For a pro ballplayer trying to gain traction in the majors, progress sometimes comes down to timing as much as talent. Being in the right place at the right moment can change everything, and that reality defined the infielder’s winding 2025 season. The former Philadelphia Phillies fan favorite experienced a year filled with unexpected turns that ultimately paid off.
Fresh off earning his first World Series ring, Buddy Kennedy has now landed a new opportunity for 2026, signing a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants.
What makes the deal more intriguing is the journey that led him there. Kennedy opened the 2025 season with Triple-A Lehigh Valley, where he performed at a high level. In 61 games, he hit .283 with an .835 OPS, scoring 35 runs while adding eight home runs and 40 RBIs. That production earned him a long-awaited call-up to Philadelphia in late June, but the opportunity was brief. He appeared in only four games before being designated for assignment and eventually released.
Kennedy’s season continued to take sharp turns. The Toronto Blue Jays signed him to a minor league deal and promoted him to the majors after the trade deadline, yet his stay was again short-lived. He played just two games before Toronto designated him for assignment as well.
The Los Angeles Dodgers then claimed Kennedy off waivers, giving him his longest major league run of the year. He appeared in seven games, collecting one hit and scoring once in 18 plate appearances. Even so, he was designated for assignment once more just 10 days later and returned to the Blue Jays on another minor league contract to close out the season.
Despite the instability, Kennedy walked away with a remarkable reward. His time with the Dodgers made him part of their 2025 World Series championship, earning him an elusive ring. In fact, once it became clear the Blue Jays and Dodgers would meet in the Fall Classic, Kennedy was guaranteed a title by virtue of having been with both organizations.
San Francisco may be hoping some of that postseason fortune carries over. Every team Kennedy suited up for in 2025 reached the playoffs, and his versatility across the infield gives him a realistic shot at competing for a utility bench role. Entering his age-27 season, Kennedy now looks to finally carve out a stable and lasting place in the major leagues.