Steven Kent (baseball) explained

Steven Kent (baseball) should not be confused with Steve Kent (baseball).

Steven Kent
Team:Canberra Cavalry
Number:23
Position:Pitcher
Birth Date:1989 5, df=yes
Birth Place:Canberra, Australia
Bats:Left
Throws:Left

Steven John Kent (born 8 May 1989) is an Australian professional baseball pitcher for the Canberra Cavalry of the Australian Baseball League.

Kent is a four time ABL All-Star.[1] [2] [3] [4]

Career

Atlanta Braves

Kent signed with the Atlanta Braves as an international free agent in 2005 for a $370,000 signing bonus.[5] [6] In 2007 the Australian Baseball Federation named him the youth player of the year.[7] He started his professional career in 2006 playing for the GCL Braves of the rookie-level Gulf Coast League. After a successful return from Tommy John surgery during the 2015–16 ABL season Kent trialed with the Kansas City Royals.[8] In January 2016 it was announced that Kent has signed with his former club the Atlanta Braves.[9] Kent spent the majority of the 2016 season playing with Atlanta's AA side the Mississippi Braves. In September 2016 Kent was promoted to Atlanta's AAA side the Gwinnett Braves.[10]

Canberra Cavalry

Kent has played for the Canberra Cavalry[11] in the Australian Baseball League since their opening season in 2010. Before the 2013–14 ABL season he hurt his ulnar collateral ligament in a Baseball ACT game, and had a Tommy John surgery on 2 December 2015, sidelining him for the entire 2013–14, and most of the 2014–15 ABL season.[12]

On 14 November 2015 he threw a 7-inning complete game shutout against the Brisbane Bandits.[13] On 21 November he threw 8⅔ shutout innings against the Melbourne Aces, but gave up a 2-run home run against Brad Harman.[14] He was named as the Pitcher of the Week of 12–15 November and 19–22 November.[15]

On 15 March 2018, against the Belconnen Bandits, he set a new Baseball Canberra single-game strikeout record, striking out 23 hitters in a complete-game shutout.[16] Kent finished the 2018–19 ABL season with a team record and league-leading 7 wins and was named as the best Cavalry player of the season.[17]

On 12 February 2019 he was invited for spring training of Yokohama DeNA Bay Stars of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) with Steven Chambers.[18]

Australian national team

Kent has been a member of Team Australia since he was 17.[19] Kent competed in the 2008 Summer Olympics Qualification, 2011 Baseball World Cup, 2013, 2017 World Baseball Classic[20] 2018 exhibition games against Japan and 2019 WBSC Premier12.

On 20 February 2018, he was selected exhibition games against Japan.[21]

On 8 October 2019, he was selected at the 2019 WBSC Premier12.[22]

On 10 February 2023, he selected at the 2023 World Baseball Classic.[23]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Australia, World rosters announced for ASG. Australian Baseball League. 2019-02-06. 7 February 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190207015527/http://web.theabl.com.au/news/article.jsp?ymd=20111209&content_id=26129130&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_l595. dead.
  2. Web site: 2012 Team Australia All-Stars Roster. Australian Baseball League. 2019-02-06. 3 February 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190203143907/http://web.theabl.com.au/content/page.jsp?sid=l595&ymd=20121208&content_id=40571454&vkey=league1. dead.
  3. Web site: ASG ROSTERS. Australian Baseball League. 2019-02-06. 3 February 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190203143811/http://web.theabl.com.au/documents/5/5/2/263510552/Rosters_Spread.pdf. dead.
  4. Web site: Rosters. Australian Baseball League. 2019-02-06. 3 February 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190203143811/http://web.theabl.com.au/documents/5/5/2/263510552/Rosters_Spread.pdf. dead.
  5. Web site: Kent's big league dreams still alive. 18 January 2012. The Sydney Morning Herald.
  6. Web site: Kent earns second shot with Atlanta Brav. abpaa.
  7. Web site: Players - 2016 World Baseball Classic Qualifier. 2016-02-29. Southern Thunder. 2019-02-06. https://web.archive.org/web/20160229083425/http://www.southernthunder.baseball.com.au/The-Team/Players/ContentId/1804. 2016-02-29.
  8. Web site: Aussie pitcher signs with Kansas City. Wwos.ninemsn.com.au.
  9. News: Steven Kent Signs with Atlanta Braves, Named to Team Australia. Baseball ACT. 2017-02-08. en-AU.
  10. Web site: Steve Kent Stats, Highlights, Bio MiLB.com Stats The Official Site of Minor League Baseball. MiLB.com. en. 2017-02-08.
  11. Web site: Braves prospects heating up in winter ball | MLB.com: News. 27 March 2014. Mlb.mlb.com.
  12. Web site: Surgery will sideline Canberra Cavalry's Steve Kent. David. Polkinghorne. 2013-11-28. The Canberra Times. Nine Entertainment Co.. 2019-02-06. en.
  13. Web site: Cavalry sweep weekly Delta honours. Nina. Zimmerman. Australian Baseball League. 2019-02-06.
  14. Web site: Canberra Cavalry pitcher Steven Kent almost shuts out Melbourne Aces. David. Polkinghorne. 2015-11-21. The Canberra Times. Nine Entertainment Co.. 2019-02-06.
  15. http://web.theabl.com.au/content/page.jsp?ymd=20151030&content_id=155967574&sid=l595&vkey=news
  16. Web site: Canberra Cavalry star Steve Kent sets strikeout record in ACT grand final. David. Polkinghorne. 2018-03-16. The Sydney Morning Herald. Nine Entertainment Co.. 2019-02-06. en.
  17. Web site: SEASON IN REVIEW: Canberra Cavalry | Australian Baseball League News . 23 February 2019 . 22 February 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190222204609/http://web.theabl.com.au/news/article.jsp?ymd=20190211&content_id=303815984&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_l595&sid=l595 . dead .
  18. Web site: 2019年春季キャンプへの練習参加について . 横浜DeNAベイスターズ オフィシャルサイト . Japanese . February 12, 2019 . March 12, 2019 .
    Web site: Kent Joins BayStars Spring Training in Japan . CANBERRACAVALRY.COM.AU THE OFFICIAL SITE OF THE CANBERRA CAVALRY . February 12, 2019 . March 12, 2019 . 6 March 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190306093606/http://web.theabl.com.au/news/article.jsp?ymd=20190212&content_id=303824944&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_t4066&sid=t4066 . dead .
  19. Web site: Southern Thunder - Australia's National Mens Baseball Team > The Team > Players. www.southernthunder.baseball.com.au. en-AU. 2017-02-08. 29 February 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160229083425/http://www.southernthunder.baseball.com.au/The-Team/Players/ContentId/1804. dead.
  20. http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/more-sport/australia-upset-host-nation-panama-in-ibaf-baseball-world-cup/story-e6frfglf-1226167327936 Australia Upset Host Nation Panama In Ibaf Baseball World Cup
  21. Web site: Team Australia Roster Announced . Baseball Australia Southern Thunder . Baseball Australia Media . February 20, 2018 . February 22, 2018 . 8 December 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191208014908/http://www.southernthunder.baseball.com.au/News/Latest-News/team-australia-roster-announced . dead .
  22. Web site: BORAL TEAM AUSTRALIA'S PREMIER12 ROSTER ANNOUNCED . baseball.com.au . DAVID PENROSE . October 8, 2019 . October 15, 2019 .
  23. Web site: TEAM AUSTRALIA ANNOUNCES 30-MAN ROSTER FOR WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC . baseball.com.au . February 10, 2023 . February 10, 2023 .