Could Ian Kennedy Contribute Now?

It’s not entirely implausible.  Chad Jennings had this to say about Kennedy’s start in the International League playoffs:

Ian Kennedy could hardly have pitched any better. Making his first Triple-A start since April, he pitched three scoreless, hitless innings and struck out six, including the five of the first six batters he faced. Two of his strikeouts came on fastballs — he was 89-91 — and four came on changeups.[...]

“He might even have been a little better today (than in April),” catcher Chris Stewart said. “I don’t know if it’s because his arm was rested throughout the year or what, but he was throwing everything for strikes. It was coming out of his arm good, exactly the way he wanted it. He was getting ahead and putting guys away.”

Kennedy has been a great story this season in that he has been able to overcome an aneurysm and return to the mound so quickly.   And he must look excellent, because the Yankees opted to alter their plans.  It was reported on September 8th, after Kennedy’s first simulated game, that

The right-hander said it remains doubtful he will make an appearance in a minor league playoff this season, but he is set to pitch in the instructional league later this month and the Arizona Fall League.

Well, a mere 8 days removed from that report, Kennedy did make an appearance.  The Yankees are obviously going to be very careful with a player coming off any type of surgery, so it’s safe to assume they felt medically confident.  They certainly wouldn’t rush a prospect’s return simply so they could contribute towards the quest for the Governor’s Cup.

So, that raises the question – are they confident enough to let him come all the way back?  You may have noticed amidst all the euphoria that Sergio Mitre isn’t exactly holding down the fort at the back end of the rotation, one excellent start excluded.  The Major League team is a few poor Joba starts or one Pettitte elbow tweak away from looking for a playoff starter of their own.

The Yankees obviously like Kennedy.  He reached the big club in his first full Minor League season back in 2007, and he impressed even then, posting a 1.89 ERA in 3 starts, with 15 Ks in 19 IP.  Then in 2008, he was handed a rotation spot out of Spring Training.  So just last April, Kennedy was being viewed as a potential building block for an organization that was, at the time, starved for pitching.

Then Kennedy bombed in the bigs in 2008, posting an 8.17 ERA over 9 starts and 39.2 IP.  But upon his return to the minors, he continued posting his usual excellent numbers – a 2.35 ERA and more than a K per inning back at AAA.  He also was off to a hot start in 2009 before being diagnosed with the aneurysm.

And after this latest performance for Scranton, he seems to be all the way back, even if he’s somewhat lacking stamina at this point.  Why not bring him to the majors and let him caddy for Joba or Mitre for a start or two?  If he impresses, perhaps he leapfrogs Mitre on the depth chart and gives the Yankees some unexpected options.