Bandits' Kennedy is back for more

His brother, Adam Kennedy, mans second base for baseball’s world champion Anaheim Angels, but two years of professional baseball have provided Quad-City River Bandits catcher Bryan Kennedy with eye-opening experiences of his own.

"I’ve been around the game forever, but I’ve really learned the game the last two years," Kennedy said.

A 24th-round draft pick in 2001 from Long Beach State, Kennedy found himself as an understudy the past two seasons for the River Bandits.

In 2001, after earning a late-season promotion from short-season Elizabethton, he found himself playing behind second-round draft pick Rob Bowen.

Last year the top pick in the 2001 draft, Joe Mauer, commanded the bulk of the time behind the plate for Quad-Cities.

"While any player would like to be out there every day, in some ways it provided me with a chance to learn and get used to what this business is all about," Kennedy said.

"I learned not to take things as much for granted and that I had to truly appreciate every opportunity I earned."

Kennedy welcomed his return to the River Bandits this year, and he will open behind the plate today as Quad-Cities begins its 140-game Midwest League schedule with a 6 p.m. game against Cedar Rapids at John O’Donnell Stadium.

He said Twins officials were upfront with him from the start of spring training.

"They told me it was a possibility, maybe even a probability, and their reasoning was sound. It was to give me a chance to play every day, and I appreciate that," Kennedy said.

With Bowen at Class AA New Britain and Mauer taking his skills to Class A Fort Myers, it’s an opportunity that Kennedy welcomes.

"This season will give me a chance to prove what I can do and contribute on a daily basis," Kennedy said. "Instead of being the guy who gets a chance to work once or twice a week, I’ll get the opportunity to work with the pitching staff on a daily basis and develop there."

That’s an important part of what Kennedy hopes to accomplish this season.

"It’s different when you’re out there working with guys once a week than when you’re the everyday guy, and working with the pitching staff, developing that rapport and making progress from one week to the next is something that I’ll have a chance to do this season," Kennedy said.

At 24, Kennedy will be one of the older players in the Quad-City clubhouse this season.

"There are some leadership expectations that come along with that, and I’m fine with that," he said. "I’ve been around long enough now that I understand what this league is about, and I’ll do what I can to help everybody."

Kennedy doesn’t that means additional pressure.

"It’s just a matter of knowing pretty much that every day when I come to the park that I’ll be in the lineup," he said. "I’ve prepared and trained that way to be able to be ready to go every day, but it’s not extra pressure. "It’s something great. It’s a chance to play a game I love to play. I couldn’t ask for a better situation." Manager Jeff Carter said he believes Kennedy is prepared to handle the opportunity.

"I know he looks forward to the chance to be out there every day, and he’ll lead this team," Carter said. "You need two or three older guys on any team who have been around and who understand what playing at this level is about. They can help the younger guys adjust, and Bryan will be great at showing those guys the ropes." While Kennedy understood at the start of spring training that a return to the Midwest League was possible, he spent most of the spring working with pitchers at higher levels.

"I came down to this club three days before we left Florida, so I haven’t caught this staff much yet," he said. "They do seem to do a good job of throwing strikes, and this is a time of year where the pitchers should be ahead of the hitters, and we need to take advantage of that."

Kennedy took advantage of the offseason to complete his degree work at Long Beach State. He also watched as his brother helped the Angels to their first World Series title.

"I was a little torn when they were playing the Twins in the American League Championship Series, but I was happy for Adam. It was a good accomplishment," Kennedy said.

And when it was over, the Kennedy brothers returned to what has become a typical offseason routine of training together.

"That’s worked well for both of us, and it’s a good chance to spend a little time together since we go our separate ways for the season," he said. "It was a good offseason, something that left me feeling good about things as I got ready for this year."