28 Year Old Lefthanded Pitcher Kennedy Passes Away Friday
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Journeyman lefthander Joe Kennedy passed away early on Friday morning at his in-laws’ home in Hillsborough County, Florida. Medical tests to determine cause of death have begun and will take 6-8 weeks to complete.
The death has caused shockwaves throughout the baseball world, particularly with the teams with which Kennedy played.
AP Writer Rob Gillies provides background for Yahoo sports;
Kennedy spent seven years in the majors, playing last season with Oakland, Arizona and Toronto. He also spent time with Tampa Bay and Colorado and had a 43-61 career record with a 4.79 ERA in 222 appearances.
“We were terribly shocked,” Blue Jays president Paul Godfrey told The Associated Press. “From what we understand he was in Brandon … to be the best man at a wedding today.”
“Obviously, when a 28-year-old man dies, ballplayer or not, it’s a terrible, terrible thing,” he said.
After going to bed early, Kennedy woke up at about 1:15 a.m. Friday and collapsed as he was leaving a bedroom at the home of his wife’s parents, Hillsborough County sheriff’s spokeswoman Debbie Carter said. Hillsborough County Fire Rescue took Kennedy to Brandon Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, she said.
Craig Weissmann, the Tampa Bay scout who signed Kennedy, described him as a fierce, determined competitor.
“He really dedicated himself and was really on a mission to become a major league pitcher,” Weissmann said. “You wish as a scout and a major league organization, you wish every kid could develop that fast.”
Godfrey said Toronto was interested in bringing Kennedy back.
Kennedy made his major league debut in June 2001 and made his last appearance in relief on Sept. 29 in a 5-3 win over Tampa Bay.
“We had every intention to speak to him,” he said. “We had him on our list to talk to.”
Rockies team president Keli McGregor extended his sympathies through a statement released by the team.
“Joe was a great husband, father, teammate and friend to so many in our organization and throughout the baseball world,” McGregor said. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, wife, his young son and all those whose lives were touched by Joe over his life.”
That family meant everything to Kennedy, Weissmann said.
“He was a great father. He loved that boy and his wife both more than anything in the world. That son of his was the apple of his eye,” Weissmann said. “He just was really looking forward to everything that a father shares with a son.
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