Adam Kennedy
Encyclopedia
Adam Thomas Kennedy is an American
Major League Baseball
second baseman
who plays for the Los Angeles Dodgers
. He previously played for the Oakland Athletics
, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
, Washington Nationals
, Seattle Mariners
and had two stints with the St. Louis Cardinals
.
, playing baseball and basketball. He is the son of Tom Kennedy, who teaches Health at North High School.
He attended Cal State Northridge
, where he played shortstop
for the Matador baseball squad. He set school records in career hits
, RBI
and batting average
and was a three-time All American. He led the nation in hits as a sophomore and junior.
in the 1997 MLB Draft. In 1999 with the Memphis Redbirds
he hit .327 with 10 home runs and 63 RBI. He was selected as a Pacific Coast League
All-Star, Baseball America
first-team Minor League All-Star and Triple-A All-Star
He made his major league debut on August 21, 1999 for the Cardinals against the New York Mets
at second base. He was hitless in four at-bats in that game. His first Major League hit was a three RBI double to left field on August 22 off of Orel Hershiser
of the Mets. His first home run came on August 31 against Brian Meadows
of the Florida Marlins. He appeared in 33 games for the Cards with a .255 batting average that season.
with Kent Bottenfield
for Jim Edmonds
.
Kennedy matched a team record with eight RBI against the Blue Jays
on April 18, 2000. It was the most RBI by any rookie in one game since Fred Lynn
drove in 10 for the Boston Red Sox
in .
In Game 5 of the 2002 American League Championship Series
against the Minnesota Twins, Kennedy hit three home run
s, joining only five other players who hit three homers in a post-season game: Babe Ruth
, Bob Robertson
, Reggie Jackson
, George Brett
and Adrian Beltre
. Kennedy's performance helped the Angels clinch the American League
pennant, and Kennedy was named the series' Most Valuable Player. The Angels went on to beat the San Francisco Giants
in seven games in the World Series
, earning Kennedy a World Series ring.
The 2002 campaign established Kennedy as a fixture in the Angels infield. However, his declining offensive performance put his status with the club in flux. Before the season trade deadline, it was rumored that Kennedy would be traded, most notably for Shea Hillenbrand
. While the rumors never came to fruition, Kennedy was forced to share the starting second base position, playing in a platoon
with rookie Howie Kendrick
for the remainder of the season.
The national spotlight shone briefly on Kennedy on August 16, 2006, when he took part in a bench-clearing brawl
in the ninth inning of a game between the Texas Rangers
and the Angels. Tensions between the two division rivals were already high, as two Rangers starting pitchers — Adam Eaton
and Vicente Padilla
— had been ejected in previous games that month for throwing at Angels batters. Also, two Angels hurlers (Kevin Gregg
and Brendan Donnelly
) had already been thrown out of the game for hitting batters, and manager Mike Scioscia
and bench coach Ron Roenicke had been ejected as well. Rangers pitcher Scott Feldman
hit
Kennedy in the buttocks with a fastball with only one out remaining in the game, and his team up 9–3. Kennedy charged the mound, triggering a fight between the 6' 5" Feldman and the 6' 1" Kennedy. As Kennedy charged him, Feldman stood on the mound and threw down his glove, and when Kennedy reached him Feldman then hit Kennedy in the armpit with a punch. Kennedy was suspended for four games for his actions.
In seven seasons with the Angels, Kennedy hit .280 in 992 games, with 51 home runs and 353 RBI.
.
On August 11, 2007, Kennedy was placed on the 15-day disabled list
with a torn medial meniscus
in his right knee, an injury that would sideline him for the remainder of the season. He was in 87 games prior to the injury, and hit only .219.
In 2008, he played in 115 games and hit .280. On February 9, 2009, after a year of demanding a trade due to his unfulfilled desire for a starting role on the Cardinals, Kennedy was released by the team.
one week later. The Rays assigned him to the AAA Durham Bulls
, his first minor league action since 2005. With the Bulls, he hit .280 in 23 games.
for Joe Dillon
and was assigned to Triple-A Sacramento. His contract was purchased the next day. He appeared in 129 games for the Athletics, mostly at third base and second base, batting .289 with 11 home runs.
. He played in 135 games for the Nationals, hitting .249. He mostly played second base, but also appeared in 51 games at first base, the first time he had seen any regular time at that position in his career.
. Kennedy, however, made the team out of spring training, and served as a utility infielder, seeing action at first base, second base and third base during the year while hitting .234 in 114 games. He elected free agency on October 30.
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
second baseman
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
who plays for the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
. He previously played for the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
, Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
, Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
and had two stints with the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
.
Early years
Kennedy attended J.W. North High School in Riverside, CaliforniaRiverside, California
Riverside is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, and the county seat of the eponymous county. Named for its location beside the Santa Ana River, it is the largest city in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metropolitan area of Southern California, 4th largest inland California...
, playing baseball and basketball. He is the son of Tom Kennedy, who teaches Health at North High School.
He attended Cal State Northridge
California State University, Northridge
California State University, Northridge is a public university in Northridge, a neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles, California, United States....
, where he played shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
for the Matador baseball squad. He set school records in career hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
, RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
and batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
and was a three-time All American. He led the nation in hits as a sophomore and junior.
St. Louis Cardinals
Kennedy was drafted in the first round (twentieth overall) by the St. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
in the 1997 MLB Draft. In 1999 with the Memphis Redbirds
Memphis Redbirds
The Memphis Redbirds are the Triple-A minor league baseball affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. They play their home games at AutoZone Park in downtown Memphis, Tennessee. The stadium's capacity is 14,320. They entered the Pacific Coast League as an expansion team in 1998, and were owned as a...
he hit .327 with 10 home runs and 63 RBI. He was selected as a Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
All-Star, Baseball America
Baseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
first-team Minor League All-Star and Triple-A All-Star
He made his major league debut on August 21, 1999 for the Cardinals against the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
at second base. He was hitless in four at-bats in that game. His first Major League hit was a three RBI double to left field on August 22 off of Orel Hershiser
Orel Hershiser
Orel Leonard Hershiser IV is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. He is currently an analyst for Baseball Tonight and Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN and a professional poker player for...
of the Mets. His first home run came on August 31 against Brian Meadows
Brian Meadows
Matthew Brian Meadows is a retired Major League Baseball relief pitcher.Meadows graduated from Charles Henderson High School in Troy, Alabama, where he played baseball. In the offseason, he designates time and effort in support of the Garth Brooks' Teammates for Kids Foundation...
of the Florida Marlins. He appeared in 33 games for the Cards with a .255 batting average that season.
Anaheim Angels/Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Kennedy was traded the following year to the Anaheim AngelsLos Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
with Kent Bottenfield
Kent Bottenfield
Kent Dennis Bottenfield is a former Major League Baseball pitcher from 1992 to 2001 for the Montreal Expos, Colorado Rockies, San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals, Anaheim Angels, Philadelphia Phillies and Houston Astros...
for Jim Edmonds
Jim Edmonds
James Patrick "Jim" Edmonds is a former American Major League Baseball center fielder. He played for the California/Anaheim Angels, the St. Louis Cardinals, the San Diego Padres, the Milwaukee Brewers, the Chicago Cubs, and the Cincinnati Reds...
.
Kennedy matched a team record with eight RBI against the Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
on April 18, 2000. It was the most RBI by any rookie in one game since Fred Lynn
Fred Lynn
Fredric Michael "Fred" Lynn is a former center fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Boston Red Sox , California Angels , Baltimore Orioles , Detroit Tigers and San Diego Padres .Fred Lynn was inducted into the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame in and to the College Baseball Hall of Fame...
drove in 10 for the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
in .
In Game 5 of the 2002 American League Championship Series
2002 American League Championship Series
-Game 1:Tuesday, October 8, 2002 at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, MinnesotaJoe Mays outdueled Kevin Appier as the Twins won Game 1. A.J. Pierzynski hit a sac fly to put the Twins out in front first, but the Angels tied it the next inning on an error by Cristian Guzmán. The Twins...
against the Minnesota Twins, Kennedy hit three home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s, joining only five other players who hit three homers in a post-season game: Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth
George Herman Ruth, Jr. , best known as "Babe" Ruth and nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Sultan of Swat", was an American Major League baseball player from 1914–1935...
, Bob Robertson
Bob Robertson
Robert Eugene Robertson is a former first baseman in Major League Baseball. Robertson, who batted and threw right-handed, played for the Pittsburgh Pirates , Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays...
, Reggie Jackson
Reggie Jackson
Reginald Martinez "Reggie" Jackson , nicknamed "Mr. October" for his clutch hitting in the postseason with the New York Yankees, is a former American Major League Baseball right fielder. During a 21-year baseball career, he played from 1967-1987 for four different teams. Jackson currently serves as...
, George Brett
George Brett (baseball)
George Howard Brett , nicknamed "Mullet", is a former Major League Baseball third baseman, designated hitter, and first baseman. He played his entire 21-year baseball career for the Kansas City Royals. Brett's 3,154 career hits are the most by any third baseman in major league history, and 15th...
and Adrian Beltre
Adrián Beltré
Adrián Beltré Pérez is a Major League Baseball third baseman for the Texas Rangers.The youngest player in the National League when he made his major league debut, he has also played for the Los Angeles Dodgers , the Seattle Mariners , the Boston Red Sox , and the Texas Rangers . He bats and...
. Kennedy's performance helped the Angels clinch the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
pennant, and Kennedy was named the series' Most Valuable Player. The Angels went on to beat the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
in seven games in the World Series
2002 World Series
The 2002 World Series was a best-of-seven playoff series to determine the champion of Major League Baseball for the 2002 season. It was the 98th such contest between the champions of the American League and National League , and featured the AL champion Anaheim Angels against the NL champion San...
, earning Kennedy a World Series ring.
The 2002 campaign established Kennedy as a fixture in the Angels infield. However, his declining offensive performance put his status with the club in flux. Before the season trade deadline, it was rumored that Kennedy would be traded, most notably for Shea Hillenbrand
Shea Hillenbrand
Shea Matthew Hillenbrand is a professional baseball player who last played for the York Revolution of the independent Atlantic League....
. While the rumors never came to fruition, Kennedy was forced to share the starting second base position, playing in a platoon
Platoon system
The platoon system in baseball is a method of designating two players to a single defensive position—usually one right-handed and one left-handed. Typically the right-handed half of the platoon is played on days when the opposing pitcher is left-handed and the left-handed player is played otherwise...
with rookie Howie Kendrick
Howie Kendrick
Howard "Howie" Joseph Kendrick III is a Major League Baseball second baseman for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.-Early life:...
for the remainder of the season.
The national spotlight shone briefly on Kennedy on August 16, 2006, when he took part in a bench-clearing brawl
Bench-clearing brawl
A bench-clearing brawl, sometimes known as a basebrawl or a rhubarb, is a form of ritualistic fighting that occurs in sports, most notably baseball and ice hockey, in which every player on both teams leave their dugouts, bullpens, or benches and charge the playing area in order to fight one...
in the ninth inning of a game between the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
and the Angels. Tensions between the two division rivals were already high, as two Rangers starting pitchers — Adam Eaton
Adam Eaton
Adam Thomas Eaton is a former Major League Baseball pitcher.-High school:Eaton graduated from Snohomish High School in 1996 where he went 8–0 with a 0.67 earned run average as a senior, and earned second team High School All-America honors from Baseball America. Ranked the No...
and Vicente Padilla
Vicente Padilla
Vicente de la Cruz Padilla is a Major League Baseball pitcher, who is a free agent. Padilla previously pitched for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Philadelphia Phillies and Texas Rangers...
— had been ejected in previous games that month for throwing at Angels batters. Also, two Angels hurlers (Kevin Gregg
Kevin Gregg
Kevin Marschall Gregg is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles.-High school career:...
and Brendan Donnelly
Brendan Donnelly
Brendan Kevin Donnelly is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher. He bats and throws right-handed.-Career:Donnelly was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 27th round of the 1992 amateur draft...
) had already been thrown out of the game for hitting batters, and manager Mike Scioscia
Mike Scioscia
Michael Lorri Scioscia is a former Major League Baseball catcher and current manager for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He has worked in that capacity since the 2000 season, and is the longest-tenured manager in Major League Baseball....
and bench coach Ron Roenicke had been ejected as well. Rangers pitcher Scott Feldman
Scott Feldman
Scott Feldman was a news anchor for News 12 Long Island for 22 years.-Early life:Feldman was born in St. Louis, Missouri, graduated from the University of Denver in 1971. He served in the U.S. Army Reserves and National Guard....
hit
Hit by pitch
In baseball, hit by pitch , or hit batsman , is a batter or his equipment being hit in some part of his body by a pitch from the pitcher.-Official rule:...
Kennedy in the buttocks with a fastball with only one out remaining in the game, and his team up 9–3. Kennedy charged the mound, triggering a fight between the 6' 5" Feldman and the 6' 1" Kennedy. As Kennedy charged him, Feldman stood on the mound and threw down his glove, and when Kennedy reached him Feldman then hit Kennedy in the armpit with a punch. Kennedy was suspended for four games for his actions.
In seven seasons with the Angels, Kennedy hit .280 in 992 games, with 51 home runs and 353 RBI.
Return to St. Louis
On November 28, 2006 he signed a 3-year, $10 million contract with his former team, the St. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
.
On August 11, 2007, Kennedy was placed on the 15-day disabled list
Disabled list
In Major League Baseball, the disabled list is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players.-General guidelines:...
with a torn medial meniscus
Medial meniscus
-External links: *...
in his right knee, an injury that would sideline him for the remainder of the season. He was in 87 games prior to the injury, and hit only .219.
In 2008, he played in 115 games and hit .280. On February 9, 2009, after a year of demanding a trade due to his unfulfilled desire for a starting role on the Cardinals, Kennedy was released by the team.
Tampa Bay Rays
He signed a minor league deal with the Tampa Bay RaysTampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
one week later. The Rays assigned him to the AAA Durham Bulls
Durham Bulls
The Durham Bulls are a minor league baseball team that currently plays in the International League. The Bulls play their home games at Durham Bulls Athletic Park located in the downtown area of Durham, North Carolina. Durham Bulls Athletic Park is often called the "DBAP" or "D-Bap". The Bulls are...
, his first minor league action since 2005. With the Bulls, he hit .280 in 23 games.
Oakland Athletics
On May 8, 2009, he was traded to the Oakland AthleticsOakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
for Joe Dillon
Joe Dillon
Joseph William Dillon is a Major League Baseball player who is currently in the Tampa Bay Rays organization. He is a utility fielder...
and was assigned to Triple-A Sacramento. His contract was purchased the next day. He appeared in 129 games for the Athletics, mostly at third base and second base, batting .289 with 11 home runs.
Washington Nationals
On February 12, 2010, Kennedy signed with the Washington NationalsWashington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
. He played in 135 games for the Nationals, hitting .249. He mostly played second base, but also appeared in 51 games at first base, the first time he had seen any regular time at that position in his career.
Seattle Mariners
On January 10, 2011, he signed a minor-league deal with the Seattle MarinersSeattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
. Kennedy, however, made the team out of spring training, and served as a utility infielder, seeing action at first base, second base and third base during the year while hitting .234 in 114 games. He elected free agency on October 30.
Los Angeles Dodgers
On December 1, 2011, Kennedy signed a one-year contract with the Los Angeles DodgersLos Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
.