Former Detroit Tigers infielder Buddy Kennedy has dealt with a path that many have endured on their way to the major leagues. A former Arizona Diamondbacks prospect, Kennedy has hit well enough in Triple-A, where he deserves an opportunity but can’t bring that success when he gets it.
The roller coaster has gone on for each of the past four seasons, and Kennedy got another opportunity after he was designated for assignment by the Philadelphia Phillies earlier this year. But just as he received another chance with the Toronto Blue Jays, Kennedy was offered a harsh reminder of what the road to the majors can be.
Blue Jays are activating Andres Gimenez from IL; he’ll play second base and bat 9th vs Cubs on Tuesday
— Arden Zwelling (@ArdenZwelling) August 12, 2025
Buddy Kennedy is being designated for assignment to open a roster spot
Blue Jays DFA Buddy Kennedy 1 Week After Calling Him Up
According to Sports Net’s Arden Zwelling, the Blue Jays are designating Kennedy for assignment. The move comes as the team activates second baseman Andres Gimenez from the injured list, and it is the second time Kennedy has been DFA’d this season.
A fifth-round pick in the 2017 MLB Draft, Kennedy has done everything he can to get to the major leagues. He’s been with five different organizations since entering the professional ranks and has shown out in the minor leagues, hitting .281/.378/.437 with 66 homers and 345 RBI in 681 career games. Even this season, Kennedy hit .283/.388/.447 with eight homers and 40 RBI for the Phillies' Triple-A affiliate in Lehigh Valley before earning a call-up.
The problem is, he has the look of a “Quad-A” player. Kennedy has a .193/.288/.300 batter’s line with two homers and 19 RBI in 60 career major league games. His four-game stint with the Phillies saw him go 0-for-7 with a pair of strikeouts, and he had a similar result with the Blue Jays, going 1-for-5 with a double, a walk, and a strikeout in two games.
Even in the longest stretch of his career, Kennedy didn’t show he belonged. The Diamondbacks called him up for his major league debut in 2022, and he hit .217/.287/.325 with a home run and 12 RBI. While he’s tried to make himself more versatile, he still hasn’t gotten a prolonged opportunity in the majors.
Maybe the answer is to keep grinding until the opportunity shows up. Kody Clemens was in a similar situation at the beginning of the year and has become a regular for the Minnesota Twins, hitting .225/.298/.479 with 13 homers and 35 RBI in 73 games this season. And at age 26, it’s probably not the last we’ve seen of Kennedy in the major leagues.
Unfortunately, Kennedy’s chances are running out, and the latest move may be another chance to find a better opportunity.