A former Philadelphia Phillies infielder is on the move once again after a short stint in the NL West. Buddy Kennedy was designated for assignment by the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday as the team brought back infielder Kiké Hernandez from the disabled list.
Kennedy, 26, was claimed off waivers by the Dodgers on Aug. 17 after an injury to Max Muncy. He appeared in just seven games with the club, compiling just one hit in 17 at-bats before being shown the door.
Former Phillies fan favorite Buddy Kennedy moving on from third team this season
Prior to his stint with the Dodgers this season, Kennedy has bounced around the league since debuting in 2022, spending time with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Detroit Tigers, Toronto Blue Jays, and Phillies. He was drafted by the Diamondbacks in 2017 in the fifth round, forgoing his commitment to play collegiate baseball at North Carolina. Kennedy saw the most action in his career during his rookie campaign in 2022 with the Diamondbacks where he hit .217 with a home run and 12 RBIs in 83 at bats.
As far as his tenure in Philadelphia, he was with the Phillies for less than a year after he was acquired last July from the Detroit Tigers in exchange for cash considerations. He played well at Triple-A Lehigh Valley, posting a .294 average to go along with 10 home runs and 35 RBIs in 67 games before being promoted to the major league club last September. In 2024, Kennedy made eight total appearances with the Phillies and his most memorable moment came on Sept. 9 when he walked in a pinch hit appearance ahead of a walk off single by Kody Clemens. It was during this at bat that fans chanted “Buddy” repeatedly in unison, signaling their support for the Millville, NJ, native.
“Buddy” chants for Buddy Kennedy, who pinch hit in the ninth. Kennedy is from Millville, NJ and is the grandson of Don Money, who played for the Phillies from 1968-72: pic.twitter.com/p7vV9K6NFj
— Alex Coffey (@byalexcoffey) September 10, 2024
In total with the Phillies, he played in 12 games between 2024 and 2025 and hit just .111 with two hits in 18 at bats. His tenure with the major league club came to an end when he was designated for assignment in June following the return of Bryce Harper from the injured list.
Several days later, his time with the organization as a whole was up when he officially elected free agency instead of returning to the minor leagues. He signed with the Blue Jays, where he only played two games in the majors before being designated for assignment.
It has been a tough year all around for Kennedy as he has now been designated for assignment four times total between the Phillies (twice), Blue Jays, and now the Dodgers. Assuming he elects free agency, Kennedy will now look to latch on with a club down the stretch as he tries to revive his struggling career.