Rob Refsnyder Bio
Robert Daniel Refsnyder, born on March 26, 1991, in Seoul, South Korea, is an American professional baseball outfielder currently playing for the Seattle Mariners in Major League Baseball (MLB). He was adopted by a couple from Southern California at the age of five months. A talented athlete, Refsnyder excelled in multiple sports at Laguna Hills High School before playing college baseball at the University of Arizona, where he helped lead the Wildcats to a College World Series victory in 2012 and was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. Refsnyder made his MLB debut with the New York Yankees in 2015 and has since played for several teams including the Toronto Blue Jays and Boston Red Sox, showcasing his versatility across both outfield and infield positions.
Early Life and Background
Refsnyder was born Kim Jung-tae in Seoul, South Korea. When he was five months old, he was adopted by Jane and Clint Refsnyder, a couple of German and Irish descent from Laguna Hills, California, through Holt International Children’s Services. Three years before the Refsnyders adopted Rob, they had adopted a girl, Elizabeth, also from South Korea. Refsnyder attended Laguna Hills High School in Laguna Hills, California, where he played baseball, basketball, and American football. He played as a wide receiver and outside linebacker for the football team in his junior year, and as the quarterback in his senior year. In his senior season, he was named his division’s Offensive Player of the Year for the football team and co-most valuable player of the Pacific Coast League for the baseball team. Colleges in the Pacific-10 Conference recruited Refsnyder to play quarterback for their football teams.
Path to Baseball
Enrolling at the University of Arizona, Refsnyder played college baseball for the Arizona Wildcats baseball team in the Pacific-10 Conference. In his freshman year, in the 2010 season, Refsnyder batted .344 with two home runs in 57 games. He was an All-Pacific-10 Honorable Mention. As a sophomore, Refsnyder played in all 60 Wildcats games and batted .320 with six home runs. Refsnyder was a first team selection for the All-Pacific 10 Conference teams. After his sophomore season, Refsnyder played collegiate summer baseball for the Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod Baseball League. As a junior during the 2012 Wildcats season, Refsnyder batted .364, leading the Wildcats with eight home runs, and recording 66 runs batted in (RBIs) and 14 stolen bases. In the first game of the 2012 College World Series (CWS), Refsnyder hit a home run. Refsnyder batted 10-for-21 (.476) in the 2012 CWS, and the Wildcats defeated the South Carolina Gamecocks. He was named the CWS Most Outstanding Player.
Rob Refsnyder Career
Early Career (2015-2017)
The New York Yankees selected Refsnyder in the fifth round, with the 187th overall selection, in the 2012 MLB draft. Refsnyder signed with the Yankees on July 6, receiving a $205,900 signing bonus. He reported to the Charleston RiverDogs of the Single–A South Atlantic League, where he made his professional debut on July 10, 2012. He batted .241 for Charleston in 2012. The Yankees assigned Refsnyder to Charleston to start the 2013 season. After posting a .370 batting average and a .452 on-base percentage (OBP) in 13 games, Refsnyder was promoted to the Tampa Yankees of the High–A Florida State League on April 19. He batted .283 with a .408 OBP and a .404 slugging percentage in 117 games for Tampa, hitting six home runs and recording 51 RBIs. Refsnyder began the 2014 season with the Trenton Thunder of the Double–A Eastern League. With the help of Marcus Thames, the Thunder’s hitting coach, Refsnyder made changes to his swing that increased his power output. He won the Eastern League Player of the Week Award for the week of May 26 – June 1. After batting .342 with six home runs in 60 games for Trenton, Refsnyder was promoted to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders of the Triple–A International League on June 10. Refsnyder finished the season with a .300 average, eight home runs, and 33 RBI in 77 games for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Playing second base, he was one of the Yankees’ top prospects.
Breakthrough (2015-2017)
The Yankees gave Refsnyder an opportunity to compete for a spot with the major league team in 2015, but assigned him to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to start the season so that he could continue to work on his defense. The Yankees promoted Refsnyder to the major league club on July 11. With his callup, Refsnyder became the fourth position player in MLB history to be born in South Korea. He made his major league debut that day and recorded his first two major league hits, including a two-run home run, on July 12. After Refsnyder played four games, the Yankees optioned him to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The Yankees promoted Refsnyder to the majors once again on September 1, 2015, as part of their September call-ups. Refsnyder finished the regular season with a .302 average and two home runs in the major league, where he played second base. He started for the Yankees in the 2015 American League Wild Card Game, which they lost. In 2016, Refsnyder competed with Ronald Torreyes for a utility infielder role with the Yankees. The Yankees chose Torreyes and optioned Refsnyder to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on March 27. The Yankees promoted him to the major leagues on May 17. Following injuries to first baseman Mark Teixeira and Dustin Ackley, the Yankees began to play Refsnyder at first base. He batted .262 in 122 at bats before he was optioned back to the RailRiders on August 11. He was again promoted to the major leagues as a September call-up. Refsnyder finished the 2016 season with a .250 average in 58 major league games.
Notable Works and Milestones
Refsnyder’s signature work includes his performance in the 2012 College World Series, where he was named the Most Outstanding Player. He has played for multiple teams throughout his career, showcasing his adaptability and skill across various positions.
Rob Refsnyder Award Nominations
Throughout his career, Rob Refsnyder has not received any major award nominations.
Rob Refsnyder Awards Won
Rob Refsnyder has not won any major awards during his professional baseball career.
Rob Refsnyder Family
Rob Refsnyder is married to Monica Refsnyder, whom he met while they were both students at the University of Arizona in 2012. They married in December 2015. The couple has a son, born in 2021.
Personal Life
Refsnyder is supportive of adoption and has participated in initiatives to raise awareness for foster children. He is also known for his athletic background, having excelled in multiple sports during his high school years.
