Howie Kendrick, Retired


Date of Birth: 7/12/1983
Birthplace: Jacksonville, Florida
College: St. John's River State Community College

Howie Kendrick, retired outfielder, was first drafted by the Los Angeles Angels in 2002. He spent his first four and a half seasons in the minor leagues before being called up by the Angels in 2006. For the next four seasons, he was just a part-time player with the Angels, playing in 72 games in 2006, 88 games in 2007, 92 games in 2008, and 105 games in 2009.

In 2010, his first full season in the major leagues, Kendrick batted .279 with career highs in hits (172), doubles (41) and RBIs (75) in 158 games. A year and a half later, in January, 2012, the Angels gave Kendrick a four-year, $33.5 million contract. He played in just 122 games in 2013 and he batted .297 with 142 hits, 21 doubles, 13 home runs, and 54 RBIs.

Kendrick had a strong 2014 season, finishing with 181 hits, 33 doubles, 75 RBIs, 14 stolen bases, and a .293 batting average in 157 games. He had 2 hits and a .154 batting average in 13 at-bats in 3 games in the postseason.

On December 10, 2014, Kendrick was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers. He finished the 2015 season with 137 hits, 22 doubles, 54 RBIs, and a .295 batting average in 117 games. As the Dodgers' second baseman, he made 295 assists, 52 double plays, 193 putouts, and 5 errors in 113 games. In 22 at-bats in 5 postseason games, he batted .273 with 6 hits, including a double and a home run, and 4 RBIs.

Kendrick signed a new two-year, $20 million contract with the Dodgers on February 4, 2016. He finished the 2016 season with 124 hits, 26 doubles, 40 RBIs, and a .255 batting average in 146 games. Defensively, he played primarily in left field and he made 131 putouts and no errors in 94 games. He also played 11 games at first base, 32 games at second base, and 17 games at third base. In the postseason, he batted .227 with 5 hits in 22 at-bats in 9 games.

Kendrick was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies on November 11, 2016. The Washington Nationals acquired him in a trade on July 28, 2017. He batted .315 in 39 games with the Phillies and 52 games with the Nationals in 2017. He finished the season with 96 hits, 41 RBIs, and 68 strikeouts to 22 walks. Defensively, he played 4 games at first base, 15 games at second base, 62 games in left field, and 3 games in right field. In the postseason, he had no hits in two at-bats in three games.

Kendrick became a free agent on November 2, 2017. He signed with the Washington Nationals on January 18, 2018. He missed most of the 2018 season due to an achilles injury. He had season ending surgery on May 21st. Prior to his injury, he batted .303 with 46 hits and 14 doubles in 40 games.

Kendrick spent time on the DL in 2019 with a left hamstring strain. He finished the season with 115 hits, 23 doubles, 62 RBIs, 49 strikeouts to 27 walks, and a .344 batting average. Defensively, he played 48 games at first base, 23 games at second base, and 15 games at third base. In the postseason, he had 18 hits, including 4 doubles and 2 home runs, 12 RBIs, 11 strikeouts to 4 walks, and a .286 batting average in 63 at-bats in 17 games.

Kendrick played in just 25 games in the shortened 2020 season. He had 25 hits, 4 doubles, 2 home runs, 14 RBIs, and a .275 batting average. He was the Nationals' DH in 19 games.

Kendrick became a free agent on October 28, 2020. He retired on December 21, 2020.

Career batting statistics for Kendrick through 2020 include:

  • 1,621 games played
  • 1,747 hits
  • 354 doubles
  • 127 home runs
  • 126 stolen bases
  • 724 RBIs
  • 1,102 strikeouts to 349 walks
  • .294 batting average

Career fielding statistics for Kendrick at second base through 2020 include:

  • 1,183 games played
  • 3,197 assists
  • 682 double plays
  • 1,979 putouts
  • 80 errors
  • .985 fielding percentage

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Howie Kendrick
ESPN - Howie Kendrick