Cardinals' Buddy Kennedy: Claimed off waivers by St. Louis
Rotowire
Kennedy was claimed off waivers by the Cardinals on Wednesday.
Kennedy, 25, played in 40 games at the major-league level for the Diamondbacks from 2022-23, slashing .206/.293/.299 with one home run. He was most recently in the Athletics organization after they claimed him off waivers, but he didn't appear in the big leagues with them. Kennedy posted an .887 OPS with five homers in 101 contests at the Triple-A level this season and is likely headed back to the minors to start 2024.
... See More... See Less
Athletics' Buddy Kennedy: Claimed by Oakland
Rotowire
Kennedy was claimed off waivers by the Athletics on Saturday and optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas.
Kennedy gets to remain on a 40-man roster after being designated for assignment by the Diamondbacks on Wednesday, but it's not clear when he'll get his next crack at the big leagues. In 40 major-league games across the last two seasons, the infielder owns a .206/.293/.299 slash line with one homer and zero steals.
... See More... See Less
Diamondbacks' Buddy Kennedy: Pushed off 40-man roster
Rotowire
Kennedy was designated for assignment by the Diamondbacks on Wednesday.
This move clears out a 40-man roster for catcher Seby Zavala, who has been claimed off waivers from the White Sox. Kennedy, 24, was slashing just .167/.310/.208 through 29 major-league plate appearances this season for Arizona.
... See More... See Less
Diamondbacks' Buddy Kennedy: Optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
Arizona optioned Kennedy to Triple-A Reno on Friday.
Kennedy went 4-for-24 in 10 games after being selected from Reno in mid-August, and he'll now return to the minors in favor of Emmanuel Rivera. There remains a chance Kennedy can return to Arizona if he heats up again in the minors, but odds are he finishes the season in Triple-A.
... See More... See Less
Diamondbacks' Buddy Kennedy: Sent outright to minors
Rotowire
Kennedy was sent outright to Triple-A Reno on Friday.
Kennedy made his MLB debut with Arizona in 2022 and slashed .217/.325/.325 over 94 plate appearances. Now, as the D-backs unload their 40-man roster, the 24-year-old infielder will develop further in Triple-A, where his line jumped up to .261/.363/.385.
... See More... See Less
Diamondbacks' Buddy Kennedy: Back in majors
Rotowire
Kennedy was recalled from Triple-A Reno on Friday.
Kennedy, who turns 24 on the final day of the regular season, slashed .261/.363/.385 with seven home runs in 93 games at Triple-A this season and has a .626 OPS through 80 at-bats in the majors. This is the corresponding move to Ketel Marte going on the injured list, so Kennedy could see time at second base over the final days of the season.
Kennedy was added to the lineup for Saturday's game against Atlanta.
Kennedy is serving as the designated hitter and batting seventh Saturday after David Peralta was traded to the Rays. Kennedy has gone 2-for-5 with a walk and two strikeouts over two games since the All-Star break.
... See More... See Less
Diamondbacks' Buddy Kennedy: Delivers run with triple
Rotowire
Kennedy went 2-for-4 with a triple and an RBI in Saturday's 4-3 loss to the Padres.
Kennedy delivered the Diamondbacks' first run with a triple in the fourth inning, his first RBI in nine games. He's been getting steady playing time at second base while Ketel Marte deals with a lingering hamstring injury that's limited him to designated-hitter duty, but that run could end soon. Arizona manager Torey Lovullo indicated earlier this week that the team has a plan in place for Marte to get back to playing the field, a process that should begin in earnest following the All-Star break. Kennedy is batting .250 (13-for-52) with two doubles, one triple, eight RBI and six runs scored over the last 19 games as the Diamondbacks' primary second baseman.
... See More... See Less
Diamondbacks' Buddy Kennedy: Heads to bench Sunday
Rotowire
Kennedy is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rockies.
After going 2-for-4 with a run scored in Saturday's 9-2 win over the Rockies, Kennedy will take a seat for the series finale. Though he's on the bench for the second time in three games, Kennedy still looks like the Diamondbacks' preferred option at the keystone over Sergio Alcantara, who draws the start at the position Sunday.
... See More... See Less
Diamondbacks' Buddy Kennedy: Riding pine Friday
Rotowire
Kennedy isn't in the lineup Friday against the Rockies.
Kennedy recorded hits in four of the last five games and went 6-for-18 with a double, three RBI and three runs during that time. Sergio Alcantara will take over at the keystone and bat eighth Friday.
... See More... See Less
Diamondbacks' Buddy Kennedy: Continues at 2B
Rotowire
Kennedy made a fifth consecutive start at second base Friday and went 0-for-4 in a 9-3 win over the Rockies.
Kennedy is the beneficiary of the Diamondbacks keeping Ketel Marte at designated hitter as the club's usual starter at second base works his way back from a hamstring strain. With Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reporting that Marte will remain DH through the current series against Colorado, Kennedy is in line for at least two more starts at second base. He's batting .152 over 11 games since having his contract selected.
... See More... See Less
Diamondbacks' Buddy Kennedy: Involved in comeback win
Rotowire
Kennedy went 1-for-3 with a double, three RBI and a hit-by-pitch in Tuesday's 7-6 win over San Diego.
Kennedy drove in two runs during Arizona's four-run seventh inning and knocked in another when he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the eighth. He was an integral component to the Diamondbacks erasing a six-run deficit with seven runs over the final three innings. Kennedy continues to get starts at second base while Ketel Marte works his way back from a hamstring injury that's limited him to designated-hitter duty.
... See More... See Less
Diamondbacks' Buddy Kennedy: Scores run in return
Rotowire
Kennedy (wrist) went 0-for-3 with a walk and a run scored in Saturday's 6-3 loss to the Tigers.
Kennedy missed two games with left wrist discomfort, but he was able to play a full game at second base Saturday. He has a home run, four RBI, four runs scored and a triple through 22 plate appearances in his first seven big-league games. Kennedy should continue to compete with Jake Hager for playing time at second base until Ketel Marte, who is serving as the designated hitter while recovering from a hamstring injury, is ready to return to the field.
... See More... See Less
Diamondbacks' Buddy Kennedy: Remains out of lineup
Rotowire
Kennedy (wrist) isn't in the lineup Friday against the Tigers.
Kennedy has been dealing with left wrist discomfort since Tuesday and will be out of the lineup for a second consecutive game. Jake Hager is starting at second base while Ketel Marte serves as the designated hitter.
... See More... See Less
Diamondbacks' Buddy Kennedy: Exits with wrist injury
Rotowire
Kennedy was removed from Tuesday's game against the Padres with left wrist discomfort.
Kennedy appeared to tweak something when he struck out swinging during the top of fourth inning, and he was replaced in the field for the bottom of the frame. The severity of the 23-year-old's wrist injury remains unclear, and he should be considered day-to-day until his status is updated.
... See More... See Less
Diamondbacks' Buddy Kennedy: Clobbers grand slam for first homer
Rotowire
Kennedy went 1-for-4 with a grand slam in Sunday's 7-1 win over the Twins.
Kennedy blew things wide open for the Diamondbacks, notching their fourth home run of the game in the sixth inning, and the only one that wasn't a solo shot. He's now 3-for-10 with a triple, a homer, four RBI and three runs scored in his first three major-league games. Considering he batted .296/.384/429 in 54 contests with Triple-A Reno before his promotion, it's not surprising to see Kennedy continue to hit well. His playing time is likely to take a hit soon, as Ketel Marte (hamstring) is due to return during a three-game series in San Diego that starts Monday.
... See More... See Less
Diamondbacks' Buddy Kennedy: Contract selected by Arizona
Rotowire
Kennedy's contract was selected from Triple-A Reno on Friday. He is starting at designated hitter and batting sixth against the Twins.
A bat-first prospect, Kennedy slashed .340/.427/.472 with two home runs, three triples and seven doubles while striking out at a 19.3 percent clip and walking 14 percent of the time over his last 39 games at Triple-A. Jake McCarthy was optioned to Triple-A in a corresponding move. As a right-handed hitter, it's possible Kennedy will be limited to mostly short-side platoon work, and he is starting against a southpaw (Devin Smeltzer) in his big-league debut.
