Adam Kennedy
| AB | 5473 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .272 |
| OBP | .327 |
| SLG | .384 |
| HR | 80 |
- Full name Adam Thomas Kennedy
- Born 01/10/1976 in Riverside, CA
- Profile Ht.: 5'11" / Wt.: 195 / Bats: L / Throws: R
- School Cal State Northridge
- Debut 08/21/1999
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Drafted in the 1st round (20th overall) by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1997 (signed for $650,000).
View Draft Report
Kennedy was on his way to leading NCAA Division I in hits for the second year in a row. He had 121 in 1996 and 132 this season. He puts the fat part of the bat on the ball consistently and has power to all fields. He has an unorthodox stance at the plate and lacks the technique desired in a shortstop, but he gets results and can play almost any position. He's the kind of player that looks better the more people see him play, so so he has appealed more to area scouts than crosscheckers.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Background: Kennedy signed for $650,000, the lowest bonus of any first-round pick in the 1997 draft, and many thought he wasn't a legitimate first-rounder. He went to the Arizona Fall League last fall but left after just 12 at-bats when he separated his left shoulder. Strengths: The Cardinals are excited about Kennedy's potential with the bat. He uses the whole field, makes adjustments quickly and has significantly improved his power. He's driven by those who doubt his potential. Weaknesses: Defense is a big question mark, at least at shortstop. But it's just a matter of when, not if, he makes a permanent move to second, where he'll be fine. The Future: Kennedy's shoulder is healthy, and he'll go to big league camp with an outside chance at winning the second-base job. He won't ride the big league bench, though, and it's more likely the Cardinals will send Kennedy back to Triple-A for a year.
