Jeff Kent (2026)

Toronto Blue Jays

Kent was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays on June 5, 1989. He played in their minor league system from 1989 through 1991.

After 65 games with the Blue Jays in 1992, Kent was traded to the New York Mets. He then played in 37 games with the Mets. He finished the season with 73 hits, 21 doubles, 50 RBIs, and a .239 batting average. Defensively, he played all infield positions.

New York Mets

Kent had a good first season with the Mets in 1993. He batted .270 with 134 hits, 24 doubles, 21 home runs, 80 RBIs, and 88 strikeouts to 30 walks in 140 games. He became a second baseman that season and he stayed in that position through 1995. Defensively, he made 311 assists, 68 doubles, and 250 putouts in 127 games. He also made 18 errors.

Kent played in 107 games in the strike shortened 1994 season. He batted .292 with 121 hits, 24 doubles, 68 RBIs, and 84 strikeouts to 23 walks. Defensively, he had 337 assists, 76 double plays, 222 putouts, and 14 errors in 107 games.

In 1995, Kent had 131 hits, 22 doubles, 20 home runs, 65 RBIs, 89 strikeouts to 29 walks, and a .278 batting average in 125 games. Defensively, he made fewer errors than in the previous seasons with 10. He also made 353 assists, 69 double plays, and 245 putouts.

Cleveland Indians

Kent was traded to the Cleveland Indians on July 29, 1996. He finished the season with 124 hits, 27 doubles, 55 RBIs, 78 strikeouts to 31 walks, and a .284 batting average in 89 games with the Mets and 39 games with Cleveland. Defensively, he played 20 games at first base, 9 games at second base, and 95 games at third base.

San Francisco Giants

Kent was traded to the San Francisco Giants on November 13, 1996. His batting average dropped to .250 in his first season with the Giants. He finished the 1997 season with 145 hits, 38 doubles, 29 home runs, 121 RBIs, and 133 strikeouts to 48 walks in 155 games. Defensively, he was back at second base, a position he would hold throughout the rest of his career. He made 425 assists, 104 double plays, 325 putouts, and 16 errors.

In 1998, Kent had a career high 128 RBIs. He finished the season with 156 hits, 37 doubles, 31 home runs, 110 strikeouts to 48 walks, and a .297 batting average in 137 games. Defensively, he made 404 assists, 87 double plays, 278 putouts, and 20 errors in 134 games.

Kent continued to play well in 1999, finishing the season with 148 hits, 40 doubles, 23 home runs, 101 RBIs, and a .290 batting average in 138 games. Although he batted well, he also struck out 112 times, almost twice as many times as he walked. Defensively, he had fewer assists than in the previous season, but he also made fewer errors. He had 326 assists, 90 double plays, 279 putouts, and 10 errors in 133 games.

Kent's best season was 2000, when he was named the NL MVP and he won a Silver Slugger award. He had career highs in games played (159), hits (196), batting average (.334), on-base-percentage (.424), and OPS (1.021). He also had 41 doubles, 33 home runs, and 125 RBIs. His strikeout to walk ratio improved significantly with 107 strikeouts to 90 walks. Defensively he also had a strong season, with 394 assists, 96 double plays, 302 putouts, and 10 errors in 150 games.

The next two seasons were again strong ones for Kent, and he won Silver Slugger awards both seasons. In 2001, he again played in a career high 159 games, and he had a career high 49 doubles. He finished the season with 181 hits, 22 home runs, 106 RBIs, 96 strikeouts to 65 walks, and a .298 batting average. Defensively, he made 390 assists, 91 double plays, 269 putouts, and just 9 errors in 140 games.

In 2002, Kent had a career high 37 home runs. He played in 152 games and he had 195 hits, 42 doubles, 108 RBIs, and a .313 batting average. His strikeout to walk ratio was poor again, with 101 strikeouts to 52 walks. Defensively, he had 411 assists, 113 double plays, and 293 putouts in 149 games. He made 16 errors.

Houston Astros

Kent became a free agent on October 29, 2002. He signed with the Houston Astros on December 18th. In his first season with the Astros, he batted .297 with 150 hits, 39 doubles, 22 home runs, 93 RBIs, and 85 strikeouts to 39 walks in 130 games. Defensively, he made 354 assists, 83 double plays, 278 putouts, and 11 errors in 128 games.

Kent finished the 2004 season with 156 hits, 34 doubles, 27 home runs, 107 RBIs, 96 strikeouts to 49 walks, and a .289 batting average in 145 games. Defensively, he had 374 assists, 74 double plays, 276 putouts, and just 7 errors in 139 games.

Los Angeles Dodgers

Kent became a free agent again on November 1, 2004. He signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers on December 15th. He won another Silver Slugger award in 2005. That season, he batted .289 with 160 hits, 36 doubles, 29 home runs, and 105 RBIs in 149 games. He walked 72 times and struck out just 85 times. Defensively, he made 424 assists, 87 double plays, 284 putouts, and 16 errors in 140 games.

Kent spent time on the DL in 2006 with a hand sprain and an oblique injury. In 115 games, he had 119 hits, 27 doubles, 68 RBIs, 69 strikeouts to 55 walks, and a .292 batting average. Defensively, he made 314 assists, 73 double plays, 217 putouts, and 8 errors in 108 games.

Kent came back strong in 2007, when he batted .302 with 149 hits, 36 doubles, 20 home runs, 79 RBIs, and 61 strikeouts to 57 walks in 136 games. Defensively, in 133 games, he made 328 assists, 76 double plays, 235 putouts, and 14 errors.

Kent played in fewer games in his final season in the major leagues. In 2008, he had 123 hits, 23 doubles, 59 RBIs, and a .280 batting average in 121 games. Defensively, he had 279 assists, 53 double plays, 168 putouts, and 11 errors in 116 games.

Awards and MLB Records

• NL MVP, 2000
• Silver Slugger award - 4 times

Career Statistics

Career batting statistics for Kent include:

• 2,298 games played
• 2,461 hits
• 560 doubles
• 47 triples
• 377 home runs
• 94 stolen bases
• 1,518 RBIs
• 1,522 strikeouts to 801 walks
• .290 batting average
• .356 on-base percentage
• .855 OPS

Career fielding statistics for Kent at second base include:

• 2,034 games played
• 5,575 assists
• 1,261 double plays
• 4,016 putouts
• 194 errors
• .980 fielding percentage

Career postseason statistics for Kent include:

• 49 games played
• 170 at-bats
• 47 hits
• 11 doubles
• 9 home runs
• 23 RBIs
• 37 strikeouts to 13 walks
• .276 batting average
• .340 on-base percentage
• .840 OPS