Howie Kendrick facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Howie Kendrick |
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Kendrick with the Nationals in 2019
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| Second baseman | |||
| Born: July 12, 1983 Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| April 26, 2006, for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 5, 2020, for the Washington Nationals | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .294 | ||
| Home runs | 127 | ||
| Runs batted in | 724 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Howie Kendrick, born on July 12, 1983, is a former American baseball player. He used to play different positions on the field. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim picked him in the 2002 baseball draft. He started playing in Major League Baseball (MLB) in 2006.
Kendrick played for the Angels from 2006 to 2014. He then joined the Los Angeles Dodgers (2015-2016), the Philadelphia Phillies (2017), and the Washington Nationals (2017-2020). He was a very important player for the Nationals when they won the World Series in 2019. In 2011, he was chosen to play in the MLB All-Star Game. Howie mostly played second baseman, but he also played first base and left field.
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Early Life and Baseball Start
Howie Kendrick grew up in Callahan, Florida, with his two sisters. His grandmother raised them while their mom was serving in the US Army. When Howie was 12, he moved in with his mother. Later, he moved to live with another family.
Kendrick went to West Nassau High School in Callahan. He was smaller than many players, standing at 5 feet 7 inches and weighing 110 pounds. He also didn't play on special travel teams. College scouts didn't show much interest until he went to St. Johns River Community College. There, he was named the Conference Player of the Year. An Angels scout, Tom Kotchman, discovered him by chance in 2002. Kotchman was amazed by Howie's hitting skills.
Professional Baseball Journey
Playing for the Angels
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim chose Howie Kendrick in the tenth round of the 2002 Major League Baseball draft. Baseball America magazine called him the best young player in the Texas League in 2005. They also named him a top prospect in 2006.
Howie made his first MLB appearance on April 26, 2006. He was the starting second baseman for the Angels against the Detroit Tigers. His first hit was a single on May 1. He hit his first home run on July 26. That season, he hit for a .285 average with 4 home runs.
During his first year, Howie had a funny moment with actor Ben Affleck. A foul ball went into the stands, and Howie caught it before Affleck could. Fans cheered for Howie and booed Affleck! Howie even gave Affleck an autographed baseball for his birthday later.
In 2007, Howie became the Angels' main second baseman. He hit very well, with a .322 average in 88 games. He continued to hit over .300 in 2008. In 2009, he struggled early but then played much better in the second half of the season.
In 2011, Howie started playing other positions, like first base and left field. This showed how versatile he was. He was also chosen to be an American League reserve player for the 2011 MLB All-Star Game. He joined his teammates Jered Weaver and Jordan Walden at the game.
In 2012, Howie signed a new four-year contract with the Angels. He had a good season, hitting .287 with 8 home runs. On July 30, 2013, he got his 1,000th career hit. He had an even better year in 2013, hitting .297 with 13 home runs. In 2014, he hit .292.
Moving to the Dodgers
On December 10, 2014, the Angels traded Howie to the Los Angeles Dodgers. In 2015, he had a hamstring injury that kept him out of many games. He still hit .295 with 9 home runs that year.
In 2016, Howie re-signed with the Dodgers for two years. He played mostly in left field, but also at third base and first base. He appeared in 146 games.
Time with the Phillies
Howie was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies on November 11, 2016. In April 2017, he had an abdomen injury that put him on the disabled list.
Becoming a National
On July 28, 2017, the Phillies traded Howie to the Washington Nationals. On August 13, he hit his first grand slam. This was a walk-off hit in the 11th inning against the San Francisco Giants. He finished that season hitting .293. He mainly played left field for the Nationals.
After the season, he signed a new two-year deal with the Nationals. On May 19, 2018, Howie hurt his Achilles tendon, which ended his season early. He still hit .303 in the games he played.
In 2019, Howie played in 121 games. He had an amazing batting average of .344, with 17 home runs. He mostly played first base that year.
2019 World Series Hero
Howie Kendrick became a hero in the 2019 postseason. On October 9, 2019, in Game 5 of the National League Division Series, he hit a grand slam. This huge hit in the 10th inning gave the Nationals a big lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers. It helped them win the game and move on to the next round.
In the National League Championship Series, Howie played incredibly well. He hit 4 doubles and had 4 RBIs. The Nationals swept the St. Louis Cardinals in four games. Howie was named the National League Championship Series MVP for his great performance.
In Game 7 of the 2019 World Series, Howie hit a go-ahead home run. This important hit helped the Nationals win 6-2, giving them their first championship ever! Howie also won the 2019 Heart and Hustle Award.
Howie became a free agent after the 2019 season. But he signed a new one-year deal to stay with the Nationals. In the 2020 season, which was shorter due to the pandemic, he played 25 games. He announced his retirement from baseball on December 21, 2020.
After Playing Baseball
On November 16, 2021, Howie Kendrick was hired by the Philadelphia Phillies. He now works as a special assistant to the General Manager.
Personal Life
Howie Kendrick married his wife, Jody, on January 6, 2007. They have two sons and live in Paradise Valley, Arizona. Howie enjoys collecting vintage watches. He is also a big fan of photography and uses Leica cameras.
Images for kids
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Kendrick playing for the Salt Lake Bees in 2009
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Kendrick with the Los Angeles Angels in 2011
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Kendrick with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2015
