| Desmond Jennings | |
|---|---|
 Jennings with the Rays in 2014 | |
| Outfielder | |
| Born: (1986-10-30)October 30, 1986 (age 39) Birmingham, Alabama, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 1, 2010, for the Tampa Bay Rays | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| August 2, 2016, for the Tampa Bay Rays | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .245 |
| Home runs | 55 |
| Runs batted in | 191 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
Desmond Delane Jennings (born October 30, 1986) is an American former professionalbaseballoutfielder. He played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theTampa Bay Rays.
Jennings was born inBirmingham, Alabama, the second of three sons born to Edmond and Paulette Jennings.[1][2] He is a cousin ofNFL linemanAndre Smith. AtPinson Valley High School inPinson, Alabama, Jennings lettered in baseball,football andbasketball. He received an offer from theGeorgia Bulldogs to play both baseball and football collegiately.[2]
Jennings was selected by theCleveland Indians in the 18th round of the2005 amateur draft out of Pinson Valley High School but did not sign. After failing to qualify academically for theUniversity of Alabama, Jennings decided to enroll atItawamba Community College to play baseball and football;[2] he led all junior college wide receivers with 54 receptions while scoring 6 touchdowns and netting 848 yards in 8 games. On thediamond, he hit .378 with 29 steals. Jennings was picked by theTampa Bay Devil Rays in the 10th round of the2006 amateur draft and signed.
Jennings was the Rays' fifth-best prospect heading into the 2009 season according toBaseball America,[3] and the 18th-best prospect overall in their midseason top 25.[4]
Jennings was named to the 2010All-Star Futures Game. From 2008 to 2011, Jennings was a top-100 prospect in baseball in each preseason ranking of bothBaseball America andBaseball Prospectus. He peaked at sixth overall inBaseball America's pre-2010 ranking.[5]
In 2010, Jennings batted .278 for the season with the Triple-ADurham Bulls, and .190 in 21 at-bats with Tampa Bay.[6]
Jennings was called up from Triple-A Durham on July 23, 2011, as the Rays optionedReid Brignac to Durham. At the time of his call-up, Jennings was batting .275 and leading the International League in runs scored, with 68.[7]On July 28, 2011, Jennings blasted his first career home run, a two-run shot against the Oakland Athletics. On September 7, 2011, Jennings hit his first careerwalk-off home run offMark Lowe to give the Rays a 5-4 win over the Texas Rangers and give them their 1,000th win in franchise history.
With the departure ofB.J. Upton to Atlanta, Jennings began the 2013 season as the starting center fielder and lead-off hitter, withSam Fuld as his backup. On August 3, Jennings fractured his left middle finger, and was placed on the disabled list 3 days later.[8] Jennings returned on August 19, and finished the season with Tampa Bay. In 139 games, he hit .252/.334/.414 with 14 home runs, 54 RBI, 82 runs scored and 20 stolen bases. He led the team in triples (6) and stolen bases.
On May 7, 2013, Jennings hit a line drive which hitToronto Blue Jays pitcherJ. A. Happ in the head. Happ needed to be carried off the field on a stretcher after an 11-minute delay. Jennings was visibly shaken by the accident but remained in the game.[9][10]
On May 3, 2015, Jennings was placed on the 15-day disabled list due to left kneebursitis.[11]
On August 26, 2016, The Rays announced that Jennings would be released the next day.[12] Over his seven-year career with theTampa Bay Rays, he batted .245 with 55 home runs, 191 RBI, and 95 stolen bases.[13]
On February 9, 2017, Jennings signed a minor league contract with theCincinnati Reds organization.[14] He was released by Cincinnati prior to the start of the season on March 31.[15]
On April 5, 2017, Jennings signed a minor league contract with theNew York Mets; he was subsequently assigned to their Triple-A affiliate, theLas Vegas 51s.[16] In 55 appearances for Las Vegas, he slashed .237/.301/.416 with eight home runs, 25 RBI, and three stolen bases. Jennings was released by the Mets organization on June 16.[17]
On April 11, 2018, Jennings signed with theAcereros de Monclova of theMexican League.[18] In 34 appearances for Monclova, he batted .300/.373/.564 with 10 home runs and 38 RBI. Jennings became a free agent following the season.
On February 7, 2025, thePhiladelphia Phillies hired Jennings to serve as the development and assistant hitting coach for their Single-A affiliate, theClearwater Threshers.[19]
· Baseball Almanac
