An Ode to the Outlaw

Kevin Kiermaier's 2015 was unreal. Amazing. Incredible. Extraordinary. No matter what crazy laurels or adjectives you want to put on him, it’s probably not enough to fully describe what was an absolute historic season.

The argument is not about if KK was the best this season, but perhaps the best of any season.

About one year ago, talking about Kevin Kiermaier as a future 5 WAR player was absurd. In my wildest dreams, I could not imagine Kiermaier would grow into the dynamic center fielder he is today. Turns out 5 WAR would be conservative (5.5 fWAR and 7.3 bWAR in 2015).

KK's 42 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) broke the single season record. While It is indeed a fairly new stat, anytime you break a single-season record in baseball, it is something to take notice.

The best part of watching Kiermaier this season was seeing all of the ways a center fielder can make a play.

You want diving plays? KK's got em!

Over the shoulder catches? You know it!

But what about that cannon arm?!?

How about wall crashers?

Kevin Kiermaier gave the baseball world a reason to take notice, put himself into the history books, and brought us Rays fans something to behold every time he stepped on the field.

Of yeah, and he also did this:

Gold Glove winners will be announced Tuesday night on ESPN2 at 7:00, and Kiermaier (if there is any justice in the world) should collect his first.