Buddy Kennedy can start clearing space on his ring finger.
Kennedy’s the first confirmed 2025 World Series champion. Doesn’t matter whether the Los Angeles Dodgers or Toronto Blue Jays win. Kennedy’s a champ either way.
Neither World Series roster includes Kennedy’s name, but that’s OK. He’s been part of both teams this season.
Kennedy played two games for the Blue Jays early in the year, going 1-for-5 at the plate with a double. Then he suited up seven times for the Los Angeles Dodgers, going just 1-for-17 at the dish (.059).
Kennedy will watch from home, not unlike the rest of us. In his case, though, he knows he’s going to get to call himself a World Series champion.
At least to the point of having a ring.
Teams get to choose who exactly they give World Series rings to. But they almost always give them to anyone who played even a single inning for them at the MLB level in that championship season.
This week, Kennedy wrote two simple words over a post promoting the World Series: “Go Team.”
The Journey to Both Dugouts
Kennedy’s a 27-year old from Millville, New Jersey. He was a fifth-round pick by Arizona in 2017.
He’s played in parts of four MLB seasons, also appearing for the Phillies and Detroit. He did play for Philadelphia this season at the MLB level too, going 0-for-7 there.
So Kennedy actually suited up for three different organizations this season at the big league level.
Kennedy also appeared in 61 games at Triple-A Lehigh Valley and 27 games at Triple-A Buffalo. In Triple-A this season, Kennedy batted .280.
There are other players who played for either the Blue Jays or the Dodgers this season and would get a ring if their respective side won, even while not being on the World Series roster itself.
But Kennedy has the rare privilege of having played for both before not making it to the Fall Classic.
Consider him a winner no matter what.
