Michael Kennedy: FCL success earned him a promotion to Bradenton

Looking at Michael Kennedy's brief stint in Single-A Bradenton at the end of the 2023 season.

Photo Credit: WTM

A trend that seems to continue with the Pirates has been targeting prep pitchers in the draft and signing them to over-slot deals to lure them away from college commitments.

In each draft under Ben Cherington, they have done this at least once - with some more notable names in the system being that. During the 2022 draft, their target was a left-handed pitcher out of New York, Michael Kennedy, who committed to LSU.

Taken in the third round, the Pirates signed him for $1 million, adding another young arm to the system.

Scouting Notes: Michael Kennedy Two-Prong Fastball Approach

I’ve written about Kennedy previously after seeing him in a Florida Complex League game. He was promoted to Bradenton and made two appearances out of the bullpen before his season ended.

In 4.1 innings pitched, Kennedy struck out eight batters but did walk six. Most free passes were issued in his second outing, where he walked five in 2.2 innings.

The control issues weren’t anything new, as I mentioned in the ‘scouting notes’ article I wrote about him.

While I initially didn’t think we’d see him in Bradenton, it was a good challenge for him and a reward for being one of the better pitchers in the FCL.

Fastball

It was only one game televised in Bradenton, so it wasn’t much to go through, but still, an opportunity to see one of the youngest arms in the system pitch.