It is Buddy Kennedy's world and we are all just living in it
Panic struck the Detroit Tigers when news broke of Gio Urshela hitting the injured list. Luckily, the corresponding roster move has brought Buddy Kennedy into center stage. And he is thriving.
Last week, the Detroit Tigers put one of their top hitters, Gio Urshela, on the injured list with a hamstring strain. There was a bit of panic throughout Tigers nation, and understandably so. Until his IL stint, Urshela had been hitting .298 for the Tigers and logged in as a middle-of-the-order bat for a struggling lineup. In a corresponding move, the Detroit Tigers selected the contract of infielder Buddy Kennedy.
Kennedy, a 25-year-old infielder, came to the Tigers over the offseason after he was claimed off waivers from the St. Louis Cardinals. Not much was thought of the move at this time, but it was a nice piece of organizational depth. Kennedy had played in 2022-2023 for the Arizona Diamondbacks, hitting around the Mendoza Line with very little power. But the Tigers saw something they liked and it was his time to shine.
He took his first at-bat on April 20 for the Tigers, drawing a walk. But the big day for the youngster came Sunday, when he finished 1-for-2 with a sac fly, strikeout, a walk, and a massive two-run home run. A home run is a hard thing to come by for the Tigers lineup, so that was a nice sight to see. This was only his second career home run.
The kid looked like he was having fun and keeping it loose, which can be a sign of comfortability and longevity for him. Hopefully, the kid can keep this up and be able to stick around for a while. A utility infielder would be a great piece to keep. Zach McKinstry is hitting just .200 this season and doesn't contribute much on defense.
Buddy Kennedy has a real opportunity to get a full-time roster spot on the Detroit Tigers
If Buddy Kennedy can make a good impression over his time with the team, he truly has an opportunity to get a full-time roster spot. This would be a great thing for the young kid, but there is reason to be skeptical.
It was one good game, and he has a reputation for being subpar in the batter's box. Sometimes, all you need as a player is one really good game and a change of scenery to spark up a good career. Hopefully for Buddy, he is able to prove himself and stick around for a while.