Michael Kennedy

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Pittsburgh Pirates #20 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 45/High
  
  Track Record: In 2021, Kennedy was part of USA Baseball’s 18U national team, where he was teammates with fellow Pirates prospect Termarr Johnson. He was the most talented player from New York available in the 2022 draft, and Pittsburgh chose him in the fourth round. He signed for a double-slot bonus of $1 million instead of heading to Louisiana State. He didn’t pitch after signing and made his pro debut in 2023. Kennedy split the year between the Florida Complex League and Low-A Bradenton and surrendered just 27 hits in 46.1 innings. His 55 strikeouts were the fourth-most in the FCL.
  
  Scouting Report: Despite his eye-popping stats, Kennedy’s stuff doesn’t jump off the page. His fastball sits between 87-89 mph and plays up a little bit because of a lower release height. He pairs the pitch with a low-80s slider with spin rates around 2,500 rpm that gets whiffs at an above-average rate. Kennedy rounds out his mix with a mid-80s changeup he throws about 10% of the time. The lefty’s shorter arm path gives him a bit of deception, but there are concerns he doesn’t have enough remaining projection to add the necessary power to his arsenal.
  
  The Future: Kennedy will return to Low-A in 2024. He needs to add strength to his frame to bring his stuff forward enough to survive as he moves through the system. Otherwise, he’s going to have trouble being more than a smoke-and-mirrors lefty who gets by on deception instead of stuff.
  
  Scouting Grades Fastball: 45 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 55
• 
  Ranked Pittsburgh Pirates #19 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme
  
  Track Record: Kennedy joined Pirates first-rounder Termarr Johnson on Team USA's 18U National Team roster in 2021 and was the top-ranked draft prospect in New York entering the 2022 draft. He was expected to be a tough sign considering his commitment to Louisiana State until the Pirates drafted him in the fourth round and signed him to a $1 million bonus, nearly double the expected slot value. A knee injury kept Kennedy from making his pro debut.
  
  Scouting Report: Kennedy pairs a cerebral, competitive approach with a surprisingly refined three-pitch mix for a cold-weather prep arm. The Pirates are excited by the characteristics of Kennedy's 88-92 mph fastball, which carries well from his low arm slot. He pairs it with a sweeping upper-70s slider and has shown aptitude to quickly learn and enhance his low-80s changeup. His delivery is controlled and he repeats it well. He shows good feel for his entire arsenal and his shorter arm path provides a bit of deception against lefties. Kennedy would benefit from a bit more power across his arsenal, but some scouts worry there isn't a ton of room for projection on his frame.
  
  The Future: One of the youngest prospects in the draft, Kennedy will be just 18 years old throughout all of 2023. He's in line to make his professional debut and begin his ascent through Pittsburgh's system as a strike-throwing lefty with a useful three-pitch mix.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Slider: 55. Changeup: 50. Control: 55

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #114 prospect in 2022 draft
  School: Troy (N.Y.) HS Committed/Drafted: Louisiana State
  Age At Draft: 17.6
  BA Grade: 50/Extreme
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 45 | Curveball: - | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Cutter: | Control: 60
  One of the youngest pitchers in the draft, Kennedy is 17 until November, so he’s younger than a lot of players even in the 2023 class. His feel for pitching, however, is well beyond his years. He pitches with a compact, repeatable delivery and pounds the strike zone with his fastball from a three-quarters slot. Kennedy isn’t that big and is already fairly filled out, and while he doesn’t have overpowering velocity, his fastball has crept up a bit this spring, sitting around 88-92 mph and touching 94. Kennedy relies more on touch and feel, mixing in a tick above-average slider that gets empty swings by sweeping away from lefties or darting with two-plane depth to the back foot of a righthanded hitter. He throws a low-80s changeup that flashes average and disguises well off his fastball. Scouts who are more skeptical have concerns Kennedy might never add much velocity, while those highest on him love his pitchability as a young lefty with good secondaries and think he could go in the top three rounds.

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme
  
  Track Record: Kennedy joined Pirates first-rounder Termarr Johnson on Team USA's 18U National Team roster in 2021 and was the top-ranked draft prospect in New York entering the 2022 draft. He was expected to be a tough sign considering his commitment to Louisiana State until the Pirates drafted him in the fourth round and signed him to a $1 million bonus, nearly double the expected slot value. A knee injury kept Kennedy from making his pro debut.
  
  Scouting Report: Kennedy pairs a cerebral, competitive approach with a surprisingly refined three-pitch mix for a cold-weather prep arm. The Pirates are excited by the characteristics of Kennedy's 88-92 mph fastball, which carries well from his low arm slot. He pairs it with a sweeping upper-70s slider and has shown aptitude to quickly learn and enhance his low-80s changeup. His delivery is controlled and he repeats it well. He shows good feel for his entire arsenal and his shorter arm path provides a bit of deception against lefties. Kennedy would benefit from a bit more power across his arsenal, but some scouts worry there isn't a ton of room for projection on his frame.
  
  The Future: One of the youngest prospects in the draft, Kennedy will be just 18 years old throughout all of 2023. He's in line to make his professional debut and begin his ascent through Pittsburgh's system as a strike-throwing lefty with a useful three-pitch mix.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Slider: 55. Changeup: 50. Control: 55
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme
  
  Track Record: Kennedy joined Pirates first-rounder Termarr Johnson on Team USA's 18U National Team roster in 2021 and was the top-ranked draft prospect in New York entering the 2022 draft. He was expected to be a tough sign considering his commitment to Louisiana State until the Pirates drafted him in the fourth round and signed him to a $1 million bonus, nearly double the expected slot value. A knee injury kept Kennedy from making his pro debut.
  
  Scouting Report: Kennedy pairs a cerebral, competitive approach with a surprisingly refined three-pitch mix for a cold-weather prep arm. The Pirates are excited by the characteristics of Kennedy's 88-92 mph fastball, which carries well from his low arm slot. He pairs it with a sweeping upper-70s slider and has shown aptitude to quickly learn and enhance his low-80s changeup. His delivery is controlled and he repeats it well. He shows good feel for his entire arsenal and his shorter arm path provides a bit of deception against lefties. Kennedy would benefit from a bit more power across his arsenal, but some scouts worry there isn't a ton of room for projection on his frame.
  
  The Future: One of the youngest prospects in the draft, Kennedy will be just 18 years old throughout all of 2023. He's in line to make his professional debut and begin his ascent through Pittsburgh's system as a strike-throwing lefty with a useful three-pitch mix.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Slider: 55. Changeup: 50. Control: 55
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 50/Extreme
  
  August Update: One of the youngest pitchers in the draft, Kennedy is 17 until November, so he&#39s younger than a lot of players even in the 2023 class. His feel for pitching, however, is well beyond his years. He pitches with a compact, repeatable delivery and pounds the strike zone with his fastball from a three-quarters slot. Kennedy isn&#39t that big and is already fairly filled out, and while he doesn&#39t have overpowering velocity, his fastball has crept up a bit this spring, sitting around 88-92 mph and touching 94. Kennedy relies more on touch and feel, mixing in a tick above-average slider that gets empty swings by sweeping away from lefties or darting with two-plane depth to the back foot of a righthanded hitter. He throws a low-80s changeup that flashes average and disguises well off his fastball. Scouts who are more skeptical have concerns Kennedy might never add much velocity, while those highest on him love his pitchability as a young lefty with good secondaries.