Joseph Darley Kennedy (May 24, 1979 – November 23, 2007) was an American Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. He pitched from 2001 to 2007 for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Colorado Rockies, Oakland Athletics, Arizona Diamondbacks, and the Toronto Blue Jays. Early life Kennedy was born in La Mesa, California to John and Holly Kennedy. He had an older brother, John Kennedy Jr., and a younger sister, Bettianne Kennedy. Kennedy played Little League in El Cajon, California. He was a member of the 1991 El Cajon American Little League team that won the Southern California Little League championship. The team was eliminated after a first-round 3–1 loss to Kahulia East Maui in the West Region Tournament in San Bernardino. He graduated from El Cajon Valley High School, where he played baseball as well as basketball, volleyball and football, and attended Grossmont College before entering the major league draft. Professional career Kennedy was drafted by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the eighth round (252nd overall) of the Major League Baseball draft. He made his major league debut on June 6, with the Devil Rays. Tampa Bay Devil Rays Kennedy made his Major League debut on June 6, 2001, becoming the first lefthander to start a game for the Devil Rays in 219 games. He finished 7–8 in 20 starts for the Devil Rays. In his second season, he pitched in 30 starts going 8-11 while throwing 5 complete games for the Devil Rays. In 2003, he was named the Opening Day starter for the Devil Rays after having an abysmal spring training. He made 22 straight starts before being relegated to the bullpen after suffering an arm injury in . He had pitched in 72 consecutive starts for the Devil Rays before being moved to the bullpen. He recorded his first career save on September 10, 2003, against the Blue Jays, pitching three scoreless innings. Colorado Rockies Traded to the Colorado Rockies before the season, Kennedy became the first Rockies starter to have a sub 4.00 earned run average, setting a franchise record with a 3.66 ERA while going 9-7 for the Rockies. In 2005, Kennedy struggled as a starter for the Rockies, going 4–8 with a 7.04 ERA. Oakland Athletics On June 5, 2005, the A's showed interest in Kennedy. On July 13 of that year, Kennedy, along with pitcher Jay Witasick, was traded by the Rockies to the