Kipnis Sets Indians Franchise Record with 51 Hits in May

Cleveland Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis recently finished up a historic month, setting a franchise record with his 51 hits in May, according to Elias Sports Bureau (via ESPN Stats & Info).

The old team record of 49 hits in May was set way back in 1913 by none other than the infamous Shoeless Joe Jackson, who finished that season with a .373 batting average and league-leading 197 hits, placing second to Walter Johnson in the American League MVP voting.

While Kipnis seems unlikely to make a run at the MVP award, his month of May was remarkable, featuring four home runs, three triples, 15 doubles, 16 walks, 17 RBI, 30 runs and three stolen bases. He had an otherworldly .429/.511/.706 triple-slash line for the month,after posting a feeble .218/.263/.287 line in April.

Kipnis joins Ty Cobb (1921) and Al Simmons (1925) as the only players since 1914 to record 50 or more hits, 30 or more runs and 20 or more extra-base hits in the month of May, per MLB Stat of the Day.

The 28-year-old second baseman also set an Indians record for any month with his 15 doubles despite recording just one two-bagger in all of April, per MLB Stat of the Day.

According to FanGraphs' measurements of the statistic, Kipnis ranks third among all position players with 3.1 wins above replacement (WAR) this season, trailing only Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper (3.8) and Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson (3.2).

If the season were to end today, it seems the leading candidates for AL MVP honors would be Kipnis, Donaldson, Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout, Oakland Athletics catcher Stephen Vogt and Detroit Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

While clearly one of MLB's top second basemen, Kipnis may find it quite difficult to keep pace with the likes of Trout and Cabrera all season.