Results tagged ‘ Tim Kennelly ’
Tim Kennelly signs on with Texas
News from the Texas Rangers’ blog Foul Territory by Drew Davidson indicates that Tim Kennelly has been listed in among the pitchers being sent to Extended Spring Training along with fellow Aussies Todd McDonald and Guy Edmonds.
Tim was released recently by the Phillies so it’s pleasing to see that he is getting another chance with the Rangers. Tim was used as a pitcher for both the Heat and Australia this summer.
Tim Kennelly released by the Phillies
In a surprising move yesterday the Phillies released pitcher and utility man Tim Kennelly.
Tim had been in the organisation since 2003, when he was signed as an international free agent at the age of 16 following strong performances in the WA U18 side at the National Titles.
Tim, who played catcher, third base and outfield during his minor league career was converted to a pitcher last season and posted a 6.23 ERA in 10 outings with Class A Advanced Clearwater and Double-A Reading.
He was selected as a RHP in the Australian team at the WBC, his 5th Australian representation, including 2009 & 2011 World Cups and 2009 WBC.
Like his Perth Heat team mate Luke Hughes and Team Australia team mate Shane Lindsay Tim is now a free agent looking for a job with another organisation.
Heat keep it in the family – Tim Kennelly
By Tom Fee/Perth Heat
Fans may be forgiven for thinking they’ve tuned into an Abbot and Costello routine when watching games on Heat TV this season.
“Kennelly from the stretch…and the runner goes! It’s a great throw by Kennelly, Kennelly gets the tag and he’s out at 2nd!”
And that’s only if three of the Kennelly brothers are playing.
One of the Heat’s newest recruits for 2012 / 2013 season is well known to Heat fans, at least by name. Catcher Josh Kennelly is slated to be a part of the Heat’s bid for three straight ABL Championships, joining his brothers Matt and reigning MVP Tim in the Heat line-up.
It’s only September, but 2012 has been a massive year for the Kennelly clan. Matt and Tim Kennelly played a crucial role in the Heat’s championship defence with Tim picking up the prestigious Helms Award for Most Valuable Player in the ABL. After an impressive showing in spring training, both players were part of their teams’ 40-man roster during Spring Training, Matt suiting up for the Braves, and Tim for the Phillies before both starting in their respective AA sides.
Not to be outdone, the younger Kennelly brothers signed big contracts with Major League teams. With Josh (18) going to the Reds and Sam (16) becoming a Pirate, the Kennellys now have an unprecedented four brothers signed to Major League contracts.
So, when and where can we expect to see Perth’s favourite baseball family in the coming ABL season?
Tim Kennelly (Pitcher, OF)
Tim Kennelly has been somewhat of a utility player for the Reading Phillies, appearing in seven different defensive positions for the R-Phils over the past two seasons. Halfway through the season, Kennelly’s appearances on the mound caught the eye of the Phillies organisation, so much so that the Most Valuable Player in the ABL became a pitcher. With a fastball that tops out at 97mph, the Phillies couldn’t resist grooming Kennelly as a reliever and has since made 10 appearances at AA and High A level, eight of which have been scoreless outings, while picking up 11 strikeouts. All it took was one bad inning to blow Kennelly’s ERA from 0.00 to 6.23 for the season; however, one poor inning out of nine in his short pitching career is likely to be an outlier given the raw talent displayed at the early stage.
Expect to see Kennelly in the Opening Day line-up starting November 1st in Adelaide, although it is still unclear whether this is where he will make his ABL debut as a pitcher. Manager Steve Fish is working closely with the Phillies organisation to determine Kennelly’s workload, both on the mound and in the field, for the upcoming season.
The aftermath of Tim Kennelly’s famous walk-off Home Run in Adelaide – one of four homers on the day. (SMP Images)
Kennelly will follow the squad to Korea for the Asia series, where he will take on the best teams from Japan, Korea, Chinese Taipei and China, before departing back to America for continued development and coaching for his pitching role. All going well, Kennelly will return to the Heat in January as they make the push to the playoffs. With arguably Australia’s greatest ever pitcher, two-time World Series Champion Graeme Lloyd, as the Heat pitching Coach, the Phillies will be leaving their new pitching prospect in good hands if Kennelly is to continue to develop his new role during the offseason.
Perth Heat get boost for Asia Series – MLB stars available
Tim Kennelly – available for Asia Series before returning to the US
By Brad Elborough/PerthNow
PERTH Heat’s pro baseballers Tim Kennelly and Luke Hughes will play for the Australian Baseball League champions in the 2012 Asia Series, in South Korea, in November.
However, the Heat will miss the ABL’s MVP for much of the 2012-13 domestic season, as they chase their third-consecutive title.
Kennelly, crowned the ABL’s best player in the 2011-12 season, will play in the Heat’s opening series, away to the Adelaide Bite from November 1, and then in the Asia Series, before returning to the US for instructional training with the Philadelphia Phillies.
The Heat hopes the big hitter will return to Perth in January, in time for the ABL finals, should it qualify.
Hughes missed the start of last season with the Heat and also the Grand Final series win against the Melbourne Aces. But he has since joined the Toronto Blue Jays, who are expected to release him for the entire Australian season.
The Heat qualified for the Asia Series after winning the ABL championship for a second-consecutive season.
The Heat will play the champions of the Nippon Professional Baseball League the second-largest pro sports league in the world the Korea Baseball Organisation, the Chinese Professional Baseball League and the China Baseball League at Sajik Stadium, Busan, home of the Lotte Giants.
“The Asia Series provides us with a fantastic opportunity to demonstrate the quality of Australian baseball to a television audience which reaches into the tens of millions” ABL general manager Ben Foster said.
The six teams will play qualifying games in two divisions in games between November 8-11. The winner has been guaranteed 1 billion WON (about AUD $850,000) in prizemoney.
Moylan, Naylor in action today
Consistency for Peter
Peter Moylan is finding that consistency that he has been seeking it would seem.
He threw a scoreless 7th in the Braves 3-2 loss to Louisville. Facing 4 hitters he allowed 1 hit (triple) and induced 2 groundouts and a pop up.
Drew Naylor gave up 2 runs on 4 hits in 1.2 innings of relief work for Clearwater. He struck out 3.
Talking of Clearwater we notice that Tim Kennelly is listed on their roster as an infielder so we are unsure of his status as a potential pitcher.
The Kennellys
Tim Kennelly (23 above) has been sent to the Clearwater Threshers in the Advanced A Florida State League where he will join fellow Aussie Drew Naylor, in the bullpen perhaps. We know that the Phillies have been working Tim in the bullpen of late so it’s quite on the cards that this move has been to give Tim some game time as a pitcher.
Matt Kennelly continues to hit well, going 2-5 today for the Mississippi Braves who won with a walk off walk in the 13th. Matt is currently hitting .263.
Josh Kennelly
Meanwhile younger brother Josh is hitting .250 after 28ABs for the AZL Reds with 1HR and 4RBI.
Tim Kennelly starts his pitching career. Stefan Welch
He’s been working in the bullpen for a few weeks now preparing himself for a change of career.
Tim Kennelly’s last game as a position player was on July 14th when he went 1-4 scoring a run. Today he entered the game in the 8th as pitcher. He faced the minimum 3 hitters, threw 14 pitches, 10 strikes and struck out 2. He even earned his 1st Hold. So a pretty good start for Tim as a pitcher. The Phillies will be happy with today.
Stefan Welch also had a good day going 2-4, scoring a run in the Curve’s 4-3 loss to Trenton.
R-Phillies Phillers – Tim Kennelly
By Mike Drago
Are utilityman Tim Kennelly’s days as a position player in the Philadelphia Phillies system over?
After lighting up the radar gun with a 97 mph fastball earlier this month during an impromptu relief appearance, Kennelly caught the Phillies’ attention.
He hasn’t appeared in a Reading game since July 14 and is quietly working his arm into shape for regular pitching appearances, which could come in August.
Reading manager Dusty Wathan said he considers Kennelly “a position player right now,” but that could officially change as the Phillies further discuss the issue. Kennelly has been throwing bullpen and live pitching sessions.
He has pitched in two games for Reading, the last time July 2 when he allowed one hit and struck out one in one inning.
Lachlan Dale, a general manager in the Australian Baseball League, was surprised to learn that the league’s reigning MVP was considering a career switch.
“We always knew Tim had a great arm as he displays this when throwing runners out from the outfield,” Dale told Brad Elborough of the Perth Now website. “But 97 mph on the mound puts him in the top 10 percent of Major League Baseball pitchers.”
Kennelly led the Perth Heat to the ABL championship last season with a .374 average.
Kennelly told Perth Now that Heat fans should get used to seeing him on the mound.
“I did kind of surprise myself at how hard I was throwing,” he said of his last Reading pitching appearance. “At this stage, I will continue the rest of the year hitting and pitching occasionally, and see where I stand at the end of the year and make a decision from there. A decision that probably won’t be an easy one.”
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The Kennelly family is at it again.
By Zach Parolin / Perth Heat
L to R: Sam, Matt, Sandra, Tim and Josh
Just days after Tim Kennelly made headlines for his impromptu pitching success, youngest brother Sam decided to upstage him a bit, signing a six-figure deal to play with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Sam’s signing makes him the fourth Kennelly brother to secure a deal with a Major League Baseball team, but he won’t officially join the club until after he finishes Year 12 at South Fremantle Senior High next year.
“The Baseball WA family could not be more proud of Sam,” said Lachlan Dale, GM of Baseball WA. “This is a direct reflection to our development and high performance programs, coupled with Sam Kennelly’s outstanding dedication and work ethic. We are sure he will carve his own pathway and succeed in the big leagues.”
Josh Kennelly, 18, signed a deal with the Cincinnati Reds only two months ago, while Matt, 23, has been active within the Atlanta Braves system for several years. Meanwhile, Tim, 26, has found numerous ways to contribute to the success of the Reading (Philadelphia) Phillies.
Tim and Matt, of course, also played pivotal roles in the Perth Heat’s latest championship run.
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Pirates sign youngest Kennelly
The 4th and youngest of the Kennelly clan has signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates according to fellow West Australian Luke Hughes in a tweet today.
Sam Kennelly who is currently at the MLBAAP on the Gold Coast was scouted by a number of MLB teams, presumably agreeing to terms with the Pirates through their Australian scout Tony Harris who is one of the coaches at the Academy. We highlighted his academy stats yesterday.
His older brothers are scattered around the minor leagues. Eldest brother Tim is with the Phillies at AA, Matt is also at AA but with the Braves and recent signing Josh is at Rookie League with the Reds.
