Brett Kennedy (born August 4, 1994) is an American former professional

baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball sport played between two team sport, teams of nine players each, taking turns batting (baseball), batting and Fielding (baseball), fielding. The game occurs over the course of several Pitch ...

pitcher In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("Pitch (baseball), pitches") the Baseball (ball), baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of out (baseball), retiring a batter (baseball), batter, ...

. He played in

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball league composed of 30 teams, divided equally between the National League (baseball), National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. MLB i ...

(MLB) for the

San Diego Padres The San Diego Padres are an American professional baseball team based in San Diego. The Padres compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Division. ...

and

Cincinnati Reds The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. The Reds compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central Divisi ...

Early life and college

Kennedy grew up in

Brigantine, New Jersey Brigantine (or simply The Island) is a city in Atlantic County in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the city's population was 7,716, a decrease of 1,734 (−18.3%) from the 2010 census count of 9,450, which in ...

and attended

Atlantic City High School Atlantic City High School (ACHS) is a comprehensive high school, comprehensive State school, public Secondary education in the United States, high school in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Atlantic City, in Atlantic County, New Jersey, Atlantic Count ...

Atlantic City, New Jersey Atlantic City, sometimes referred to by its initials A.C., is a Jersey Shore seaside resort city (New Jersey), city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, Atlantic County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Atlantic City comprises the second half of ...

. In 2011, as a junior, he went 3–2 with a 2.10 ERA and sixty strikeouts over innings. pitched. After graduating, he enrolled at

Fordham University Fordham University is a Private university, private Society of Jesus, Jesuit research university in New York City, United States. Established in 1841, it is named after the Fordham, Bronx, Fordham neighborhood of the Bronx in which its origina ...

(the only Division I school to offer him a scholarship) where he played

college baseball College baseball is baseball that is played by Student athlete, student-athletes at institutions of higher education. In the United States, college baseball is sanctioned mainly by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA); in Japan, ...

for the

Fordham Rams The Fordham Rams are the varsity sports teams for Fordham University. Their colors are maroon and white. The Fordham Rams are members of NCAA Division I and compete in the Atlantic 10 Conference for most sports. In football, the Rams play in t ...

. In 2015, his junior year, he compiled a 6–8 record with a 4.14 ERA, striking out 97 and walking only twenty over 87 innings. Over the course of his collegiate career, Kennedy posted a 15–17 record with 3.73 ERA and 218 strikeouts (tied for second-most in school history) in fifty appearances (thirty starts).

Professional career

San Diego Padres

Kennedy was drafted by the

in the 11th round (327th overall) of the

2015 Major League Baseball draft The 2015 Major League Baseball draft was held from June 8 through June 10, 2015, to assign amateur baseball players to MLB teams. The draft order is the reverse order of the 2014 MLB season standings. As the Diamondbacks finished the 2014 season ...

. He signed and made his professional debut that same year with the

Tri-City Dust Devils The Tri-City Dust Devils are a Minor League Baseball team based in Pasco, Washington. The Dust Devils are members of the Northwest League The Northwest League is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in the Northwestern United States ...

, going 0–2 with a 2.70 ERA in 12 games (nine starts). In 2016, he pitched for both the

Fort Wayne TinCaps The Fort Wayne TinCaps are a Minor League Baseball team based in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The TinCaps compete in the Midwest League as the High-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres. The team plays its home games at Parkview Field. The TinCaps won the ...

and

Lake Elsinore Storm The Lake Elsinore Storm are a Minor League Baseball team based in Lake Elsinore, California. The Storm compete in the California League as the Single-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres. The team plays its home games at Lake Elsinore Diamond, w ...

, compiling an 8–11 record with a 3.55 ERA in 28 total starts between both teams, and in 2017, he played with the

San Antonio Missions The San Antonio Missions are a Minor League Baseball team based in San Antonio, Texas. The Missions compete in the Texas League as the Double-A (baseball), Double-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres. The team plays its home games at Nelson W. W ...

where he pitched to a 13–7 record and 3.70 ERA over 26 starts, earning

Texas League The Texas League is a Minor League Baseball league which has operated in the South Central United States since 1902. It is classified as a Double-A league. Despite the league's name, only its five South Division teams are actually based in the ...

All-Star honors. He began 2018 with the

El Paso Chihuahuas The El Paso Chihuahuas are a Minor League Baseball team based in El Paso, Texas. The Chihuahuas compete in the Pacific Coast League (PCL) as the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres. The team plays its home games at Sou ...

and was named to the

Pacific Coast League The Pacific Coast League (PCL) is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in the Western United States. Along with the International League, it is one of two leagues playing at the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A level, which is one grade bel ...

All-Star team. In 16 starts for El Paso, he posted a 10–0 record with a 2.72 ERA. Kennedy made his Major League debut on August 8, 2018, earning the loss after allowing six runs over four innings to the

Milwaukee Brewers The Milwaukee Brewers are an American professional baseball team based in Milwaukee. The Brewers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central Di ...

. Kennedy recorded his first career win on September 1, 2018, pitching six scoreless innings against the

Colorado Rockies The Colorado Rockies are an American professional baseball team based in Denver. The Rockies compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Division. Th ...

. In his first Major League season, Kennedy went 1–2 in six starts with a 6.75 ERA and 18 strikeouts before a knee injury ended his season. Kennedy experienced a lat strain in spring training in 2019 and pitched just one minor league inning that season due to injury. Kennedy was outrighted off the Padres roster on October 31. Kennedy did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...

. To begin the 2021 season, he was assigned to El Paso. He was released by the Padres on September 12, 2021.

Long Island Ducks

On April 5, 2022, Kennedy signed with the

Long Island Ducks The Long Island Ducks are an American professional minor league baseball team based on Long Island in Central Islip, New York. The Ducks compete in the North Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB), an independent "par ...

of the

Atlantic League of Professional Baseball The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB) is a professional independent baseball league in the United States. It is an official MLB Partner League based in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern United States, and the headquarters are l ...

. In six starts, he posted a 2–1 record with a 3.03 ERA and 27 strikeouts over innings.

Boston Red Sox

On May 24, 2022, Kennedy's contract was purchased by the

Boston Red Sox The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Founded in as one of the Ameri ...

and he was assigned to the Double-A

Portland Sea Dogs The Portland Sea Dogs are a Minor League Baseball team based in Portland, Maine, playing in the Eastern League (1938–present), Eastern League. Established in 1994, the Sea Dogs are the Double-A (baseball), Double-A affiliate of the Boston Red ...

. In 25 appearances split between Portland and the Triple-A

Worcester Red Sox The Worcester Red Sox (nicknamed the WooSox) are a professional minor league baseball team based in Worcester, Massachusetts. Beginning play in 2021, the team is the Triple-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, succeeding the Pawtucket Red Sox. Th ...

, he compiled a 3-6 record and 3.87 ERA with 61 strikeouts and 5 saves across innings pitched. Kennedy elected free agency following the season on November 10.

Long Island Ducks (second stint)

On April 7, 2023, Kennedy re-signed with the

of the

. Kennedy made 3 starts for the Ducks, recording a 3.09 ERA with 16 strikeouts in 11.2 innings pitched.

Cincinnati Reds

On May 13, 2023, Kennedy's contract was purchased by the

organization and he was assigned to the Triple-A

Louisville Bats The Louisville Bats are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League (IL) and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. They are located in Louisville, Kentucky, and are named in dual reference to the bat, wi ...

. In 8 starts for Louisville, he logged a 3.71 ERA with 37 strikeouts in innings pitched. On July 4, Kennedy was selected to the major league roster. In 5 appearances for Cincinnati, he recorded a 6.50 ERA with 9 strikeouts in 18.0 innings of work. On October 9, Kennedy was removed from the 40–man roster and sent outright to Triple–A Louisville. The next day, he elected free agency. On December 27, 2023, Kennedy re-signed with the Reds on a minor league contract. He would start the 2024 season with Triple-A Louisville, logging a 1–5 record and 6.86 ERA across 8 starts. On May 23, 2024, Kennedy was selected to the major league roster. He did not make an appearance for Cincinnati before he was designated for assignment on May 28. Kennedy cleared waivers and was sent outright to Louisville on May 30. He elected free agency on October 7.

Coaching career

In 2025, Kennedy was named as the assistant pitching coach of the

Florida Complex League Blue Jays The Florida Complex League Blue Jays are a Rookie-level affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, competing in the Florida Complex League of Minor League Baseball. Prior to 2021, the team was known as the Gulf Coast League Blue Jays. The team plays its ...

, the rookie-level affiliate of the

Toronto Blue Jays The Toronto Blue Jays are a Canadian professional baseball team based in Toronto. The Blue Jays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Since 1989, the team has p ...

References

External links

Fordham Rams Bio
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kennedy, Brett 1994 births Living people People from Brigantine, New Jersey People from Galloway Township, New Jersey Baseball players from Atlantic County, New Jersey Atlantic City High School alumni Major League Baseball pitchers San Diego Padres players Cincinnati Reds players Fordham Rams baseball players Arizona League Padres players Tri-City Dust Devils players Fort Wayne TinCaps players Lake Elsinore Storm players San Antonio Missions players El Paso Chihuahuas players Arizona Complex League Padres players Portland Sea Dogs players Worcester Red Sox players Long Island Ducks players Louisville Bats players