‘Go Team:’ Baseball lifer Buddy Kennedy is guaranteed a World Series ring
Photo Credit: Dodgersnation.com
While the 2025 MLB World Series has yet to begin, a champion has already been crowned.
27-year-old Buddy Kennedy posted an Instagram story with a World Series graphic from MLB’s official account, with a caption that read “Go Team.” Kennedy, a fringe MLB player, spent time with both the Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers this season, guaranteeing him a World Series ring.
It is a tradition in baseball to give all players from the winning organization a championship ring, regardless of whether they pitched to one batter or led the team in home runs. Across 162 games, players come up and down from the minor leagues or get traded mid-season. In MLB, they are still viewed as valuable assets who played a role in the team’s path to winning a World Series.
A New Jersey native, Kennedy was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the fifth round of the 2017 MLB Draft. After five-plus years in the Diamondbacks minor league system, Kennedy finally made his MLB debut on June 17, 2022. He had 94 plate appearances and a .217 batting average in his rookie season. In 2023, Kennedy played 10 games for the Diamondbacks but still received a National League championship ring, as the Diamondbacks won the NL Pennant before ultimately losing in the World Series.
At the end of 2023, Kennedy’s wild journey around MLB began. He was designated for assignment by the Diamondbacks on September 6, 2023, and was claimed off waivers by the Oakland Athletics three days later. In October of that year, Kennedy was claimed off waivers by the St. Louis Cardinals before being released in late February 2024. The infielder would spend spring training with the Detroit Tigers, playing in six games for the MLB club. He was then traded to the Philadelphia Phillies for cash considerations on June 7, 2024. He found more stability in the Phillies organization, narrowly missing making the 2025 Opening Day roster. The Millville, New Jersey, native stayed with the organization on a minor league contract, but was once again designated for assignment following a brief stint in the majors.
In July, the Blue Jays signed Kennedy to a minor league deal. He played in two games for the eventual AL Champions before being designated for assignment in mid-August. Kennedy signed with the eventual NL Champion Dodgers on August 15, recording one hit in 17 plate appearances across seven games with the defending World Series champs. Designated for assignment in late August, Kennedy opted for free agency, eventually returning to the Blue Jays on a minor league deal. Kennedy remains in the Blue Jays system.
Despite playing for three teams in 2025 and not having much sustained success at the major league level, Kennedy is in a unique position. Given his stints with the Blue Jays and Dodgers this season, the 27-year-old is already a World Series champion before the first pitch in the 2025 Fall Classic is even thrown. While Kennedy has not declared a rooting interest, he is still a member of the Blue Jays organization, although he is not on the major league roster.
Kennedy isn’t the only player in this situation this season. 11-year veteran Jose Urena also played for the Blue Jays and Dodgers this season. Urena is a common Immaculate Grid answer for fans of the Sports Reference LLC brain teaser game, having played for 11 MLB teams since his career began in 2015. Urena pitched in six games (two starts) for the Blue Jays and two games for the Dodgers in 2025. He also had stints with the Los Angeles Angels, New York Mets, and Minnesota Twins this season.
Last year, versatile outfielder Taylor Trammell won a World Series ring with the Dodgers after playing for them and the AL Pennant-winning Yankees last season. Trammell only played five games for each team, spending most of the season in the minors.
Kennedy will be the first Millville native to bring a World Series ring to his hometown, beating Millville High School graduate and future MLB Hall of Famer Mike Trout to the punch.
