Wrestling, on the other hand, was an indoor sport.

“That was the worst,” said Kouzmanoff, now 6-foot-1, 210 pounds. “I was just a freshman, a little guy. I was 115 pounds and had to cut down to 103. And I love food. I had to starve myself and I was wrestling seniors on the varsity. I got worked.”

He played football for a year and made the golf team, too. Kouzmanoff even competed, sort of, in diving.

“I was terrible,” he said. “Terrible!” (Chris Jenkins-San Diego Union Tribune-1/28/07)

Kevin's first job?

"Shoveling horse poop out of a barn in my hometown in Colorado. I remember permanently smelling like horse manure. But getting paid $40 for an hour of work when I was 12 was worth it," Kouzmanoff said.

"Well, the hair that I do have was a bit longer than I usually have it," Kouzmanoff said. "Brad Snyder was my roommate at the time and I was like 'Screw it, I'm just going to shave my head.' As I was messing around, I shaved a Mohawk into it. He convinced me to leave it for a day and basically that day turned into a month. I even dyed it black, but that's when it looked really terrible. I just looked like a scumbag, so I had to get rid of it. But then I had this long, white, untanned strip on my head, and that just looked great. Fans hated it and I loved that. I'd take my hat off before I got into the dugout just to have some fun with them." (Chris Kline-Baseball America-August 17, 2005)

Before 2005 spring training, Baseball America's Prospect Handbook ranked Kouzmanoff as 28th-best prospect in the Tribe farm system. In the spring of 2006, they rated Kevin as 23rd-best prospect in the Indians organization.

Then, in the spring of 2007, they moved Kevin all the way up to #4 in the Padres farm system.

In 2006, Kouzmanoff had the best on-base percentage (.437) in the Indians' farm system.

In 2006, Kevin was named by the Indians as the winner of their Lou Boudreau Award as the top position player in their Minor League system.

Late in 2008 spring training, on March 19, to be exact, Kevin went on a flight with 2006 Red Bull Air Races champion and former World Aerobatics champion Kirby Chambliss over Casa Grande, Arizona.

Kouzmanoff was in the front seat of the same Edge 540 plane that raced over San Diego Bay in the Red Bull Air Races. Chambliss performed a series of maneuvers including snap rolls, knife edges and tumbles.

“It was like an intense roller coaster but better,” said Kouzmanoff. “I have been a fan of the Red Bull Air Race for years and supported Kirby when he came to San Diego (in September 2007). To fly with him is one of the best experiences of my life."


TRANSACTIONS

June 2003: The Indians chose Kevin in the 6th round, out of the University of Nevada at Reno.

November 7, 2006: The Padres sent 2B Josh Barfield to the Indians, acquiring third baseman Kevin and pitcher Andrew Brown from the Cleveland Indians.

January 15, 2010: The A's sent outfielders Scott Hairston and Aaron Cunningham to the Padres, acquiring Kouzmanoff and INF Eric Sogard.

January 19, 2010: The A's and Kouzmanoff avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a $3.1 million contract for 2010.

January 18, 2011: Kevin and the A's again avoided arbitration, agreeing on a $4.75 million.

August 23, 2011: The Rockies sent a player to be named and cash to the A's, acquiring Kouzmanoff and cash.

October 6, 2011: Kevin elected free agency from the Rockies.

January 14, 2012: Kouzmanoff signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Royals. Incentives could increase the value of the deal to $1.3 million. The contract also includes a provision that allows Kouzmanoff to ask for his release if he's still in the minor leagues on May 1.

November 4, 2012: Kevin signed with the Marlins organization.

December 12, 2013: Kouzmanoff signed with the Rangers organization.

October 7, 2014: Kevin chose free agency.

For example, in his time with the Padres, Ruben Rivera showed he could hit balls 400 feet to all fields. But his hitting coach, Merv Rettenmund, and several Padres teammates concluded that Rivera allowed his fear of getting plunked to harm his approach to hitting.

“I don't know why I get hit so much,” Kouzmanoff said. “I see guys jumping out of the way. Me, I guess I'm just so dialed in on pitches, and if it's going to be in the zone.” (Tom Krasovic-San Diego Union Tribune-9/18/08)

While he was in Kinston in 2005, scoreboard operator Delmont Miller nicknamed Kouzmanoff "The Russian Bear" for his all-out play at third—etting dirty and not putting his body into the equation when it comes to playing the position.

Unorthodox has been the more common adjective of choice when describing his play at third—both in his footwork around the bag and in his throwing motion.

But that doesn't bother his manager and it surely doesn't faze Kouzmanoff.

"I don't get the job done the prettiest way. I just worry about making the play," Kouzmanoff said. "The biggest thing for me is using my legs more, moving my feet more. I've always been an upper-body guy, but Tim and (Indians roving infield coordinator) Teddy Kubiak have really played a huge part in teaching me how important the lower body is defensively."  (Chris Kline-Baseball America-6/21/06)

In 2009, Kouzmanoff set the National League fielding record for third basemen, making only three errors in 309 chances for a .990 percentage. That topped the old record of .987 set by Vinny Castilla in 2004. The Hall of Fame called, asking Kevin to send one of his black Rawlings gloves to Cooperstown.

Also: He did not make a single throwing error.

Kevin has made great strides charging bunts and topped rollers.

“Third is a reaction position,” Kouzmanoff said. “The quicker you react, the more plays you make.”

Kevin is a below average runner.

POST-PLAYING CAREER POSITIONS

2019: Kouzmanoff was Hitting Coach for Vermont (NYP-A's).

2020: Kevin was Hitting Coach for the AZL-Athletics.

2023: Kouzmanoff was Hitting Coach for the Stockton Ports (CAL-A's)