Kinsolving Elected to the Frontier League HOF

Article presented by Scioto Valley Dumpsters …

Just over two decades ago, Darin Kinsolving arrived in Chillicothe. At 22 years old he was looking to mak his mark on America’s past time. It’s fitting, the player who wore number 23 would be recognized in 2023 as an inductee in the Frontier League Hall of Fame.

“I’m honored, I’m blessed” said Kinsolving. “Just brings back a lot of memories of time in Chillicothe. We had some great teams.” Kinsolving will be inducted at a special ceremony July 15^th at Grizzlies Park, home to the Gateway Grizzlies where he finally would settle after his playing days came to a close.

He played in 243 games over three seasons as the Paints first baseman from 2001-03 during the club’s affiliation with the Frontier League.

The Paints came up short in a bid for the FL Championship his first season, dropping their series to Richmond 2-0. His last season, Chillicothe lost in the East Division Championship Series to Evansville two games to one. Evansville lost to 2003 FL Champ Gateway.

The 2003 season was his most productive, second in the league in batting (.336), third in runs batted in (76), 4^th in both home runs (15) and hits (99). During his Paints career, Kinsolving accumulated 282 hits , scored 169 runs, hit 40 home runs with 196 RBI and batted .323.

“I can’t tell you how excited I was to play in Chillicothe. I looked forward to it every year.” He fondly recalled three seasons with his host family, Dave & Janet Whitehouse. “They were awesome. Man, I miss them a lot. They’re just awesome, awesome people.”

His playing career was cut short by a shoulder injury. The Frontier League eligibility for players was capped at age 27. After Kinsolving aged out, he moved on to the Can-Am and Northern League and the injury bug hit him. “Finally, it just blew out on me.”

Kinsolving and former Paint Phil Warren have been inseparable for most of their days in baseball. The two first met at Southeast Missouri State as freshmen in college. Kinsolving landed in Chillicothe first, then Warren followed. “

When Kinsolving’s career as a player ended, he would get another call. Warren at the time was managing the Gateway Grizzlies and invited him to join his staff. “I coached with him off and off for 13, 14 years” as hitting coach. Warren recently retired as manager, but the two formed the Grizzlies Baseball Academy. Outside of baseball, they hunt, fish and like brothers, do many things together.

Did time in Ohio’s First Capital leave an impression on Kinsolving? “Chillicothe gave me a start” he acknowledged. “When I’m working with kids in my Baseball Academy here, even kids that I’ve had over 15-20 years, they’re looking for opportunities – I just reach out and try to give them opportunities. Whether it’s making a call to a coach or trying to get them a tryout here or there… If I didn’t have Chillicothe, I wouldn’t have had any of this.”

Joining Kinsolving in the 2023 Class of the Frontier League Hall of Fame C.J. Beatty (Washington Wild Things), John Cate (Richmond Roosters), Keith Habig (Richmond Roosters), Wes Long (Windy City Thunderbolts), Steve Marino (Evansville Otters/Southern Illinois Miners), Joe Ronca (Springfield Capitals) & 1998 FL Champions Springfield.

Kinsolving joins fellow Paints in the FL HOF: Scott Pinoni (2014), Dr. Chris Hanners (2014), Gator McBride (2017), Travis Garcia (2017), Mitch House (2019) and Radio Announcer/Legal Counsel and Deputy Commissioner Kevin Rouch (2021). While he’s not a member of the Hall, in 2016, the League recognized Brian Tollberg’s call up to Major League Baseball in 2000 was marked as “The Moment” as the FL’s first player to debut in MLB. A local tie to the FL HOF is Zane Trace’s Andrew Davis, inducted in 2018. Davis was a member of the Lake Erie Crushers from 2009-2014.

To see the Frontier League Hall of Fame page, CLICK HERE

To learn more about Kinsolving’s Baseball Academy, CLICK HERE