Jeff Kent
Jeff Kent | |
---|---|
Second baseman | |
Born: Bellflower, California, U.S. | March 7, 1968|
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
MLB debut | |
April 12, 1992, for the Toronto Blue Jays | |
Last MLB appearance | |
September 27, 2008, for the Los Angeles Dodgers | |
MLB statistics | |
Batting average | .290 |
Hits | 2,461 |
Home runs | 377 |
Runs batted in | 1,518 |
Teams | |
| |
Career highlights and awards | |
Jeffrey Franklin Kent (born March 7, 1968) is an American former
.Kent won the National League Most Valuable Player award in 2000 with the San Francisco Giants, and is the all-time leader in home runs among second basemen.[1] He drove in 90 or more runs from 1997 to 2005.[1][2] Kent is a five-time All-Star, and his 560 career doubles put him in 30th on the all-time doubles list.[1][3]
Kent attended the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley), where he played college baseball for the Golden Bears before being selected in the 20th round of the 1989 MLB draft by the Blue Jays.
Early life
Born in Bellflower, California, Kent graduated from Edison High School in Huntington Beach, California, where he was dismissed from the baseball team after clashing with his coach over a position change.[4]
College career
Kent played college baseball at UC Berkeley, and in 1988 he played collegiate summer baseball with the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[5]
Professional career
Kent was selected in the 20th round of the
Toronto Blue Jays (1992)
After three seasons in the minor leagues, Kent was invited to
New York Mets (1992–1996)
Kent was traded to the Mets on August 27, 1992, for pitcher David Cone, as Toronto bolstered their pitching rotation for a successful World Series run; Kent earned a World Series ring despite the trade.[7] Kent's time with the Mets was marked with some success and some failure. Although he batted well, particularly for a second baseman, the Mets were among the worst teams in the National League. Furthermore, he acquired a very poor reputation in the clubhouse, where he was known for a quick temper and isolationism. He refused to participate in his hazing ritual with the Mets, feeling he had left his rookie status back in Toronto.[8] During the 1992 season, he started the only game of his career at shortstop in order to allow Willie Randolph to play his final career game at second base.
Cleveland Indians (1996)
In a deal made prior to the 1996 trade deadline, the Mets sent Kent and
San Francisco Giants (1997–2002)
Kent's career took off in San Francisco, starting in 1997. Immediately inserted in the line-up behind superstar
In 2002, Kent had another stellar year for a second baseman (37 home runs, 108 RBI, .313 batting average, and a .978 fielding percentage).
In addition, growing tension that had been developing between Kent and Bonds for years finally boiled over: a midseason fight in the Giants dugout was widely reported in 2002 and caught on television.[14] The feud between the two was so bad that, at the end of the season, San Francisco Chronicle beat reporter Ray Ratto said of the two, "The one who lives longer will attend the other's funeral, just to make sure he's dead."[15] The departure of manager Dusty Baker also factored into Kent's eventual decision to leave the Giants.
Houston Astros (2003–2004)
During the 2002 offseason, Kent signed a two-year, $19.9 million deal with the Houston Astros, citing his desire to be closer to his family's Texas ranch. Kent turned one of the outs and collected an assist during a triple play on August 19, 2004, against Philadelphia, when Todd Pratt grounded out with the bases loaded in the fifth inning. Kent forced Marlon Byrd out at second base before throwing Pratt out at first base. It was Houston's first triple play turned in 13 years.[16]
From May 14 to June 11, he collected a hit in 25 straight games, which set a new franchise record; Willy Taveras topped his mark in 2006.[17] On October 2, 2004, he hit his 288th home run as a second baseman, surpassing Ryne Sandberg as the all-time home run leader at that position. In Game 5 of the 2004 National League Championship Series, Kent hit a three-run walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth to break a scoreless tie and put Houston ahead of the St. Louis Cardinals three games to two in the series. However, the Cardinals would win Games 6 and 7 in St. Louis to capture the pennant.
Los Angeles Dodgers (2005–2008)
On December 14, 2004, he signed a $21 million contract for three years with his hometown Los Angeles Dodgers. Kent started at second base for the National League in the 2005 Major League Baseball All-Star Game at Comerica Park, his fifth career All-Star selection and fourth career All-Star start. Kent became the first player in the history of the Dodgers–Giants rivalry to make and start the Midsummer Classic for both clubs. Joc Pederson has since joined this list. Kent had a good 2005 season, leading the Dodgers in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging, runs, hits, doubles, home runs and RBI (.289, .377, .512, 100, 160, 36, 29, and 105 respectively).[18] While missing games early on in the 2006 season because of an oblique injury, he came back late in the season and helped the Dodgers reach the postseason.[19] After the 2005 season, Kent signed an extension that would take him to the 2008 season.[20] His last major league at-bat took place on October 15, 2008 in game five of the 2008 NLCS, in which he struck out looking against Cole Hamels to end the 7th inning.[21] Following 2008, Kent announced his retirement from baseball on January 22, 2009.[22]
Career statistics
In 2,298 games over 17 seasons, Kent posted a .290
Post-playing career
Kent and his wife Dana reside near Austin, Texas, where they raise their four children, a daughter and three sons.[24] He also owns the 4,000-acre (1,600 ha) "Diamond K" cattle ranch near Tilden, Texas.[25] In 2008, Kent purchased the Lakecliff Country Club in Spicewood, Texas.[26] Kent also owns Kent Powersports, a chain of motorcycle and ATV dealerships.[27]
Kent appeared as a contestant on the Summer 2009 television series
He has been an advocate for Major League Baseball using blood tests for
In 2008, Kent donated to
National Baseball Hall of Fame consideration
Eligible for the
Personal life
Kent and his wife, Dana, are members of
Kent's son, Colton, played his prep baseball at
Accomplishments
- Five-time All-Star (1999–2001, 2004–05)[10]
- Four-time Silver Slugger (2000–2002, 2005)[10]
- National League MVP (2000)[43]
- Finished 6th in National League MVP voting (2002)[44]
- Finished 8th in National League MVP voting (1997)[45]
- Finished 9th in National League MVP voting (1998)[46]
- Finished Top-5 in RBIs (1997, 1998, 2000, 2002)
- All-time leader in home runs as a second baseman (377)[47]
- Only second baseman to have 100 or more RBIs in six consecutive seasons (1997–2002)
- Hit for the cycle (1999)
See also
- List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career hits leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career doubles leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career runs scored leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career runs batted in leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career total bases leaders
- List of Major League Baseball players who hit for the cycle
References
- ^ a b c Jeff Kent: his numbers will earn him hall of fame consideration Archived September 18, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Kent taking his place among all-time greats
- ^ "2007 Career Highlights, MLB Bio". Archived from the original on October 7, 2008. Retrieved February 10, 2008.
- ^ "Trouble as a Prep Doesn't Slow Kent's Rise to Majors : Baseball: Former Edison infielder, who overcame difficult senior season, gets a quick call from Blue Jays". LA Times.
- ^ "Major League Baseball Players From the Cape Cod League" (PDF). capecodbaseball.org. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
- ^ Garrett, J. P.. "Jeff Kent", Society for American Baseball Research, February 3, 2022
- ^ "Jeff Kent – Society for American Baseball Research".
- ^ Sexton, Joe (September 15, 1992). "BASEBALL; Mets Pull a Little Prank, but Kent Pulls a Big Fit". The New York Times.
- ^ Bush, David (November 16, 1996). "GM Defends Williams Deal / Sabean: 'I am not an idiot'". San Francisco Chronicle.
- ^ a b c d e f Jeff Kent career stats Baseball-Reference.com
- ^ 2000 SF Giants Baseball-Reference.com
- ^ 2002 SF Giants Baseball-Reference.com
- ^ Schulman, Henry. "Story should not have laugh track", San Francisco Chronicle, March 26, 2002, p. C1.
- ^ Schulman, Henry. "Giants now battling each other", San Francisco Chronicle, June 26, 2002, p. C1.
- ^ Ratto, Ray. "If nothing else, Giants' duo are great theater". San Francisco Chronicle.
- ^ Gelston, Dan (August 19, 2004). "Astros assist fourth win in row with triple play vs. Phils". USA Today. Associated Press. Retrieved April 9, 2016.
- ^ "Houston Astros Hitting Streaks".
- ^ "2005 Los Angeles Dodgers Batting, Pitching, & Fielding Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
- ^ "Maintenance Page". sportsnet.ca. Archived from the original on November 21, 2012. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
- ^ "Kent signs $11.5 million extension through 2007 – MLB – ESPN". Sports.espn.go.com. March 29, 2006. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
- ^ Rubin, Adam (October 15, 2008). "Phillies beat Joe Torre, Dodgers 5-1, advance to World Series". New York Daily News. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
- ^ "Second Baseman Jeff Kent retires after 17 major league seasons". Archived from the original on March 7, 2016. Retrieved January 22, 2009.
- ^ Getting Robinson Cano to MLB's All-Time 2B Home Run Record
- ^ "Jeff Kent gets emotional, retires from baseball after 17 seasons". USA Today. The Associated Press. January 23, 2009. Retrieved March 1, 2015.
- ^ Schulman, Henry (September 12, 2000). "GIANTS CLUBHOUSE / Kent Preparing for the Future". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved March 1, 2015.
- ^ Habel, Steve. "Two Austin-area Private Clubs Boast Top Layouts". Cybergolf.com. Archived from the original on September 21, 2011.
- ^ a b "Kent Announces Women Driven Scholarship Endowment" (Press release). Cal Athletics. September 22, 2014. Retrieved March 1, 2015.
- ^ TV Guide Superstars page
- ^ Ross, Dalton (August 20, 2012). "'Survivor: Philippines': 'Facts of Life' star Lisa Whelchel and baseball MVP Jeff Kent highlight new cast". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved August 20, 2012.
- ^ "Former SF Giant Jeff Kent Slams Obama On 'Survivor'". CBS San Francisco. November 8, 2012.
- ^ "Kent says he advocates blood tests for players". ESPN. January 12, 2008. Retrieved February 21, 2011.
- ^ Schulman, Henry (February 16, 2011). "Jeff Kent joins SF Giants as spring instructor". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved March 1, 2015.
- ^ Winkler, Adam (February 6, 2014). "Southwestern Baseball "Kent" Get Enough". KEYE-TV. Archived from the original on March 20, 2015. Retrieved March 1, 2015.
- ^ Baggarly, Andrew (February 26, 2015). "Giants great Kent has connection with third-base prospect". San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved March 1, 2015.
- ^ Saracevic, Al (September 20, 2014). "Jeff Kent, Cal bring light to dark sports landscape". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved March 1, 2015.
- ^ "Jeff Kent opens his checkbook and takes a stand against gay marriage". October 29, 2008.
- ^ "2015 Hall of Fame Voting". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ Kent's HOF case CBSSports.com, Retrieved 2013-12-26.
- ^ Foolish Bailey. "2023 Hall of Fame Ballot, a breakdown". YouTube. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
- ^ "Jeff Kent's son Colton 'finding his own path' at BYU". Deseret News. June 16, 2018.
- ^ "Colton Kent - Baseball".
- ^ "Colton Kent profile - BSB".
- ^ Baseball Awards Voting for 2000 Baseball-Reference.com
- ^ Baseball Awards Voting for 2002 Baseball-Reference.com
- ^ Baseball Awards Voting for 1997 Baseball-Reference.com
- ^ Baseball Awards Voting for 1998 Baseball-Reference.com
- ^ "All time home run leaders at each position". MLB.com.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet, or Pelota Binaria (Venezuelan Winter League)