News
Ian Kennedy Wins Yankee Debut
Kyle Galdeira
09/01/07
Ian Kennedy
became the fifth 2006 Hawaii Winter Baseball alumnus to appear in the majors today
as he earned the victory for the New York Yankees in a 9-6 win over Tampa Bay
at Yankee Stadium. The rookie threw 66 of his 96 pitches for strikes, and
allowed one earned run on five hits to go with six strikeouts in seven innings.
A former
first-round draft pick out of the University
of Southern California,
Kennedy—a former West Oahu CaneFire—got his shot on what is arguably the
world’s largest stage. The 22-year-old took over the spot in the Yankees’
rotation formerly held by veteran hurler Mike Mussina, who despite owning 247
career victories, has been in a slump as of late.
Kennedy was
nothing short of brilliant in the minors, compiling a 12-3 record through 25
starts and notching 163 strikeouts through 146.1 innings pitched. Most
recently, Kennedy went 1-1 with a 2.08 ERA and 34 punch outs with the Yankees’
Triple-A affiliate Scranton-Wilkes Barre.
In his time
with West Oahu in late 2006, Kennedy amassed
45 strikeouts through 30.1 innings to go along with a 4.45 ERA and an 0-2
record. Kennedy joins former CaneFire teammate Joba Chamberlain who was called
up to the Yankees in early August. Chamberlain has been lights out, tossing
11.1 innings without allowing a run, scattered five hits, and striking out 17
batters thus far.
