DETROIT — Buddy Kennedy, a former utility infielder for the Detroit Tigers, has returned to the majors as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies.
The Phillies promoted Kennedy from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Thursday after selecting his contract.
Kennedy was close to making Philadelphia’s Opening Day roster earlier this year but ultimately lost the final bench spot to ex-Tiger Kody Clemens. Clemens has since been traded to the Minnesota Twins, where he’s already set a personal best with seven home runs in just 118 plate appearances.
Now 26, Kennedy had a brief stint with Detroit last April, appearing in six games after being called up from Triple-A Toledo to cover for the injured Gio Urshela. In that time, he went 2-for-10 with a home run, four RBIs, two walks, and four strikeouts.
The Tigers designated him for assignment in June after promoting Justyn-Henry Malloy, and he was then dealt to the Phillies for cash.
Originally a fifth-round pick out of high school by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2017, Kennedy saw some MLB action with Arizona in both 2022 and 2023.
Detroit picked him up on February 29, 2024, after designating Andre Lipcius for assignment and later trading Lipcius to the Dodgers.
Kennedy, a New Jersey native, is an alumnus of Millville Senior High School — the same school as Mike Trout. His grandfather, Don Money, was a longtime MLB infielder who played for the Phillies from 1968 to 1972.
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