With help from Mike Trout’s gift, Buddy Kennedy trying his hand in outfield

CLEARWATER, Fla. — Buddy Kennedy had a problem on his hands, so he reached out to an old friend for help.

Three seasons ago, Kennedy was in Triple-A Reno when the Diamondbacks’ affiliate club asked him to play some left field. Here was the issue for the natural infielder: He didn’t have an outfielder’s glove. Luckily, Kennedy knew someone with knowledge on the subject.

Kennedy texted his old pal Mike Trout, the superstar Angels outfielder, about his dilemma. A week later, a Rawlings mitt showed up at the clubhouse with black leather, red laces and the nickname “Cliffy” — a moniker Trout calls Kennedy, legally named Clifton, from their days training back home in Millville, N.J. — sewn onto the thumb in script lettering. It’s the same glove model used by the three-time American League MVP.

“A Mike Trout special,” Kennedy called it.

The 26-year-old has held onto the piece of equipment and used it sparingly over the years. It’s gotten additional usage in recent days as Kennedy has been spending more time in the outfield in spring training for the Phillies as he fights for a bench spot on the big-league team. He’s flashed some power at the plate, and he’s been moving around the diamond.

“I’ve kind of just been focusing on my all-around game,” he said from BayCare Ballpark this past week.

Phillies manager Rob Thomson first approached Kennedy about getting outfield reps on the second day of camp, encouraging him to meet with coach Paco Figueroa to work on the fundamentals. Kennedy has practiced his routes and tracking how balls will react off the bat. It’s beginning to become more natural, but there are still growing pains.

Kennedy started in left field on Saturday against the Tigers and saw some chances right away. While he caught a can of corn in the first inning, he later allowed a two-out pop-up off the bat of Kerry Carpenter to drop down the line. It looked like he had a play on it, but he stopped short. Kennedy didn’t want to overrun the ball and also thought he’d have a shot to throw the runner from first base out at third once it fell; his decision resulted in no outs.

The next at-bat, Kennedy didn’t cut off a Colt Keith double before it reached the wall in left-center field, and two runs scored as Carpenter raced home from first. Maybe he would’ve reached the plate anyway, but the ball rolling onto the warning track made sure both runs scored with ease. Kennedy said after the game that he probably would’ve been more aggressive on the two plays had he been further along in the process — a little more comfortable. His manager concurred.

“Probably a lack of repetitions,” Thomson said of Kennedy’s hesitance on the ball that landed in front of him. “He’s just got to trust himself to be able to get there. And I think with more time, he’d probably just keep running right through it and at least dive. But I think he could have caught it.”

Kennedy was still pleased with his day in left and feels positive about his outfield experience overall. His capabilities there matter after Weston Wilson strained his oblique earlier in camp. There’s a hole on the Opening Day roster for a right-handed bench hitter who can also hold his ground out there in left field. Kennedy, if the team trusts his defense and likes how he’s swinging the bat, could fit the bill. The Phillies also have other options for the spot.

The club has tried Christian Arroyo, a former top prospect and Red Sox regular infielder, in left field in the Grapefruit League as well. He’s with the Phillies as a non-roster invitee and has impressed at the plate. He’s a strong candidate for the job. Óscar Mercado is also around as a plus outfield defender and righty bat.

Kennedy’s biggest advantage over those two players is that he’s been on Philadelphia’s 40-man roster since the team acquired him from Detroit last June. He has no minor-league options remaining, meaning the Phillies would have to expose him to waivers before sending him to Triple-A. Maybe that factor gets him get the nod until Wilson is healthy.

With 11 days until Opening Day in Washington, D.C., Kennedy will continue to work in left field, as well as at first base — where he uses a mitt he borrows from Kody Clemens — and his usual second and third. He’s trying to be versatile to make himself as useful as possible. If he can make the routine plays in left with that glove he received from Trout, he might have another major-league opportunity to start the 2025 season.

“I try to catch every ball until I can’t,” Kennedy said. “And then after that, just be simple: Get the ball, throw it, play simple baseball. It’s good. It’s really good.”