Clifton Lewis “Buddy” Kennedy Bio
Clifton Lewis “Buddy” Kennedy (born October 5, 1998) is an American professional baseball infielder who has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Detroit Tigers, Philadelphia Phillies, Toronto Blue Jays, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants, and Seattle Mariners. Originally from Millville, New Jersey, Kennedy was selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the fifth round of the 2017 MLB Draft. He has built a reputation as a versatile infielder with solid contact-hitting abilities and power potential, demonstrated throughout his minor league career. Kennedy comes from a baseball family, as his grandfather, Don Money, enjoyed a successful MLB career with the Philadelphia Phillies and Milwaukee Brewers.
Early Life and Background
Kennedy was born and raised in Millville, New Jersey. He attended Millville Senior High School, where he developed into a highly decorated baseball player. During his senior year in 2017, Kennedy delivered an exceptional performance at the plate, batting .493 with six home runs. His outstanding high school career established him as one of the top prospects in New Jersey and attracted attention from major league scouts. After graduating from Millville Senior High School, Kennedy originally committed to play college baseball at the University of North Carolina before beginning his professional career.
Path to Professional Baseball
Kennedy’s strong high school career caught the attention of the Arizona Diamondbacks, who selected him in the fifth round of the 2017 MLB Draft. He signed with the Diamondbacks for $550,000, choosing to forgo his commitment to the University of North Carolina to begin his professional journey immediately. This decision marked the start of his ascent through the minor league system, where he would spend several years developing his skills before earning a call-up to the major leagues.
Clifton Lewis “Buddy” Kennedy Career
Minor League Development (2017–2022)
Kennedy made his professional debut in 2017 with the Arizona League Diamondbacks, where he posted a .270 batting average with nine doubles, eight triples, and twenty RBIs over fifty games. The following season, he played for the Missoula Osprey in the Pioneer League, where he significantly improved his numbers, slashing .327/.396/.465 with four home runs and 32 RBIs in 57 games. In 2019, Kennedy continued his progression with the Kane County Cougars, hitting .262 with seven home runs and 49 RBIs over 101 games.
The 2020 season was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and Kennedy did not play in any minor league games. He returned in 2021 with the Hillsboro Hops and was promoted to the Amarillo Sod Poodles in mid-June. Over 96 games between the two clubs, Kennedy posted an impressive .290/.384/.523 slash line with 22 home runs, sixty RBIs, and 16 stolen bases. His strong performance earned him a selection to play in the Arizona Fall League for the Salt River Rafters after the season.
Arizona Diamondbacks Breakthrough (2022–2023)
Kennedy began the 2022 season with the Reno Aces, Triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, where he hit .261 with seven home runs and 40 RBI in 93 games. On June 17, 2022, the Diamondbacks selected his contract and promoted him to the major leagues. He made his MLB debut that night as the starting designated hitter against the Minnesota Twins. Kennedy recorded his first MLB hit with a single off Devin Smeltzer in his debut. Two days later, on June 19, he hit his first MLB home run, a grand slam off Caleb Thielbar of the Minnesota Twins. In 30 games for Arizona that season, he posted a .217 batting average.
He returned to Reno to begin the 2023 season and excelled, hitting .318/.447/.480 with five home runs and 46 RBI in 87 games. The Diamondbacks added him back to their major league roster on August 12, 2023, but he appeared in only 10 games, going 4-for-24 with one RBI before being designated for assignment in early September.
League Transactions and Team Changes (2023–2024)
On September 9, 2023, Kennedy was claimed off waivers by the Oakland Athletics. He played 11 games for the Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators, hitting .216 with four RBI. Later that month, on October 25, he was claimed off waivers by the St. Louis Cardinals. However, he was designated for assignment in late February 2024 and claimed by the Detroit Tigers on February 29, 2024. He opened the season with Triple-A Toledo and was called up to Detroit on April 20 to replace Gio Urshela on the injured list. In six games for the Tigers, he went 2-for-10 with one home run and four RBI before being designated for assignment again in early June.
Philadelphia Phillies (2024–2025)
On June 7, 2024, Kennedy was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for cash considerations. He appeared in eight games for Philadelphia, going 2-for-11 with two RBI and two walks. A memorable moment came on September 9, when Philadelphia fans chanted “Buddy” repeatedly as Kennedy walked in a pinch-hit appearance, one batter before Kody Clemens hit a bases-loaded walk-off single in a 2–1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays. For the remainder of the season, he played 67 games for Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs, batting .294 with 10 home runs and 35 RBI.
Kennedy began the 2025 season with the Phillies but was designated for assignment on March 27 as the final cut from the Opening Day roster. He cleared waivers and elected free agency but re-signed with the organization on a minor league contract the same day. In 61 appearances for Lehigh Valley, he batted .283/.388/.447 with eight home runs, 40 RBI, and three stolen bases. The Phillies added him back to their active roster on June 19, 2025, but he went 0-for-7 in four appearances and was designated for assignment on June 30. He elected free agency after clearing waivers on July 5.
Toronto Blue Jays (2025)
On July 9, 2025, Kennedy signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays. He appeared in 16 games for Triple-A Buffalo, batting .207/.309/.259 with five RBI and nine walks. On August 5, he was added to the Blue Jays active roster and made two appearances, going 1-for-5 with a walk. The Blue Jays designated him for assignment on August 12, and he was claimed off waivers by the Los Angeles Dodgers on August 15.
Los Angeles Dodgers (2025)
Kennedy appeared in seven games for the Dodgers, recording one hit in 17 at-bats with one RBI. He was designated for assignment on August 25, cleared waivers on August 28, and elected free agency rather than accept an outright assignment to the minors. On September 1, he returned to the Blue Jays organization on another minor league contract. He elected free agency following the season on November 6, 2025.
San Francisco Giants and Seattle Mariners (2025–2026)
On December 15, 2025, Kennedy signed a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants. He made 48 appearances for Triple-A Sacramento, slashing .321/.424/.543 with eight home runs, 33 RBI, and five stolen bases. The Giants selected his contract on June 1, 2026, adding him to their active roster. He appeared in seven games for San Francisco, going 0-for-7 with one walk, and was designated for assignment on June 28. That same day, he was traded to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for cash considerations.
Playing Style and Strengths
Kennedy is a contact-oriented hitter with gap power and occasional home run capability. His switch-hitting ability provides lineup flexibility, and he has demonstrated the capacity to drive in runs consistently throughout his minor league career. His experience at multiple infield positions adds value to his roster versatility, though he has primarily played corner infield spots throughout his professional career.
Notable Events and Milestones
Kennedy’s most memorable major league moment came on June 19, 2022, when he hit a grand slam home run in his second MLB game for the Arizona Diamondbacks against the Minnesota Twins. The 2025 season featured several notable moments, including the fan chant tribute during his brief tenure with the Philadelphia Phillies and his involvement with five different organizations within a single calendar year, highlighting his transient journey through professional baseball.
Clifton Lewis “Buddy” Kennedy Family
Family Background and Baseball Lineage
Kennedy comes from a distinguished baseball family. His grandfather, Don Money, played in Major League Baseball for 14 seasons, spending most of his career with the Milwaukee Brewers and also playing for the Philadelphia Phillies. Don Money was a durable and productive player who accumulated over 1,600 career hits and represented a significant legacy in professional baseball that Buddy Kennedy has continued.
Personal Life
Off the field, Kennedy maintains a close friendship with Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout, one of the premier players in baseball. The two train together during the off-season, working to improve their respective games. Kennedy has credited this friendship and training partnership as beneficial to his development as a professional athlete. He has also maintained strong ties to his hometown of Millville, New Jersey, throughout his career.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represented one of the most eventful years of Kennedy’s professional career. Beginning the year with the Philadelphia Phillies organization, he experienced the uncertainty of roster decisions when he was the final cut from their Opening Day roster. After clearing waivers, he elected free agency before quickly re-signing with the Phillies on a minor league deal. His performance with Triple-A Lehigh Valley remained solid, as he batted .283 with eight home runs and 40 RBI across 61 appearances, earning another call-up to the major leagues in June.
Despite his consistent minor league production, Kennedy’s major league opportunities remained limited. Following his brief stint with the Phillies in June, he was again designated for assignment and elected free agency. He subsequently signed minor league deals with the Toronto Blue Jays and returned to their organization after a brief waiver claim by the Los Angeles Dodgers. This sequence of transactions demonstrated the challenging nature of establishing oneself in the major leagues while also showcasing his resilience in continuing to perform at a high level in Triple-A.
Kennedy finished the 2025 season by returning to the Blue Jays organization in September, ultimately electing free agency after the season concluded. His ability to post strong Triple-A numbers throughout the year, including a .283 batting average and 18 total home runs across both organizations, provided evidence of his continued potential. As he entered the 2025-2026 offseason, Kennedy remained focused on earning a more permanent role in Major League Baseball while continuing to train with Mike Trout during the off-season months.