The Texas Rangers have re-signed right-hander Ian Kennedy to a minor-league contract. News of the deal was first reported by Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News. Kennedy will report to Triple-A Round Rock on Wednesday. The 38-year-old righty opened the season on the 26-man roster. He was designated for assignment on May 11 after posting a 7.20 ERA in 11 appearances. Ian Kennedy is the second veteran reliever to sign a minor-league deal with the club in the last two weeks following fellow righty Ryan Tepera. It will be very interesting to see how Kennedy’s second tour of duty with the Rangers goes.
Back in the Rangers’ Organization
Kennedy cracked the Opening Day roster after an offseason minor-league deal. This marked his second stint in Arlington. While Kennedy was an excellent high-leverage arm for the Rangers back in 2021, he had less inspiring results this time around. Despite a quality 13:3 strikeout-to-walk tally through ten innings, he surrendered ten runs on 11 hits. He’ll look to make his stay in Round Rock a short one by recapturing a spot in the Rangers’ bullpen.
Rangers relievers rank 22nd in the majors with a 4.31 ERA on the year. In addition, they ranked 12th in the AL and 24th in the majors in Sport Relay’s latest rankings. They have, however, posted a serviceable 3.92 mark in the month of June. This will be a good opportunity for Ian Kennedy. Often times when a player is struggling, a change of scenery may be necessary. In Kennedy’s case, perhaps a familiar setting could help. He is well-liked by players, coaches, fans and members of the media. That could go a long way in helping him feel comfortable. The 17-year veteran has had a couple strong seasons since moving to the bullpen four years back. He has struggled going back to the start of the 2022 campaign, posting a 5.36 ERA through 50 1/3 frames for the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2022. Aside from injury rehab stints, Ian Kennedy hasn’t pitched in Triple-A since 2009.
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