Cardinals Find Kennedy New Perch

Adam Kennedy (Cal State Northridge) has made another jump up the ladder, earning a promotion to the Memphis Redbirds, the St. Louis Cardinals’ triple-A affiliate in the Pacific Coast League.

Kennedy, 22, drove in three runs with a triple and a double against Salt Lake City on Wednesday in his first game with the Redbirds.

Kennedy, a former All-American who was a first-round draft pick in 1997, began the season playing second base at Class-A Prince William. He was quickly promoted to double-A Arkansas, where he played shortstop and batted .278 with 11 doubles, two triples and six home runs.

The latest promotion might not last long because it is the result of a domino effect that began with a rib-cage injury to Cardinals’ shortstop Royce Clayton on Tuesday. Memphis shortstop Luis Ordaz was called up to replace Clayton and Kennedy fills Ordaz’s spot.

Shortstop is perhaps the most competitive position in the Cardinals’ organization. Jason Woolf, a second-round draft pick in 1995, recently returned from an injury and is at Arkansas. Brent Butler, 20, the shortstop at Prince William, is perhaps the most highly regarded of all, and Pablo Ozuna, 19, is hitting well at Class-A Peoria.

“They’re all quality players,� Cardinals’ minor league director Mike Jorgensen said. “We don’t have a jam-up yet, but we might have to look at some [position] shifts soon.�