The Little League World Series has returned from a lengthy slumber, and much like its many predecessors, this year's iteration looks poised to introduce the masses of baseball fans to the future of the sport.
It's a competition that has introduced the general public to countless sporting icons, from Chris Drury and Cody Bellinger to Mone Davis.
A new candidate has emerged among the crowd of youngsters taking part in the festivities, one whose name might look familiar to baseball viewers of a certain generation.
Michael Kipnis is among the most prominent figures in Hinsdale Little League's lineup, offering a unique skillset from his right-field perch. The Illinois-based side, coached by manager Chad Wanless, enjoyed a wonderful start this year, claiming three straight wins to take home the Great Lakes regional title. Hinsdale is now slated to take on some of the best young players in the world, all in the hopes of becoming Illinois' first-ever LLWS champion.
Kipnis figures to be a big part. In the Little League State Championship against Team Jasper, it was Kipnis who recorded a game-tying double in the bottom of the sixth inning to give Hinsdale a chance at LLWS glory. They walked things off one inning later.
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That Kipnis name just has a certain mystique to it, at least as far as the baseball diamond is concerned. Michael isn't the first Kipnis to make his mark on the sport's biggest stage. That honor belongs to Jason Kipnis, the former All-Star who spent the best years of his career in Cleveland.
So, what, if any, relationship do these two baseball marvels have with one another? The Sporting News has you covered.
Is Michael Kipnis related to Jason Kipnis?
There's currently no evidence that Michael and Jason Kipnis are related to one another (outside of them sharing a last name).
The Kipnis connection does appear to go deeper than their shared surnames. For starters, Jason Kipnis, too, is from Illinois. He grew up in Northbrook, a Chicago suburb located 45 minutes from Hinsdale.
Jason Kipnis — or "Kip," as he was referred to so many times during his big league career — has some more overlap with his younger counterpart. The former Guardians star's middle name is Michael. Go figure.
Ultimately, neither Michael Kipnis nor his 37-year-old brother-in-arms (or, at-bats) has made a statement regarding the two's relationship with one another. However, if Michael can achieve a modicum of what Jason Kipnis did in his big-league career, you'd have to imagine he'd be happy.
