Brett Kennedy (born August 4, 1994) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Diego Padres and Cincinnati Reds.

Brett Kennedy
Kennedy with the El Paso Chihuahuas in 2018
Free agent
Pitcher
Born: (1994-08-04) August 4, 1994 (age 30)
Pomona, New Jersey, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
August 8, 2018, for the San Diego Padres
MLB statistics
(through 2023 season)
Win–loss record2–2
Earned run average6.65
Strikeouts27
Teams

Early life and college

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Kennedy grew up in Brigantine, New Jersey and attended Atlantic City High School in Atlantic City, New Jersey.[1] In 2011, as a junior, he went 3–2 with a 2.10 ERA and sixty strikeouts over 44+13 innings. pitched.[2] After graduating, he enrolled at Fordham University (the only Division I school to offer him a scholarship) where he played college baseball for the Fordham Rams.[3] In 2015, his junior year, he compiled a 6–8 record with a 4.14 ERA, striking out 97 and walking only twenty over 87 innings.[4] Over the course of his collegiate career, Kennedy posted a 15–17 record with 3.73 ERA and 218 strikeouts (tied for second-most in school history) in fifty appearances (thirty starts).[3]

Professional career

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San Diego Padres

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Kennedy was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 11th round (327th overall) of the 2015 Major League Baseball draft.[5] He signed and made his professional debut that same year with the Tri-City Dust Devils, going 0–2 with a 2.70 ERA in 12 games (nine starts).

In 2016, he pitched for both the Fort Wayne TinCaps and Lake Elsinore Storm, compiling an 8–11 record with a 3.55 ERA in 28 total starts between both teams, and in 2017, he played with the San Antonio Missions where he pitched to a 13–7 record and 3.70 ERA over 26 starts, earning Texas League All-Star honors.[6] He began 2018 with the El Paso Chihuahuas[7] and was named to the Pacific Coast League All-Star team.[8] In 16 starts for El Paso, he posted a 10–0 record with a 2.72 ERA.

Kennedy made his Major League debut on August 8, 2018, earning the loss after allowing six runs over four innings to the Milwaukee Brewers.[9] Kennedy recorded his first career win on September 1, 2018, pitching six scoreless innings against the Colorado Rockies.[10] In his first Major League season, Kennedy went 1–2 in six starts with a 6.75 ERA and 18 strikeouts before a knee injury ended his season.[11]

Kennedy experienced a lat strain in spring training in 2019 and pitched just one minor league inning that season due to injury.[12][13] Kennedy was outrighted off the Padres roster on October 31. Kennedy did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[14] To begin the 2021 season, he was assigned to El Paso.[15] He was released by the Padres on September 12, 2021.[16]

Long Island Ducks

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On April 5, 2022, Kennedy signed with the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.[17] In six starts, he posted a 2–1 record with a 3.03 ERA and 27 strikeouts over 32+23 innings.

Boston Red Sox

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On May 24, 2022, Kennedy's contract was purchased by the Boston Red Sox and he was assigned to the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs.[18] He elected free agency on November 10, 2022.

Long Island Ducks (second stint)

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On April 7, 2023, Kennedy re-signed with the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.[19] Kennedy made 3 starts for the Ducks, recording a 3.09 ERA with 16 strikeouts in 11.2 innings pitched.

Cincinnati Reds

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On May 13, 2023, Kennedy's contract was purchased by the Cincinnati Reds organization and he was assigned to the Triple-A Louisville Bats.[20] In 8 starts for Louisville, he logged a 3.71 ERA with 37 strikeouts in 43+23 innings pitched. On July 4, Kennedy was selected to the major league roster.[21] In 5 appearances for Cincinnati, he recorded a 6.50 ERA with 9 strikeouts in 18.0 innings of work. On October 9, Kennedy was removed from the 40–man roster and sent outright to Triple–A Louisville.[22] The next day, he elected free agency.[23]

On December 27, 2023, Kennedy re-signed with the Reds on a minor league contract.[24] He would start the 2024 season with Triple-A Louisville, logging a 1–5 record and 6.86 ERA across 8 starts. On May 23, 2024, Kennedy was selected to the major league roster.[25] He did not make an appearance for Cincinnati before he was designated for assignment on May 28.[26] Kennedy cleared waivers and was sent outright to Louisville on May 30.[27] He elected free agency on October 7.[28]

References

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  1. ^ McGarry, Michael (August 8, 2018). "A.C. grad Brett Kennedy to make MLB debut Wednesday night". The Press of Atlantic City. Retrieved August 8, 2018.
  2. ^ "Brigantine's Kennedy selected by Padres in MLB draft". shorenewstoday.com. Archived from the original on April 29, 2018. Retrieved April 28, 2018.
  3. ^ a b Stevens, Nick (August 6, 2018). "San Diego Padres: Brett Kennedy Set To Make Major League Debut". Friars on Base. FanSided. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
  4. ^ "Draft tracker: Padres select one local". The San Diego Union-Tribune. June 10, 2015. Retrieved April 28, 2018.
  5. ^ Gill, Mike (June 10, 2015). "A Pair of South Jersey Pitchers Selected in MLB Draft". 973espn.com. ESPN South Jersey. Retrieved April 28, 2018.
  6. ^ Russo, John (August 19, 2017). "Brigantine's Brett Kennedy inches closer to Major League dream". Press of Atlantic City. Retrieved February 25, 2019.
  7. ^ "Brett Kennedy Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  8. ^ Sanders, Jeff (June 28, 2018). "Luis Urias, Brett Kennedy named to AAA All-Star Game". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved July 8, 2018.
  9. ^ "Three HRs in first lift Brewers past Padres". ESPN.com. Associated Press. Retrieved August 8, 2018.
  10. ^ "Kennedy backed by 3 HRs as Padres beat Rockies 7-0". ESPN.com. Associated Press. September 1, 2018. Retrieved September 4, 2018.
  11. ^ Stevens, Nick (September 29, 2018). "San Diego Padres: Brett Kennedy's Surgery And 2019 Role". FriarsOnBase.com. FanSided. Retrieved January 8, 2019.
  12. ^ "Padres' Brett Kennedy: Diagnosed with lat strain". CBSSports.com. March 14, 2019. Retrieved March 31, 2019.
  13. ^ Kevin Acee (October 30, 2019). "Analysis: As Tingler arrives, Padres face deadline to trim roster to 40 by Monday". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
  14. ^ "2020 Minor League Season Canceled". mlbtraderumors.com.
  15. ^ "2021 Chihuahuas will have different look with many players new to el Paso". April 27, 2021.
  16. ^ "Minors: James Wood homers in Arizona; Brett Kennedy released". September 14, 2021.
  17. ^ "Ducks Ink Former Padres Pitcher Brett Kennedy". oursportscentral.com. April 5, 2022.
  18. ^ "Brett Kennedy's contract purchased by Boston Red Sox". Long Island Ducks. May 24, 2022. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
  19. ^ "Former Padres Pitcher Brett Kennedy Rejoins Flock". Long Island Ducks. April 7, 2023. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  20. ^ "Brett Kennedy's Contract Purchased by Cincinnati Reds". oursportscentral.com. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  21. ^ "Reds' Brett Kennedy: Added ahead of Tuesday's start". cbssports.com. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
  22. ^ "Reds' Brett Kennedy: Outrighted to Triple-A". cbssports.com. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  23. ^ https://www.milb.com/transactions/2023-10-10
  24. ^ https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/12/reds-brett-kennedy-agree-to-minor-league-deal.html
  25. ^ "Reds' Brett Kennedy: Summoned to big leagues". CBSSports.com. May 23, 2024. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
  26. ^ "Reds Designate Brett Kennedy For Assignment". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  27. ^ "Reds Outright Brett Kennedy". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
  28. ^ https://www.milb.com/transactions/2024-10-07
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