Buddy Kennedy Striving to Get Back to the Bigs
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (Mar. 18) — Arizona Diamondbacks infielder Buddy Kennedy had a dream debut weekend over Father’s Day in 2022, but the momentum did not continue. The team sent him back to Triple-A Reno on August 2. Kennedy returned to the majors September 30 but was removed from the 40-man roster in the off-season. Now he is back in camp as a non-roster invite, fighting to win a spot back on the big-league roster.
It will not be an easy road. Since Kennedy is not on the 40-man roster, if he were to make the major league squad, someone on the 40-man would have to be designated for assignment. That player would then have to clear waivers before heading to the minors.
Even further, Kennedy has been playing mostly second base with some third. He is in a crowded infield, with Ketel Marte, Josh Rojas, Emmanuel Rivera, and Evan Longoria all in front of him on the depth chart at those positions. Roster Resource on Fangraphs also has Diego Castillo, Yairo Munoz, and Phillip Evans in front of him.
Getting There vs. Staying There
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Buddy Kennedy had heard from his grandfather — 16-year veteran, four-time All-Star, and 1982 AL Pennant Winner Don Money — that staying in the majors is even harder than it is to get there in the first place. It was an eye-opening experience for Kennedy. “I got a little taste of it last year,” he said, “and seeing the talent made me say, ‘Wow. I gotta compete at this level.’ Getting to the big leagues, getting optioned, and getting back up again opens your eyes.”
Getting sent down didn’t feel good to Kennedy at all, obviously. He gave an illustration of how it felt but ended it with the mindset he’s taken as a result. “Say you wanted something for Christmas. You wanted it so bad that you’ve wanted it your whole life. And you did everything you had to do. But then you didn’t get it. You’re thinking, ‘Wow. That’s upsetting. But what do I have to do to be able to get it? So that’s how I look at it.”
Complicating matters for Kennedy was an injury he suffered in late June but played through. It came on an up-and-in fastball from San Diego Padres lefty Sean Manaea June 21 in San Diego. “Tried to swing at it, foul contact, locks my wrist into my hamate bone.” Kennedy played with it the rest of the season, all the way from July through September. At the end of the season, Kennedy spoke to the medical team. Dr. Donald Sheridan repaired the damage through surgery November 9. “Ever since then,” Kennedy grinned, “it was good.”
Buddy Kennedy and His Mindset Going Forward
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Kennedy said he put his “heart and soul” into off-season training. The coaching staff told him what he needed to work on, both when he was sent down and heading into the offseason. “Stay with my approach, stick to my zone. My chase rate was a bit higher than prior years in the minor leagues. Sticking to myself. Sticking to my area. Getting good pitches to hit. Working the count. Staying in the at-bat as long as I can. That was my biggest thing. Once I got that feedback, I understood it.”
With all that feedback, Kennedy has approached the spring the same way he approaches games. “Keep at it, keep doing what I need to do. Stay focused, stay locked in, both on defense and offense. And try to help the team win as best I can.”
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