22 May 2026
Sydney double threat Ashton Kennedy signs with Pittsburgh Pirates
One of New South Wales’ most versatile young talents and is officially heading into professional baseball.
Team Australia U18 star Ashton Kennedy, a genuine two-way threat who pitches and plays both outfield and first base, has signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates organisation after previously being committed to Connors State College in Oklahoma.
Kennedy comes through the Blacktown Workers and grew up in the Ryde junior system, rapidly rising through Australia’s high-performance pathways.

His résumé already includes a 2025 U18 National Championship, selection to Team Australia at the 2025 U18 World Cup, and a spot on the MLB Showcase Tour.
At the World Cup, Kennedy dominated on both sides of the ball. He hit .444 at the plate while tossing 4.1 shutout innings across three appearances, allowing just one hit and two walks. He finished the tournament with the Leading Hitter Award.
On the mound, Kennedy features a modern pitch mix with a fastball showing natural arm-side run and late carry, alongside a sweeper, splitter, and sinker. Combined with his 6’4” frame and offensive upside, he quickly became a strong professional prospect.

Kennedy now becomes one of more than 20 Australians currently holding Minor League Baseball contracts, continuing the growing pipeline of Australian talent entering affiliated baseball.
He joins a Pirates organization that recently saw fellow Australian Brandan Bidois reach the major leagues with the club.
Kennedy had originally committed to Connors State College, one of America’s premier junior college programs, before electing to begin his professional career.
A series of international tournaments helped accelerate his development. Following his strong U18 World Cup performance, Kennedy earned selection to the MLB World Select team in Arizona, where he competed against many of the top prospects in the world.
You can follow Australians playing around the world, including every Australian on a Minor League contract, at Aussie Baseball Tracker.







































