{"id":55635,"date":"2022-07-10T04:46:33","date_gmt":"2022-07-10T08:46:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=55635"},"modified":"2022-07-11T01:46:42","modified_gmt":"2022-07-11T05:46:42","slug":"buddy-kennedy-debut-weekend","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2022\/07\/10\/buddy-kennedy-debut-weekend\/","title":{"rendered":"Buddy Kennedy Had a Debut Weekend He Will Never Forget"},"content":{"rendered":"

Buddy Kennedy<\/strong> Had a Debut Weekend for the Ages<\/h2>\n

Arizona Diamondbacks<\/a> infielder Buddy Kennedy made his major league debut Friday, June 17 against the Minnesota Twins<\/a> at Chase Field in Phoenix. No major league player will ever forget his debut weekend, but for Kennedy, it was one that was almost out of a Disney movie.<\/p>\n

On Friday, this reporter\u2019s phone buzzed on the way to clubhouse hours with the notification that Kennedy had been called up and would DH that night. After talking to shortstop Nick Ahmed, whose shoulder surgery two days prior ended his 2022 season, the reporters all gathered around Kennedy\u2019s locker. The grandson of 16-year major league infielder Don Money grinned ear to ear as the camera turned on and the tape recorders pointed towards him.<\/p>\n

Kennedy handled the interview like a seasoned veteran, but the grin on his face reminded everyone that he is a 23-year-old kid who just loves baseball. He was a personification of the child in all of us, someone who had a dream from the time he was five. A dream that became a goal and, after years of hard work, became reality. Kennedy said pregame that to see this play out was \u201ckind of crazy. I sat there and looked at all the years of baseball that I’ve had and everything to lead up to this day. All the coaches and everybody that’s helped me is amazing. I\u2019m very thankful, very blessed, and going to enjoy every moment of it for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n

His day up to that point had been \u201camazing, kind of a blur.\u201d He recounted, \u201cI woke up today, did my normal morning routine. Have my family here, which I\u2019m very happy about, then we went to the team store. Got some gear.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Buddy Kennedy Support Clan<\/h3>\n

Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo smiled as he talked about Kennedy before the game. \u201cBuddy deserves this moment. He\u2019s worked hard and has been grinding through the minor leagues, never ever doubting the teaching and coaching that he\u2019s received. And he\u2019s improved every year and is ready for this opportunity. I know he\u2019s excited. He\u2019s got a ton of family members on their way here right now. We\u2019re all excited for him. He\u2019s a great story for this organization.\u201d<\/p>\n

During pregame batting practice, the VIP guests were gathered behind stanchions on the warning track behind home plate. On the end closest to the Diamondbacks dugout, there stood a woman with a beaming, proud look on her face. Only one woman on the planet could have been in that ballpark with that specific look on her face: Buddy\u2019s mother, Shannon. The joy that emanated from her as this reporter introduced himself and shook her hand was so intense that it could be felt in the air. Next to her was Buddy\u2019s father, Buddy Sr, who had the Proud Papa look on his face.<\/p>\n

But they weren\u2019t the only people there to support Buddy. His cousins, Shelby Money and Donald Money III, were to Buddy Sr\u2019s right. They proudly introduced themselves as Buddy\u2019s cousins and shared how excited they were to be there. After Donald introduced himself, another young woman who was behind them rapidly and excitedly exclaimed, \u201cAND I\u2019M BUDDY\u2019S SISTER!\u201d while jumping in place. Alexis was over the moon at what her brother had accomplished. The combined emotions from all of them were, like the joy from Shannon, the type that could be felt in the air. This was a special night already, but it was only getting started.<\/p>\n

The Game<\/h4>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>