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Pirates Farm System

Pirates Top Prosects No. 13: Michael Kennedy a Potential Sleeper

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Michael Kennedy, Pittsburgh Pirates

This is one in a series of stories breaking down PBN’s Top 30 Pittsburgh Pirates prospects.



The Pittsburgh Pirates have no shortage of young pitchers either in the Major Leagues or at the upper levels of the minor league system.

Rookie sensation Paul Skenes stole the show in 2024 and could become the first Pirates’ player to win Rookie of the Year since Jason Bay in 2004. Fellow first-year player Jared Jones also had a strong season.

On our top 30 list, three of our top five prospects in the Pirates’ system are starting pitchers in Triple-A Indianapolis.

Down in the lower levels of the organization, there are a handful of other intriguing pitching prospects. Left-hander Michael Kennedy is certainly among them.

The Pirates drafted the native of Troy, New York, in the fourth round of the 2022 draft. He made his debut the following season and spent most of the year in the Florida Complex League before making a pair of relief appearances with Low-A Bradenton.

Kennedy totaled 46.2 innings across 13 appearances/seven starts between the two levels. He finished 2-1 with a 2.12 ERA, 25 walks and 63 strikeouts, all while allowing only 27 hits.

The 19-year-old began the 2024 season in Bradenton and again received a late-season promotion, this time to High-A Greensboro. It likely would have been an earlier promotion had Kennedy not been sidelined for a month and a half with an injury.

Kennedy again had a solid season, finishing with a 3.66 ERA in all. He compiled healthy strikeout totals — 95 in 83.2 innings — and drastically improved his command. After walking over 13% of the batters he faced in his first season, Kennedy cut his walk rate to just 5% in 2024.

The 6-foot-1 lefty doesn’t rely on one standout pitch, but rather a blend of three average to above-average pitches. His fastball sits in the low-90s and is complemented by a changeup. His slider is considered his best pitch and is a big reason for his impressive strikeout totals.

Though Kennedy has a ways to go, he looks to be on his way to becoming in that next wave of top pitching prospects for the Pirates.

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