| Buddy Kennedy | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Kennedy with theArizona Diamondbacks in 2023 | |
| Free agent | |
| Infielder | |
| Born: (1998-10-05)October 5, 1998 (age 27) Millville, New Jersey, U.S. | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| June 17, 2022, for the Arizona Diamondbacks | |
| MLB statistics (through 2025 season) | |
| Batting average | .178 |
| Home runs | 2 |
| Runs batted in | 20 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
Clifton Lewis "Buddy"Kennedy (born October 5, 1998) is an American professionalbaseballinfielder who is a free agent. He has previously played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theArizona Diamondbacks,Detroit Tigers,Philadelphia Phillies,Toronto Blue Jays, andLos Angeles Dodgers.
Born and raised inMillville, New Jersey, Kennedy attendedMillville Senior High School. There, he playedbaseball and batted .493 with sixhome runs as a senior in 2017.[1]
He was selected by theArizona Diamondbacks in the fifth round of the2017 Major League Baseball draft[2] and signed for $550,000, forgoing his commitment to playcollege baseball at theUniversity of North Carolina.[3]
Kennedy made his professional debut with theArizona League Diamondbacks, batting .270 with nine doubles, eight triples, and twenty RBIs over fifty games.[4] In 2018, he played with theMissoula Osprey with whom he had aslash line of a .327batting average, .396on base percentage and .465slugging percentage with fourhome runs and 32RBIs over 57 games.[5] For the 2019 season, he played for theKane 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 theCOVID-19 pandemic.[7][8] Kennedy began the 2021 season with theHillsboro Hops and was promoted to theAmarillo 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 theArizona Fall League for theSalt River Rafters after the season,[12] batting .236 in 16 games.[13]
Kennedy was assigned to theReno Aces of theTriple-APacific Coast League to begin the 2022 season,[14] where he hit .261 in 93 games with seven homers and 40 RBI.[13] On June 17, the Diamondbacks selected his contract and he made his MLB debut that night as the startingdesignated hitter versus theMinnesota Twins.[15] He recorded his first MLB hit that night with a single offDevin Smeltzer.[16] On June 19, he recorded his first MLB home run, agrand slam offCaleb Thielbar of theMinnesota Twins.[17] In 30 games for the Diamondbacks, he had a .217 batting average.[13] He was sent outright off the roster and back to the minors on November 11.[18]
Kennedy was assigned to Reno to begin the 2023 season, where he played in 87 games and hit .318/.447/.480 with five home runs and 46 RBI.[13] On August 12, the Diamondbacks again selected Kennedy's contract, adding him back to the major league roster.[19] In 10 games for Arizona, he went 4-for-24 (.167) with one RBI.[13] On September 6, he wasdesignated for assignment to make room on the roster forSeby Zavala, who was claimed off waivers.[20]
On September 9, 2023, Kennedy was claimed off waivers by theOakland Athletics.[21] In 11 games for the Triple-ALas Vegas Aviators, Kennedy hit .216/.326/.216 with no home runs, four RBI, and six walks.[13]
On October 25, 2023, Kennedy was claimed off waivers by theSt. Louis Cardinals.[22] However, he was designated for assignment on February 27, 2024[23][24] and claimed off waivers by theDetroit Tigers on February 29.[25][26] He was optioned to the Triple-AToledo Mud Hens to begin the 2024 season,[27] where he played in 39 games with a .234 batting average.[13] The Tigers called up Kennedy on April 20 to replaceGio Urshela, who was placed on the injured list.[28] In six games for Detroit, he went 2-for-10 with one home run and four RBI.[13] On June 3, Kennedy was once more designated for assignment.[29]
On June 7, 2024, Kennedy was traded to thePhiladelphia Phillies in exchange for cash considerations.[30][31] On September 9, in his third game with the Phillies, Philadelphia fans chanted "Buddy," repeatedly as Kennedy walked in a pinch-hit appearance, one batter beforeKody Clemens hit a bases loaded walk-off single in a 2–1 win over theTampa Bay Rays.[32] In eight appearances for the Phillies, Kennedy went 2-for-11 (.182) with two RBI and two walks.[33] He also played in 67 games for the Triple-ALehigh Valley IronPigs, where he batted .294 with 10 homers and 35 RBI.[13]
Kennedy, the final cut from the Phillies 2025Opening Day roster, was designated for assignment on March 27.[34][35] On April 1, he cleared waivers and elected free agency in lieu of an outright assignment to the minors. However, he re-signed with the organization on a minor league contract the same day.[36] In 61 appearances for Lehigh, Kennedy batted .283/.388/.447 with eight home runs, 40 RBI, and three stolen bases.[13] On June 19, the Phillies added him back to their active major league roster.[37][38] In four appearances for Philadelphia, he went 0-for-7 with one walk[13] and he was once more designated for assignment on June 30.[39][40] He elected free agency after clearing waivers on July 5.[41]
On July 9, 2025, Kennedy signed a minor league contract with theToronto Blue Jays.[42] In 16 appearances for the Triple-ABuffalo Bisons, he batted .207/.309/.259 with five RBI and nine walks.[13] On August 5, he was added to the Blue Jays active roster,[43] and made two appearances for Toronto, going 1-for-5 (.200) with a walk.[33] Kennedy was designated for assignment by the Blue Jays on August 12.[44]
On August 15, 2025, Kennedy was claimed off waivers by theLos Angeles Dodgers.[45] Kennedy had one hit in 17 at-bats for the Dodgers across seven games, with one RBI.[33] He was designated for assignment on August 25.[46] He cleared waivers on August 28, and elected to become a free agent rather than accept an outright assignment to the minors.[47]
On September 1, 2025, Kennedy signed a minor league contract to return to theToronto Blue Jays organization.[48] He elected free agency on November 6.[49]
Kennedy is close friends withLos Angeles AngelsoutfielderMike Trout and trains with him in the off-season.[50] Kennedy's grandfather,Don Money, played in MLB for thePhiladelphia Phillies andMilwaukee Brewers.[51]