Kyle Kendrick

Born in Houston, Texas, Throughout his adolescent athletic career, it was Kendrick's father Maury from whom Kendrick drew guidance and direction, particularly on how to conduct oneself during a game. Maury advised Kendrick to show as little emotion as possible when pitching, and is the one from whom Kendrick draws his composure while pitching. ==Professional career==

Philadelphia Phillies Minor leagues: 2003–2006 The Philadelphia Phillies drafted Kendrick in the seventh round (205th overall) of the 2003 Major League Baseball draft, He pitched the second game of the 2007 National League Division Series against the Colorado Rockies, which the Phillies lost, en route to being swept in the series. He finished the season with a 10–4 win–loss record and a 3.87 ERA in 121 MLB innings pitched. Before the 2008 season, Kendrick was a victim of an "elaborate practical joke" executed by Brett Myers that had Kendrick convinced he had been traded away to Japan. During the season, Kendrick's performance slipped; he posted a 5.49 ERA in 30 starts. Phillies pitching coach Rich Dubee attributed the decline to hitters discerning that Kendrick threw predominantly a sinker, and almost always in the strike zone, thus fostering predictability for hitters. As such, Kendrick spent the majority of the 2009 season in the minor leagues, working on developing his change up, which proved to be an arduous process. Ultimately, after learning a new grip from Justin Lehr, he had a eureka moment during a bullpen session in 2009; he developed the pitch, and made it back to the major leagues "for good" near the conclusion of the season. After a decent first half of the 2010 season (at the end of June, he had a 4–4 record with a 3.23 ERA). Kendrick was briefly demoted to the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA), but did not make any starts there, as Moyer's season ended due to injury, causing Kendrick's recall. Kendrick's inconsistency continued in 2011, when he "flip-flopped between the rotation and the bullpen all season", performing as a spot starter and long reliever. His starts came during injuries to Blanton and Roy Oswalt, the latter of whom was a member of the "phour aces" that comprised the front-end of the Phillies' starting rotation (Oswalt, Cliff Lee, Roy Halladay, and Cole Hamels). When making those spot starts, he was able to "keep the team in the game". During the season, he improved against left-handed hitters, performed strongly against divisional opponents, and posted a career-best 3.22 ERA. Once again, Kendrick was not a member of the opening day starting rotation, as Blanton and Vance Worley rounded out the final two spots after Hamels, Halladay, and Lee. However, once again, he joined the rotation due to injury, this season to Worley. He was a member of the rotation from the end of April to the beginning of July, in a relief role until the beginning of August, and then in the rotation for the remainder of the season. Ultimately, Kendrick started 25 games of a career-high 37 appearances. and spent his first full season exclusively a member of the major league starting rotation. His 2013 season took the opposite trajectory of his 2012 campaign; he held a 4–1 record with a 2.47 ERA in his first eight starts, while he posted a 6–12 record with a 5.65 ERA in his final 22 starts. On September 18, he was scratched from his scheduled start due to right rotator cuff tendinitis, which may have contributed to his poor pitching down the stretch. It was the first time in Kendrick's career he missed a start due to injury. He had initially planned on making his next start, but the Phillies announced on September 20 that Kendrick had been shut down for the remainder of the season after receiving a second opinion on the injury. The team placed him on the disabled list for his first career stint and Zach Miner took his spot in the rotation. Overall, he posted 10–13 with a 4.70 ERA in 182 innings pitched. Contradictorily, one scout suggested that because he throws strikes with great frequency and has a propensity to induce groundballs, he would be a strong value option for the Phillies. Ultimately, the Phillies agreed with the latter, and signed him to a one-year, contract in the final year before he is eligible to be a free agent. Kendrick preposterously struggled all season in the first inning, entering his final home start of the season with a 9.31 ERA in the first inning. Overall, he pitched a career-high 199 innings, but posted a 4.61 ERA, second-worst among qualifying NL starting pitchers. The prevailing consensus was that despite a sentimental attachment to Philadelphia, generally being liked by Phillies' fans, and solid contributions to the back of the Phillies' rotation since arriving in the major leagues, he was unlikely to return to Philadelphia for 2015, but would be a "smart pickup" by a contending team. Colorado Rockies On February 4, 2015, Kendrick signed a one-year deal with the Colorado Rockies. He was later named the Rockies' opening-day starter for the 2015 season. For the season, he was 7–13 with a 6.32 ERA, and shared the major league lead in home runs given up with 33. He became a free agent following the season. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim On December 31, 2015, Kendrick signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves. In addition, Kendrick received a non-roster invite to spring training. He was released on March 12, 2016. He subsequently signed with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, and spent the 2016 season with the Salt Lake Bees of the Triple–A Pacific Coast League, posting a 6–5 record and 4.73 ERA with 67 strikeouts over 16 games (15 starts). Kendrick elected free agency after the season on November 7. Boston Red Sox On January 18, 2017, Kendrick signed a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox. He received a non-roster invite to spring training, and was later placed on the Major League roster. Kendrick started two games for the Red Sox in May, accruing a 0–2 record and 12.96 ERA. The 2017 season also saw him starting 18 games for the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox. Kendrick was outrighted on June 22, and elected free agency on October 2. Kendrick elected retirement but after sitting out the 2018 season, he became a guest instructor at Phillies’ 2019 Spring Training. ==Pitching style==

When Kendrick was first promoted to the major leagues, he relied almost exclusively on a sinker, but as he became more predictable, he had to adjust by adding pitches, including the changeup, cutter, and curveball that now comprise his repertoire. He throws from a slightly deceptive, deliberate windup, and his sinker ranges anywhere from to . He lacks requisite confidence in his secondary pitches, however, which contributes to batters being able to consistently make solid contact against him. Although they have improved throughout his career, Kendrick has had poor peripheral statistics, including WAR, FIP and BABIP. Because he manages to stay competitive on the mound and do his job, most assert that the poor peripheral statistics do not matter for him. When pitching, he maintains constant equanimity and seeks to avoid showing emotion, a trait he learned from his father and has embodied since playing Little League Baseball. He credits his composure as the reason he is able to consistently "go with the flow", and avoid being flustered, even in adverse situations. ==Personal life==

In 2009, Kendrick became engaged to four-time Survivor contestant Stephenie LaGrossa. They were married at the Silverado Resort in Napa, California, on November 13, 2010. Kendrick and LaGrossa had their first child, a daughter named Sophia Marguerite on September 3, 2011, and their second child, a son named Kyle Jr., on July 30, 2013. In March 2011, Kendrick's home was burglarized; among the stolen items was his World Series ring. Subsequently, the ring was found in a swampy area of Bothell, Washington, by Snohomish County Sheriff's deputies. Kendrick's pitching intro music is "Radioactive" by Imagine Dragons. Among his hobbies are golf and fantasy football. ==References==