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 played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Detroit Tigers, Philadelphia Phillies, Toronto Blue Jays, and Los Angeles Dodgers. Across his career, Kennedy has produced several promising offensive seasons in the minor leagues and has recorded memorable big-league moments, including a grand slam in his first week as a major leaguer.
Early Life and Background
Kennedy was born and raised in Millville, New Jersey, where he grew up around baseball and developed into a highly regarded high school prospect. He attended Millville Senior High School, where he starred on the baseball team and built the offensive profile that would later attract professional scouts.
As a senior in 2017, Kennedy batted .493 with six home runs, establishing himself as one of the top amateur infielders in his region. His performance that season drew attention from MLB clubs and set the stage for his entry into professional baseball immediately after high school.
Path to Baseball
Following his senior season, Kennedy was selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the fifth round of the 2017 Major League Baseball draft. He signed with the organization for $550,000, choosing to begin his professional career rather than enroll at the University of North Carolina, where he had been committed to play college baseball.
That decision marked the start of a six-year developmental climb through the Diamondbacks’ farm system, where Kennedy moved steadily from short-season ball to Triple-A. His progression through each level, combined with consistent offensive production, eventually earned him a major league opportunity in 2022.
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. In 2018, he joined the Missoula Osprey and posted a strong .327 batting average, .396 on-base percentage, and .465 slugging percentage with four home runs and 32 RBIs over 57 games.
He spent 2019 with the Kane County Cougars, hitting .262 with seven home runs and 49 RBIs across 101 games. Kennedy did not appear in a minor league game in 2020 after the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He returned in 2021 to split the year between the Hillsboro Hops and the Amarillo Sod Poodles, combining to slash .290/.384/.523 with 22 home runs, sixty RBIs, and 16 stolen bases over 96 games, and he later appeared in the Arizona Fall League with the Salt River Rafters.
Arizona Diamondbacks Era (2022–2023)
Kennedy opened 2022 with the Triple-A Reno Aces, where he hit .261 in 93 games with seven home runs 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 against the Minnesota Twins, recording his first major league hit with a single off Devin Smeltzer. Two days later, on June 19, he hit his first MLB home run, a grand slam off Caleb Thielbar of the Twins.
In 30 games for Arizona in 2022, Kennedy batted .217 before being sent outright off the roster in November. He returned to Reno for 2023 and played 87 games, hitting .318/.447/.480 with five home runs and 46 RBI. The Diamondbacks recalled him on August 12, 2023, and in 10 games he went 4-for-24 with one RBI before being designated for assignment on September 6.
Detroit Tigers Era (2024)
After brief stints on waivers involving the Oakland Athletics and St. Louis Cardinals, Kennedy was claimed by the Detroit Tigers on February 29, 2024. He opened the year with the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens, where he played 39 games and batted .234. Detroit promoted him on April 20 to replace Gio Urshela, who had been placed on the injured list.
In six games for the Tigers, Kennedy went 2-for-10 with one home run and four RBI before being designated for assignment again on June 3.
Philadelphia Phillies Era (2024–2025)
The Philadelphia Phillies acquired Kennedy in a cash trade on June 7, 2024. On September 9, during his third game with Philadelphia, fans at the ballpark repeatedly chanted “Buddy” as he walked in a pinch-hit appearance, moments before Kody Clemens delivered a bases-loaded walk-off single in a 2–1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays. In eight appearances for the Phillies that season, Kennedy went 2-for-11 with two RBI and two walks, while also playing 67 games for the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs, where he batted .294 with 10 home runs and 35 RBI.
Kennedy was designated for assignment by the Phillies on March 27, 2025, cleared waivers on April 1, and elected free agency before re-signing with the organization on a minor league deal the same day. Across 61 appearances for Lehigh Valley in 2025, he batted .283/.388/.447 with eight home runs, 40 RBI, and three stolen bases. The Phillies added him back to the active roster on June 19, but he went 0-for-7 in four appearances before another designation for assignment on June 30, and he elected free agency again on July 5.
Toronto Blue Jays Era (2025)
Kennedy signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays on July 9, 2025, and was assigned to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons. In 16 appearances for Buffalo, he batted .207/.309/.259 with five RBI and nine walks. He was added to Toronto’s active roster on August 5 and made two appearances, going 1-for-5 with a walk, before being designated for assignment on August 12.
Los Angeles Dodgers Era (2025)
The Los Angeles Dodgers claimed Kennedy off waivers on August 15, 2025. He appeared in seven games for Los Angeles, recording one hit in 17 at-bats with one RBI, before being designated for assignment on August 25. After clearing waivers on August 28, he elected free agency rather than accept an outright assignment to the minors.
Toronto Blue Jays (Second Stint) and Free Agency (2025)
Kennedy signed a minor league contract to return to the Toronto Blue Jays organization on September 1, 2025. He spent the remainder of the season in the minors and elected free agency on November 6, 2025, closing out a year that saw him move between five organizations.
Buddy Kennedy Career Wins
Kennedy’s career highlights are built around consistent offensive production in the minor leagues and a series of memorable major league moments. His first MLB hit came in his June 2022 debut, and his first MLB home run, a grand slam off Caleb Thielbar, arrived two days later. In Triple-A, he has produced multiple seasons batting above .290 with double-digit home run totals.
Minor League Highlights
Across his time in the Diamondbacks’ system, Kennedy combined for a 2021 line of .290/.384/.523 with 22 home runs and 60 RBI between Hillsboro and Amarillo. In 2023, he hit .318/.447/.480 with five home runs and 46 RBI at Reno. With Lehigh Valley in 2024, he batted .294 with 10 home runs and 35 RBI, and he returned to bat .283/.388/.447 with eight home runs and 40 RBI for the IronPigs in 2025.
Buddy Kennedy Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Kennedy comes from a baseball family. His grandfather, Don Money, played in MLB for the Philadelphia Phillies and the Milwaukee Brewers. That family connection to professional baseball helped shape Kennedy’s path through the sport from a young age in southern New Jersey.
Personal Life
Kennedy is close friends with Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout and trains with him during the off-season. That relationship has been a notable part of his preparation between major league stints.
2025 Season Performance
Kennedy’s 2025 season was defined by frequent roster movement across multiple organizations. After beginning the year in Philadelphia’s minor league system, he returned to the majors briefly with the Phillies before being designated for assignment in late June. He signed with Toronto in July, reached the big leagues for two appearances, and was designated for assignment again in mid-August.
A waiver claim by the Los Angeles Dodgers gave him another short major league look in late August, followed by another outright and free agency declaration. His final stint of the year came with a return to the Blue Jays organization in September. Across his limited major league action in 2025, Kennedy produced a small number of hits and walks while continuing to provide versatile infield depth.
