Ian Kennedy is a professional baseball player who has had a successful career in the Major Leagues. He was born on December 19, 1984, in Huntington Beach, California, and attended the University of Southern California. Kennedy was drafted by the New York Yankees in the first round of the 2006 MLB draft.
Kennedy made his Major League debut with the Yankees in 2007 and spent four seasons with the team. He was then traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2010, where he had his best season in 2011. That year, Kennedy went 21-4 with a 2.88 ERA and finished fourth in the National League Cy Young Award voting.
After spending six seasons with the Diamondbacks, Kennedy was traded to the San Diego Padres in 2015. He spent two seasons with the Padres before being traded to the Kansas City Royals in 2017. Kennedy had a solid season with the Royals in 2018, posting a 3.66 ERA in 33 starts.
In 2019, Kennedy was moved to the bullpen and became the Royals' closer. He recorded 30 saves that season and had a 3.41 ERA in 63 appearances. Kennedy continued to pitch out of the bullpen for the Royals in 2020, recording six saves and a 9.00 ERA in 14 appearances.
Kennedy became a free agent after the 2020 season and signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers. He made the Rangers' Opening Day roster in 2021 and was used primarily as a reliever. Kennedy had a 2.51 ERA in 21 appearances before being traded to the Philadelphia Phillies in July.
Kennedy has been a durable and reliable pitcher throughout his career, making over 300 appearances and starting over 200 games. He has a career record of 97-105 with a 4.13 ERA and 1,487 strikeouts. Kennedy has also been a valuable member of the bullpen, recording 153 saves in his career.
Off the field, Kennedy is known for his charitable work. He and his wife, Allison, founded the Ian Kennedy Family Foundation, which supports families affected by pediatric cancer. Kennedy has also been involved with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
In conclusion, Ian Kennedy has had a successful career in Major League Baseball, spanning over a decade. He has been a reliable starter and a valuable member of the bullpen, and has made a positive impact off the field through his charitable work.
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