Buddy Kennedy
Kennedy with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2023
St. Louis Cardinals
Third baseman / Second baseman
Born: (1998-10-05) October 5, 1998
Millville, New Jersey, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
June 17, 2022, for the Arizona Diamondbacks
MLB statistics
(through 2023 season)
Batting average.206
Home runs1
Runs batted in13
Teams

Clifton Lewis "Buddy" Kennedy (born October 5, 1998) is an American professional baseball third baseman and second baseman for the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Amateur career

Born and raised in Millville, New Jersey, Kennedy attended Millville Senior High School, where he played baseball and batted .493 with six home runs as a senior in 2017.[1] He was selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the fifth round of the 2017 Major League Baseball draft.[2] He signed for $550,000, forgoing his commitment to play college baseball at the University of North Carolina.[3]

Professional career

Arizona Diamondbacks

Kennedy made his professional debut with the Arizona League Diamondbacks, batting .270 with nine doubles, eight triples, and twenty RBIs over fifty games.[4] In 2018, he played with the Missoula Osprey with whom he slashed .327/.396/.465 with four home runs and 32 RBIs over 57 games.[5] For the 2019 season, he played for the Kane County Cougars, hitting .262 with seven home runs and 49 RBIs over 101 games.[6] He did not play a minor league game in 2020 after the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[7][8] Kennedy began the 2021 season with the Hillsboro Hops and was promoted to the Amarillo Sod Poodles in mid-June.[9][10] Over 96 games between the two clubs, Kennedy slashed .290/.384/.523 with 22 home runs, sixty RBIs, and 16 stolen bases.[11] He was selected to play in the Arizona Fall League for the Salt River Rafters after the season.[12]

Kennedy was assigned to the Reno Aces of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League to begin the 2022 season.[13] On June 17, the Diamondbacks selected his contract and he made his MLB debut that night as the starting designated hitter versus the Minnesota Twins.[14] He recorded his first MLB hit that night with a single off of Devin Smeltzer.[15] On June 19, he recorded his first MLB home run, a grand slam versus Caleb Thielbar of the Minnesota Twins.[16] He was sent outright off the roster on November 11, 2022.

He was assigned to Triple–A Reno to begin the 2023 season, where he played in 87 games and hit .318/.447/.480 with 5 home runs and 46 RBI. On August 12, 2023, the Diamondbacks selected Kennedy's contract, adding him to the major league roster.[17] In 10 games for Arizona, Kennedy went 4–for–24 (.167) with 1 RBI. On September 6, he was designated for assignment following the waiver claim of Seby Zavala.[18]

Oakland Athletics

On September 9, 2023, Kennedy was claimed off waivers by the Oakland Athletics.[19] In 11 games for the Triple–A Las Vegas Aviators, Kennedy hit .216/.326/.216 with no home runs, four RBI, and six walks.

St. Louis Cardinals

On October 25, 2023, Kennedy was claimed off waivers by the St. Louis Cardinals.[20]

Personal life

Kennedy is close friends with Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout and trains with him in the off-season.[21] Kennedy's grandfather, Don Money, played in MLB for the Philadelphia Phillies and Milwaukee Brewers.[22]

References

  1. ↑ Anastasia, Phil (June 14, 2017). "Baseball: 'Dream come true' for Millville's Kennedy". Inquirer.com. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
  2. ↑ Zedalis, Joe (June 13, 2017). "Baseball: Millville's Buddy Kennedy is 1st N.J. player taken in MLB Draft, picked by D-backs in 5th round (updated)". NJ.com. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
  3. ↑ Melhorn, Mark (June 24, 2017). "Millville's Buddy Kennedy signs for six-figure bonus with Arizona Diamondbacks". Press of Atlantic City. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
  4. ↑ McGurk, Tom (September 19, 2017). "Baseball: Millville's Kennedy enjoys first year on the job". The Daily Journal. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
  5. ↑ Johnson, Paul (May 25, 2019). "Buddy system: Kennedy adjusts with Kane County Cougars, learns from Angels superstar Mike Trout". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
  6. ↑ "'Buddy knows how to play the game': Kennedy a key as Kane County Cougars clinch playoff spot". Chicago Tribune.
  7. ↑ "Local baseball minor leaguers missing crucial development time".
  8. ↑ "2020 Minor League Baseball season canceled". MLB.com.
  9. ↑ "Millville's Kenndy moving up the minor league ladder - SouthJersey.com". www.southjersey.com.
  10. ↑ Writer, JOHN RUSSO Staff. "Buddy Kennedy's hot bat leads to promotion: Local minor leaguers update". Press of Atlantic City.
  11. ↑ "Seasons end, others continue in postseason play: Local minor leaguers update".
  12. ↑ "Here are the Arizona Fall League rosters". MLB.com.
  13. ↑ @Aces (April 6, 2022). "Introducing your 2022 Reno Aces" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  14. ↑ "Follow Twins at D-backs game FREE with MLB Gameday". MLB.com. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  15. ↑ "The next great from Millville, NJ? D-backs prospect has special relationship with Trout". MLB.com.
  16. ↑ "Buddy Kennedy gives dad a grand Father's Day gift". MLB.com.
  17. ↑ "Diamondbacks-Padres news, updates: Rivera, Robinson moved; Buddy Kennedy to rejoin club". azcentral.com. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
  18. ↑ "Diamondbacks' Buddy Kennedy: Pushed off 40-man roster". cbssports.com. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  19. ↑ https://pressofatlanticcity.com/sports/professional/mlb/athletics-buddy-kennedy/article_9f9deeea-4f54-11ee-a06c-0b9aa0485d77.html
  20. ↑ "Cardinals' Buddy Kennedy: Claimed off waivers by St. Louis". cbssports.com. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  21. ↑ "MWL notes: Kennedy keeps even-keeled".
  22. ↑ "BASEBALL: Kennedy is a 'different' kind of player".
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