Buddy Kennedy is currently in the midst of a monumental spring training as the 24-year-old 2nd baseman/3rd baseman fights for a spot on the Diamondbacks’ 40-man roster.
Through 21 games, Kennedy leads all of Arizona’s offense in hits with 14 base knocks. His .424 batting average is only behind Padres’ shortstop Tim Lopes at the top of the spring training stats.
Kennedy was drafted out of high school by the Diamondbacks in the fifth round of the 2017 draft. For five-straight seasons, he bounced around in the minor leagues before finally being brought up for his major league debut in June of last season.
Buddy began his MLB career with a three-game hitting streak and even contributed with a grand slam in just his third game. However, the former New Jersey high school standout went on to finish the 2022 season with a .217 batting average in 83 at-bats as he ended the year on a 1-13 cold streak.
Nevertheless, it is hard to ignore the numbers that Buddy Kennedy is putting up this spring. While it is spring training, at only 23 years old, the upside for Kennedy can be quite exponential.
The bigger question is where Kennedy would fit on the D-backs opening day roster. With Ketel Marte at second base and newly acquired Evan Longoria at third, Arizona’s infield seems to be pretty much set in stone.
And Kennedy is well aware of the obstacles he will have to overcome if he wants to make the club’s final roster. Buddy told D-backs beat writer Evan Thompson that he has been putting his “heart and soul” into training over the past couple of months.
Only 10 more games remain on Arizona’s spring training schedule, meaning each and every at-bat is vital for Kennedy as he fights hard for a spot.
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