a league .254, a 6% edge.
Frequently Asked Questions about Jeff Kunkel
- What years did Jeff Kunkel play?
- Jeff Kunkel played in Major League Baseball from 1984 to 1992.
- Was Jeff Kunkel a pitcher?
- No. Jeff Kunkel was a position player (Shortstop), though he did pitch in 2 career games.
- How many home runs did Jeff Kunkel hit?
- Jeff Kunkel hit 18 career home runs with 192 hits.
- What teams did Jeff Kunkel play for?
- Jeff Kunkel played for 2 teams: the Texas Rangers (1984–1990) and the Chicago Cubs (1992).
- What were Jeff Kunkel's career stats?
- In 357 games, Jeff Kunkel had 192 hits, 18 home runs, 73 RBI, 88 runs, and 9 stolen bases, with a .221 batting average.
- How much did Jeff Kunkel earn in his career?
- Jeff Kunkel's recorded salaries total $220,000 over 2 seasons, 1989 to 1990. This total is partial: the salary data covers 1985 to 2016, and Kunkel's career ran from 1984 to 1992. His seasons before 1985 are not included, and no salary is recorded for 5 of his seasons between 1985 and 2016.
- What was Jeff Kunkel's salary?
- Jeff Kunkel's last recorded salary was $140,000, in 1990. His highest recorded salary was $140,000, in 1990, and his lowest was $80,000, in 1989. The Salary History table lists each season from 1989 to 1990.
- What position did Jeff Kunkel play?
- Jeff Kunkel played primarily as a shortstop, the position where he appeared in the most games.
- How tall was Jeff Kunkel and how much did he weigh?
- Jeff Kunkel was listed at 6 feet 2 inches and 180 pounds.
- How many home runs did Jeff Kunkel hit each season?
- Jeff Kunkel's home runs by season: 3 in 1984, 0 in 1985, 1 in 1986, 1 in 1987, 2 in 1988, 8 in 1989, 3 in 1990, and 0 in 1992. His most in one season was 8, in 1989.
- What was Jeff Kunkel's career batting average?
- Jeff Kunkel batted .221 over his career, with 192 hits in 867 at bats.
- How many RBI did Jeff Kunkel have?
- Jeff Kunkel drove in 73 runs in his career.
- What was Jeff Kunkel's career ERA?
- Jeff Kunkel finished with a 13.50 career ERA, going 0-0 with 1 strikeouts.
- Is Jeff Kunkel in the Hall of Fame?
- No. Jeff Kunkel has not been inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.