Jeff Kent

Jeffrey Franklin Kent (born March 7, 1968) is an American former professional baseball second baseman. He played seventeen seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1992 to 2008 for the Toronto Blue Jays, New York Mets, Cleveland Indians, San Francisco Giants, Houston Astros, and Los Angeles Dodgers.

For the English academic and musician, see Jeff Kent (author).

Jeff Kent
Kent with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2008
Second baseman
Born: (1968-03-07) March 7, 1968
Bellflower, California
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 12, 1992, for the Toronto Blue Jays
Last MLB appearance
September 27, 2008, for the Los Angeles Dodgers
MLB statistics
Batting average.290
Hits2,461
Home runs377
Runs batted in1,518
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Kent won the National League Most Valuable Player award in 2000 with the San Francisco Giants, and is the all-time leader in home runs among second basemen.[1] He drove in 90 or more runs from 1997 to 2005.[1][2] Kent is a five-time All-Star, and his 560 career doubles put him tied for 21st on the all-time doubles list.[1][3]

Baseball career

Amateur

Born in Bellflower, California, Kent graduated from Edison High School in Huntington Beach, California, where he was kicked off the baseball team after clashing with his coach over a position change.[4] Kent played college baseball at UC Berkeley, and in 1988 he played collegiate summer baseball with the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[5]

Toronto Blue Jays

Kent was selected in the 20th round of the 1989 MLB Draft by the Toronto Blue Jays. After three seasons in the minor leagues, Kent was invited to spring training with the Blue Jays in 1992 and made the opening day roster. He made his debut on April 12 against the Baltimore Orioles and recorded his first career hit (a double) in the 6th inning against José Mesa. He hit his first home run on April 14 against New York Yankees pitcher Lee Guetterman. He saw limited at-bats early in the season; however, an injury to starting third baseman Kelly Gruber granted Kent a more regular role in the line-up.

Kent was traded to the Mets on August 27, 1992, for pitcher David Cone, as Toronto bolstered their pitching rotation for a successful World Series run.

New York Mets

Kent's time with the Mets was marked with some success and some failure. Although he batted well, particularly for a second baseman, the Mets were among the worst teams in the National League. Furthermore, he acquired a very poor reputation in the clubhouse, where he was known for a quick temper and isolationism. He refused to participate in his hazing ritual with the Mets, feeling he had left his rookie status back in Toronto. During the 1992 season, he started the only game of his career at shortstop in order to allow Willie Randolph to play his final career game at second base.

Cleveland Indians

In a deal made prior to the 1996 trade deadline, the Mets infamously sent Kent and José Vizcaíno to the Cleveland Indians for Álvaro Espinoza and Carlos Baerga. The following offseason, Kent was again traded, this time to the San Francisco Giants along with José Vizcaíno and Julián Tavárez. The San Francisco trade was initially very unpopular, as it sent Matt Williams, a longtime Giant and a fan-favorite, to the Indians. Brian Sabean, in his first year as general manager of the Giants, was so widely criticized for the move that he famously defended himself to the media by saying, "I am not an idiot."

San Francisco Giants

Kent's career took off in San Francisco, starting in 1997. Immediately inserted in the line-up behind superstar Barry Bonds, and with the confidence of manager Dusty Baker, Kent finally rose to his full potential, hitting .250 with 29 home runs and 121 RBI.[6] He was consistently among the top RBI hitters in the league over his next five seasons with the Giants, amassing 689 RBI over six years. He also won the 1998 Willie Mac Award for his spirit and leadership.

Kent's contributions were recognized in 2000 (33 HR, 125 RBI, .334 BA, and a .986 fielding percentage)[6] with the National League MVP Award, beating out teammate and perennial MVP candidate Barry Bonds. Despite the fact that Bonds overshadowed Kent in almost every offensive category, it was Kent's clutch hitting in RBI spots that won many games for the Giants that year, and ultimately won him the award. The Giants finished first in the NL West at 97–65, but lost to the Mets in the National League Division Series 3–1.[7]

In 2002, Kent had another stellar year for a second baseman (37 HR, 108 RBI, .313 BA, and a .978 fielding percentage).[6] The combination of Kent and MVP-winner Bonds propelled the Giants to a 95–66 record, good enough for the NL Wild Card. The Giants would beat the Atlanta Braves in the National League Division Series 3–2 and the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Championship Series 4–1. In the World Series for the first time since 1989, the Giants would nearly clinch the championship (failing to hold a 5–0, 7th-inning lead) in the sixth game, before falling to the Anaheim Angels in seven games.[8]

Despite the team's success that season, Kent's relationship with the Giants had soured. The Giants front office had lost confidence in Kent after an incident during spring training left him with a broken wrist. Kent had initially claimed that he had broken his wrist after slipping and falling while washing his truck; ensuing media reports indicated that, in reality, Kent had crashed his motorcycle while performing wheelies and other stunts, in direct violation of his contract.[9]

In addition, growing tension that had been developing between Kent and Bonds for years finally boiled over: a midseason fight in the Giants dugout was widely reported in 2002 and caught on television.[10] The feud between the two was so bad that, at the end of the season, San Francisco Chronicle beat reporter Ray Ratto said of the two, "The one who lives longer will attend the other's funeral, just to make sure he's dead."[11] The departure of manager Dusty Baker also factored into Kent's eventual decision to leave the Giants.

Houston Astros

During the 2002 offseason, Kent signed a two-year, $19.9 million deal with the Houston Astros, citing his desire to be closer to his family's Texas ranch. Kent turned one of the outs and collected an assist during a triple play on August 19, 2004, against Philadelphia, when Todd Pratt grounded out with the bases loaded in the fifth inning. Kent forced Marlon Byrd out at second base before throwing Pratt out at first base. It was Houston's first triple play turned in 13 years.[12]

On October 2, 2004, he hit his 288th home run as a second baseman, surpassing Ryne Sandberg as the all-time home run leader at that position.

In possibly his finest moment as an Astro, Kent hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the ninth in Game 5 of the 2004 National League Championship Series to put Houston ahead of the St. Louis Cardinals 3–2 in the series. However, the Cardinals would win games 6 and 7 in St. Louis to capture the pennant.

Los Angeles Dodgers

On December 14, 2004, he signed a $21 million contract for three years with his hometown Los Angeles Dodgers.

Kent had a good 2005 season, leading the Dodgers in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging, runs, hits, doubles, home runs and RBI (.289, .377, .512, 100, 160, 36, 29, and 105 respectively).[13]

While missing games early on in the 2006 season because of an oblique injury, he came back late in the season and helped the Dodgers reach the postseason.[14]

After the 2005 season, Kent signed an extension that would take him to the 2008 season.[15] Following 2008, Kent announced his retirement from baseball on January 22, 2009.[16]

Career statistics

In 2298 games over 17 seasons, Kent posted a .290 batting average (2461-for-8498) with 1320 runs, 560 doubles, 47 triples, 377 home runs, 1518 RBI, 94 stolen bases, 801 bases on balls, .356 on-base percentage and .500 slugging percentage. He finished his career with a .978 fielding percentage. In 49 postseason games, he hit .276 (47-for-170) with 25 runs, 11 doubles, 9 home runs, 23 RBI and 13 walks.[6] Kent hit 351 HR as a second baseman, the most in MLB history in either league.[17]

Life after retirement

Kent and his wife Dana reside near Austin, Texas, where they raise their four children, a daughter and three sons.[18] He also owns the 4,000-acre (1,600 ha) "Diamond K" cattle ranch near Tilden, Texas.[19] In 2008, Kent purchased the Lakecliff Country Club in Spicewood, Texas.[20] Kent also owns Kent Powersports, a chain of motorcycle and ATV dealerships.[21]

Kent appeared as a contestant on the Summer 2009 television series Superstars, where he was teamed with actress Ali Landry in a series of sports competitions. They finished in fifth place in the competition.[22] In 2012, Kent participated in Survivor: Philippines, the twenty-fifth season of the American CBS competitive reality television series Survivor. He was the 8th contestant voted off, which placed him tenth and made him the second member of the jury, giving him a right to vote for the eventual winner at the Final Tribal Council.[23] When he was voted off, Kent claimed that the million dollar prize was "six hundred grand by the time Obama takes it".[24]

He has been an advocate for Major League Baseball using blood tests for HGH.[25] Since 2011, Kent has served as a spring training instructor for the San Francisco Giants.[26] He also coaches his sons' Little League teams, and in 2014 he became a volunteer assistant for Southwestern University's baseball team.[27] In 2011, Kent donated $100,000 and raised awareness to help reinstate the Cal baseball program, which was being cut for cost-saving purposes.[28] In 2014, Kent announced the creation of the Jeff Kent Women Driven Scholarship Endowment to provide a full scholarship each year to one female student-athlete at UC Berkeley in perpetuity.[21][29]

In 2008, Kent donated to the campaign to ban same-sex marriage in California.[30]

Eligible for the National Baseball Hall of Fame for the first time in 2014, Kent's chances were felt to be low because of poor defense and the tainted era he played in.[31] Indeed, Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA) voters gave Kent just 15.2% of their votes in his first year, well short of the 75% required for induction. Among 17 returnees to the ballot in 2015, Kent was one of only three who saw a decrease in support, dropping to 14.0%.[32] His support increased in subsequent elections, reaching 32.4% in 2021, his eighth appearance on the ballot. A player may remain on the ballot a maximum of 10 years.

Personal life

Kent and his wife, Dana, are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. His daughter, Lauren, and his eldest son, Hunter, both attended Brigham Young University (BYU) in Provo, Utah. Lauren graduated from BYU in December 2017, and Hunter played on the practice squad for the Cougars, before taking leave to serve a two-year mission in Mexico.[33]

Kent's son, Colton, played his prep baseball at Lake Travis High School, in Austin, Texas. Colton signed to play college baseball at BYU, but transferred to the College of Southern Idaho[34] (CSI) after a year at BYU. Colton is currently (2018-2019 season) a freshman at CSI, starting at the position his dad played throughout his MLB career, 2nd base.[35]

Accomplishments
Jeff Kent MVP 2000 autographed baseball
  • 5-time All-Star (1999–2001, 2004–05)[6]
  • 4-time Silver Slugger (2000–2002, 2005)[6]
  • National League MVP (2000)[36]
  • Finished 6th in National League MVP voting (2002)[37]
  • Finished 8th in National League MVP voting (1997)[38]
  • Finished 9th in National League MVP voting (1998)[39]
  • Finished Top-5 in RBIs (1997, 1998, 2000, 2002)
  • All-time leader in home runs as a second baseman (377)[40]
  • Only second baseman to have 100 or more RBIs in 6 consecutive seasons (1997–2002)
  • Hit for the cycle (1999)

See also

References
  1. Jeff Kent: his numbers will earn him hall of fame consideration Archived September 18, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  2. Kent taking his place among all-time greats
  3. 2007 Career Highlights, MLB Bio
  4. "Trouble as a Prep Doesn't Slow Kent's Rise to Majors : Baseball: Former Edison infielder, who overcame difficult senior season, gets a quick call from Blue Jays". LA Times.
  5. "Major League Baseball Players From the Cape Cod League" (PDF). capecodbaseball.org. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
  6. Jeff Kent career stats Baseball-Reference.com
  7. 2000 SF Giants Baseball-Reference.com
  8. 2002 SF Giants Baseball-Reference.com
  9. Schulman, Henry. "Story should not have laugh track", San Francisco Chronicle, March 26, 2002, p. C1.
  10. Schulman, Henry. "Giants now battling each other", San Francisco Chronicle, June 26, 2002, p. C1.
  11. Ratto, Ray. "Bonds and Kent, a growing feud". San Francisco Chronicle.
  12. Gelston, Dan (August 19, 2004). "Astros assist fourth win in row with triple play vs. Phils". USA Today. Associated Press. Retrieved April 9, 2016.
  13. "2005 Los Angeles Dodgers Batting, Pitching, & Fielding Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
  14. "Maintenance Page". sportsnet.ca. Archived from the original on November 21, 2012. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
  15. "Kent signs $11.5 million extension through 2007 – MLB – ESPN". Sports.espn.go.com. March 29, 2006. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
  16. Second Baseman Jeff Kent retires after 17 major league seasons
  17. Getting Robinson Cano to MLB's All-Time 2B Home Run Record
  18. "Jeff Kent gets emotional, retires from baseball after 17 seasons". USA Today. The Associated Press. January 23, 2009. Retrieved March 1, 2015.
  19. Schulman, Henry (September 12, 2000). "GIANTS CLUBHOUSE / Kent Preparing for the Future". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved March 1, 2015.
  20. Habel, Steve. "Two Austin-area Private Clubs Boast Top Layouts". Cybergolf.com. Archived from the original on September 21, 2011.
  21. "Kent Announces Women Driven Scholarship Endowment" (Press release). Cal Athletics. September 22, 2014. Retrieved March 1, 2015.
  22. TV Guide Superstars page
  23. Ross, Dalton (August 20, 2012). "'Survivor: Philippines': 'Facts of Life' star Lisa Whelchel and baseball MVP Jeff Kent highlight new cast". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved August 20, 2012.
  24. "Former SF Giant Jeff Kent Slams Obama On 'Survivor'". CBS San Francisco. November 8, 2012.
  25. "Kent says he advocates blood tests for players". ESPN. January 12, 2008. Retrieved February 21, 2011.
  26. Schulman, Henry (February 16, 2011). "Jeff Kent joins SF Giants as spring instructor". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved March 1, 2015.
  27. Winkler, Adam (February 6, 2014). "Southwestern Baseball "Kent" Get Enough". KEYE-TV. Archived from the original on March 20, 2015. Retrieved March 1, 2015.
  28. Baggarly, Andrew (February 26, 2015). "Giants great Kent has connection with third-base prospect". San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved March 1, 2015.
  29. Saracevic, Al (September 20, 2014). "Jeff Kent, Cal bring light to dark sports landscape". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved March 1, 2015.
  30. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/10/los-angeles-dod.html
  31. Kent's HOF case CBSSports.com, Retrieved 2013-12-26.
  32. "2015 Hall of Fame Voting". Baseball-Reference.com.
  33. https://www.deseretnews.com/article/900021875/jeff-kents-son-colton-kent-finding-his-own-path-at-byu.html
  34. https://athletics.csi.edu/roster.aspx?rp_id=1617
  35. https://byucougars.com/athlete/baseball/1281494/Colton-Kent
  36. Baseball Awards Voting for 2000 Baseball-Reference.com
  37. Baseball Awards Voting for 2002 Baseball-Reference.com
  38. Baseball Awards Voting for 1997 Baseball-Reference.com
  39. Baseball Awards Voting for 1998 Baseball-Reference.com
  40. Ex-NL MVP Jeff Kent to announce retirement at 40 (AP), Jan. 21, 2009

Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Vladimir Guerrero
Todd Helton
Todd Helton		 National League Player of the Month
August 1998
June 2000
June 2002		 Succeeded by
Mark McGwire
Sammy Sosa
Larry Walker
Preceded by
Tony Eusebio		 Houston Astros Longest Hitting Streak
2004–2006		 Succeeded by
Willy Taveras
Preceded by
Neifi Pérez		 Hitting for the cycle
May 3, 1999		 Succeeded by
Todd Helton
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