Tigers claim right-handed hitting utility man off waivers from Cardinals
Chris McCoskyLakeland, Fla. — The Tigers clearly have a type when it comes to waiver claims.
The club announced prior to its spring game against the Red Sox on Thursday in Fort Myers they had claimed 25-year-old Buddy Kennedy off waivers from the St. Louis Cardinals.
Kennedy, like Ryan Vilade, Keston Hiura and TJ Hopkins before him, is a right-handed hitting utility player coming off a productive season in Triple A.
He takes the roster spot of another 25-year-old, right-handed utility player coming off a strong season in Triple-A — Andre Lipcius, who was designated for assignment.
Kennedy, who has played second base, third base and left field, played parts of the 2022 and 2023 season with the Arizona Diamondbacks, slashing .206/.293/.299 with a .592 OPS in 40 games (123 plate appearances).
He’s posted an .817 OPS and a .380 on-base average in six minor-league seasons, hitting .308 with a .432 on-base average and .924 OPS at Triple-A Las Vegas.
He’s the grandson of former Milwaukee Brewers all-star Don Money and went to the same high school in New Jersey (Millville) that produced Mike Trout. He was designated for assignment by the Cardinals on Tuesday to make room for veteran shortstop Brandon Crawford.
Lipcius, the Tigers’ third-round pick out of Tennessee in 2019, made his big-league debut last season, hitting .286 with a .342 on-base percentage in just 13 games (38 plate appearances).
chris.mccosky@detroitnews.com
@cmccosky