Buddy Kennedy Bio
Clifton Lewis “Buddy” Kennedy (born October 5, 1998) is an American professional baseball infielder who is currently a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Detroit Tigers, Philadelphia Phillies, Toronto Blue Jays, and Los Angeles Dodgers. Kennedy came up as a middle-infield prospect out of southern New Jersey and reached the majors with Arizona in 2022 before bouncing across four organizations over the next three seasons.
Early Life and Background
Kennedy was born and raised in Millville, New Jersey. He attended Millville Senior High School, where he starred on the baseball team and developed into one of the most highly regarded amateur position players in the state. As a senior in 2017, he batted .493 with six home runs, a slash line that made him a high-priority target for MLB clubs that spring.
His grandfather, Don Money, played in MLB for the Philadelphia Phillies and Milwaukee Brewers, giving Kennedy a direct connection to professional baseball through his family. Growing up around that heritage, Kennedy gravitated toward the infield and built a profile as a middle-of-the-order hitter with above-average pop for his position. By the end of his senior season, he had committed to play college baseball at the University of North Carolina.
Path to Professional Baseball
Kennedy’s path to the pros bypassed college when the Arizona Diamondbacks selected him in the fifth round of the 2017 Major League Baseball draft. He signed for $550,000 and forwent his commitment to the University of North Carolina, choosing to begin his professional career in the Arizona organization.
That decision launched a six-season climb through the Diamondbacks’ farm system. Kennedy moved steadily from short-season ball to full-season A-ball, then to High-A and Double-A, and finally to Triple-A, refining his approach against older competition each year. By the time he reached the upper minors, he had put together a track record of on-base skills, doubles power, and steady defensive play at third base and shortstop that pointed toward a future big-league role.
Buddy Kennedy Career
Early Career (2017–2021)
Kennedy made his professional debut with the Arizona League Diamondbacks in 2017, batting .270 with nine doubles, eight triples, and twenty RBIs over fifty games. The following year he joined the Missoula Osprey, where he posted a .327 batting average, .396 on-base percentage, and .465 slugging percentage with four home runs and 32 RBIs over 57 games.
In 2019, Kennedy played for the Kane County Cougars and hit .262 with seven home runs and 49 RBIs over 101 games. The 2020 minor league season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and he returned in 2021 to split the year between the Hillsboro Hops and the Amarillo Sod Poodles. Across 96 games, he slashed .290/.384/.523 with 22 home runs, sixty RBIs, and 16 stolen bases, then batted .236 in 16 games for the Salt River Rafters in the Arizona Fall League.
Major League Breakthrough (2022–2023)
Kennedy began the 2022 season with the Triple-A Reno Aces, hitting .261 in 93 games with seven homers and 40 RBI. On June 17, 2022, the Diamondbacks selected his contract and he made his MLB debut that night as the starting designated hitter versus the Minnesota Twins. He recorded his first MLB hit in that game with a single off Devin Smeltzer, and two days later he hit his first MLB home run, a grand slam off Caleb Thielbar of the Twins. In 30 games for Arizona, he hit .217 before being sent outright off the roster in November.
He returned to Reno in 2023, batting .318/.447/.480 with five home runs and 46 RBI in 87 games. The Diamondbacks brought him back to the majors in August, and in 10 games he went 4-for-24 with one RBI. He was designated for assignment on September 6 to make room on the roster for Seby Zavala. Late in the season he was claimed off waivers by the Oakland Athletics and assigned to the Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators, where he hit .216/.326/.216 in 11 games.
Philadelphia Phillies Era (2024–2025)
After a brief winter claim by the St. Louis Cardinals and a February 2024 designation, Kennedy was claimed off waivers by the Detroit Tigers. He began 2024 with the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens, hitting .234 in 39 games, then was called up on April 20 to replace Gio Urshela. In six games for Detroit, he went 2-for-10 with one home run and four RBI before being designated for assignment on June 3. On June 7, 2024, he was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for cash considerations.
With the Phillies, Kennedy saw limited big-league action, going 2-for-11 (.182) with two RBI and two walks in eight appearances. In 67 games for the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs, he batted .294 with 10 homers and 35 RBI. One of his signature moments came on September 9, 2024, when Philadelphia fans chanted “Buddy” repeatedly during a pinch-hit appearance one batter before Kody Clemens delivered a bases-loaded walk-off single in a 2–1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays. He was designated for assignment in March 2025, cleared waivers, and re-signed with the Phillies on a minor league deal, batting .283/.388/.447 with eight home runs and 40 RBI at Lehigh Valley before a brief June call-up.
Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers Era (2025)
After electing free agency in early July 2025, Kennedy signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays on July 9. In 16 appearances for the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons, he batted .207/.309/.259 with five RBI and nine walks. He was added to the Blue Jays’ active roster on August 5, going 1-for-5 with a walk in two appearances before being designated for assignment on August 12. On August 15, he was claimed off waivers by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
With the Dodgers, Kennedy recorded one hit in 17 at-bats across seven games, with one RBI. He was designated for assignment on August 25, cleared waivers on August 28, and elected to become a free agent rather than accept an outright assignment to the minors. He briefly returned to the Blue Jays organization on a minor league deal in September before electing free agency again on November 6, 2025.
Driving Style and Strengths
Kennedy is an infielder who has shown a patient, contact-oriented approach with doubles pop and the ability to play both third base and shortstop. His minor league track record features consistent on-base skills, with a high-walk, low-strikeout profile that translates to line-drive hitting rather than over-swinging. Defensively, he has shown the hands and arm strength to handle the left side of the infield, which has been the foundation of his value as a utility option.
Notable Events and Milestones
Kennedy’s first MLB home run, a grand slam off Caleb Thielbar of the Minnesota Twins on June 19, 2022, stands as his signature big-league moment. The “Buddy” chants at Citizens Bank Park on September 9, 2024, also became a personal milestone that reflected his connection to the Philadelphia fan base. Across his minor league career, he has accumulated more than 20 home runs in multiple seasons, including 22 homers in 2021 and 10 at Triple-A Lehigh Valley in 2024.
Buddy Kennedy Family
Family Background and Baseball Lineage
Kennedy’s grandfather, Don Money, played in MLB for the Philadelphia Phillies and Milwaukee Brewers, giving the family a multi-generational presence in professional baseball. That lineage shaped Kennedy’s early path into the sport and connected his amateur career in Millville to a longer family story in the game.
Personal Life
Kennedy is close friends with Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout and trains with him in the off-season, a relationship that has been a notable part of his preparation between seasons.
2025 Season Performance
Kennedy’s 2025 season was defined by movement across organizations. He began the year in the Philadelphia Phillies system, was designated for assignment in late March, and spent most of the first half at Triple-A Lehigh Valley, where he batted .283/.388/.447 with eight home runs, 40 RBI, and three stolen bases in 61 appearances. A brief four-game call-up with the Phillies in June produced no hits in seven at-bats before he was again designated for assignment.
After a short free-agency window, Kennedy signed a minor league deal with the Toronto Blue Jays in July and was added to the active roster on August 5, going 1-for-5 in two games. He was claimed off waivers by the Los Angeles Dodgers on August 15, where he appeared in seven games and went 1-for-17 with one RBI before being designated for assignment on August 25. He elected free agency in late August, then signed a minor league contract to return to the Blue Jays organization in September, finishing the year in the Buffalo Bisons system before electing free agency again on November 6.
Heading into 2026, Kennedy’s performance in 2025 showed the same on-base skills that defined his earlier minor league work, but he struggled to carve out a sustained big-league role, hitting below .200 across all of his major league appearances. His versatility in the infield and his family ties to MLB will likely keep him on the free-agent radar of clubs looking for a right-handed-hitting utility player.