A blistering begin to the yr proved a false daybreak, regardless of good plate self-discipline.
2023 Overview
- Rating: 3.02
- 2023 MLB Stats: .167/.310/.208 = .519 OPS (47 OPS+) in 10 video games + 29 PA, 0.0 bWAR
- Date of Birth: October 5, 1998
- 2023 Salary: League minimal
- 2024 Status: Currently on the Cardinals’ 40-man roster
Vote breakdown
2023 assessment
Clifton Lewis Kennedy, to provide Buddy his driving license title, got here to the D-backs within the 2017 draft, when he was picked within the fifth spherical. He reached the majors in 2022, showing in 30 video games with a line of .217/.287/.325 for a .613 OPS (74 OPS+), and enjoying largely at second-base. That did embrace a spectacular first home-run, a grand-slam in opposition to the Twins, however that didn’t cease him from being taken off the 40-man roster in November. He did stay with the D-backs, and had a superb spring marketing campaign, batting .424 throughout eighteen video games, with almost as many walks (6) as strikeouts (7). Among the D-backs with 40+ spring PAs, solely Corbin Carroll had the next OPS than Kennedy’s 1.131.
It wasn’t sufficient to get him on the Opening Day roster, and Buddy began the season down in Reno with the Aces. His good type continued there, batting .400 over 23 video games in April, with greater than twice as many walks as strikeouts (23:11) and a 1.225 OPS. But it got here with an unsustainable .433 BABIP, and so it proved. Kennedy’s OPS dropped every month thereafter, reaching simply .701 over fourteen video games in July. He went greater than two months and 38-games with out a homer, which within the PCL is almost spectacular. Still, after a three-hit recreation in opposition to the Salt Lake City Bees on August eleventh, Kennedy was added to the 40-man squad in place of Kristian Robinson, and changed Emmanuel Rivera on the lively roster.
At the time of the call-up, Kennedy stated he had “been hard at work on his mechanics and stance. He’s been working with coaches to stay consistent in the box. He utilized slow-motion video to better improve his swing path and how he holds his hands,” and added, “I’ve been working on myself, be more patient as a hitter, work the count, get on base for the team and score some runs, whenever I can.” Manager Torey Lovullo stated the plan was to make use of the right-hander in a platoon with Jace Peterson at third. “We are looking for some ways to create some offense, get some run scoring opportunities going and push us in the right direction. Buddy will get this opportunity and we’ll see where it takes us.”
Not very far, turned out to be the reply. Buddy made seven begins, plus three appearances off the bench, however may muster solely 4 hits in 24 at-bats, although he did draw 4 walks and a success by pitch. But a feeble .208 slugging share was not what the group wished from the new nook, and on September 1st, the transaction was reversed. Rivera returned from Reno, having hit .304 with a 1.027 OPS there, and Kennedy returned to Triple-A. Lovullo stated, “Look, Buddy was doing okay, I felt like he was swinging the bat well enough in Triple-A to get this opportunity. Maybe it was the inconsistent at-bats, but the approach and the results weren’t great.”
Worse was to comply with a couple of days later, Buddy being designated for task on September 6, to make room on the 40-man roster for brand new catcher Selby Zavala. Three days later, he was claimed by the Oakland A’s, ending Kennedy’s time as a Diamondback. It was not the top of Kennedy’s transactions for the yr, nonetheless. On October twenty fifth, after being placed on waivers by Oakland, Buddy was claimed by the St. Louis Cardinals – to the bemusement of a few of their followers. It seems like Kennedy could stay a AAAA participant, often making it again to the most important leagues, however hardly ever capable of keep there for lengthy. That stated, he solely turned 25 final month, making Kennedy only a few months older than, say, Blaze Alexander.
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