The Royals announced this morning that righty Ian Kennedy is heading back to the 10-day disabled list. He had only just been activated to pitch yesterday, but left his outing after three frames.
The team indicates that a left oblique strain is again to blame for the placement, though the outlook isn’t yet clear this time around. Kennedy only missed one start in his prior stint on the DL, so perhaps there’s hope that this is still a fairly minor ailment. It surely helps that the All-Star break is right around the corner.
Of course, hitting the shelf now won’t do much for Kennedy’s prospects as a trade candidate. Truth be told, though, there was never much likelihood he’d be moved with a $16MM salary this year and $33MM left to go over the next two seasons.
Since joining the Kansas City staff in the 2016 campaign, the now-33-year-old Kennedy has compiled 444 1/3 innings of 4.58 ERA ball. But the results have headed in the wrong direction of late, as he has allowed more than five earned per nine over the past two seasons, due in large part to allowing far too many home runs.
Went to a spring training Royals home game a few years ago with my young nephews. I remember players walking outside near a fence.
Many players used the fence to not be bothered (and I can understand) but not Kennedy.
He was so gracious in signing autographs for my nephews and others. He made their day. And not just signing. Made eye contact with a genuine smile.
He obviously understands how special being a MLB is (not that no one else does).
Nothing to do with the article. I did not ask for an autograph or talk to him other to say thanks on behalf of my nephews but Kennedy made a fan that day. One he probably did not expect. Me.
Side note: Jose Abreu. Several times I have seen him play. Not only how he handles himself but in between innings first baseman usually toss the infield warm up ball in the stands.
Abreu has another level. He is conscious of the kids clammering for a ball. He always makes a point to take a moment and spot a kid and throw it rather than just toss it. And he appears to like actually realize and spot kids who already got one and spread the wealth so to speak. A real genuine man nice.
“He was so gracious in signing autographs”
The Royals are paying Kennedy $70 million over five years to sign those autographs.
Great work if you can get it.
That has to be why they signed him because no MLB team in their right mind thought Kennedy was worth more than a one year deal for half the qualifying offer he rejected.
They did not sign Kennedy to sign autographs
He doesn’t have to do that he could ignore kids tell them to get lost or charge for his autograph which would be slimy considering what athletes are paid now.
Baseballs fan base is getting older and one way to get the youth back is for players to act like Kennedy. A few minutes of their time mean the world to kids while having their hero ignore or be rude/hateful to them could push them to another sport.
Who are Royals bringing up to replace Kennedy? Not that is matters much to anyone but Royals development junkies, but. . . .
My guess is Oaks. He’s been on that bus several times already this year, and we really need to give him as many starts as possible. He has a 2 flat era in AAA this year I think he’s proven all he can there.
Although that being said, I’d like to see Staumont at some time this year!
Agreed. Doubtful he will learn command any better in AAA than in the majors. Might as well see if the improvement in umps makes him even slightly better – I doubt it will because I bet when he misses it isn’t close.
Not Staumont, no no no, absolute joke, “my name’s Josh, I throw fast, can’t locate a single thing within a strike zone, even a generous one, oh, and I can’t throw overly hard anymore”.
Jason Adams was called back up
And I can’t figure out why anytime I leave a comment, it always doubles it leaves the same comment twice…. irritating