“Put that one in the case.”
Arizona Diamondbacks designated hitter Buddy Kennedy slapped a single to right field in the fifth inning on Friday for his first major-league hit, mere hours after getting selected from Triple-A Reno.
Kennedy’s knock against the Minnesota Twins was met with claps by his grandfather, former MLB All-Star Don Money, who was being interviewed live during the at-bat on Bally Sports Arizona.
Money joked that it took Kennedy three plate appearances to pick up an MLB hit while he did it in two.
Gotta love moments like this.
Buddy Kennedy got his first big league hit as his grandfather Don Money, who played 16 MLB seasons, was getting interviewed.
pic.twitter.com/73PtiMJab4
— MLB (@MLB) June 18, 2022
The 23-year-old finished 1-for-3 with a walk in a 7-2 victory against the Twins.
He scored his first run after reaching base on balls in the fourth inning.
The rookie’s single in the fifth moved right fielder Daulton Varsho to second. Second baseman Jake Hager came up later in the inning and drove home Varsho with a single to left.
“They sacrificed a lot, time, parents’ money, travel and hotel rooms over the course of time, and he earned the right. He earned the right to get drafted and play and he’s put some good numbers up ever since he’s been playing,” Money said.
Kennedy had a .296/.384/.429 slash line in 54 Triple-A games this season before his call-up on Friday.
“Once I walked up to the plate and heard my name, loss of words,” Kennedy said postgame.
“I was like, ‘Alright, let’s get through this one, be alright.’ So I got through that one, got out. After I sat down on the bench I was like, ‘Alright. This is baseball. It’s all good.’ And then from there on out, I kind of had a solid mindset.”
Kennedy said pitching coach Brent Strom told him about Money being on the air during the hit and that he was going to watch the video later.
Arizona improved to 31-35 with the victory.
The D-backs return to action on Saturday at 7:10 p.m. against the Twins. Catch the game on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station.