Arizona Diamondbacks Sign RHP Jordan Kendall out of Arizona Winter League

February 23, 2011 - Golden Baseball League (GBL) News Release


(Yuma, AZ. February 23, 2011) The Arizona Winter League, the premier instructional league for professional and aspiring pro players, announced today that RHP Jordan Kendall has been signed out of the Arizona Winter League by the Arizona Diamondbacks and will be reporting to spring training next week.

Kendall, 24, was an 11th round pick by the Chicago White Sox out of Contra Costa College in northern California in the 2007 amateur draft. He had a fine 2008 campaign with the White Sox farm club in the rookie-level Appalachian League and was named a league all-star outfielder. However, a hand injury kept him out of action in 2009 and he was released by Chicago in 2010. He was signed by the Tijuana Cimarrones of the Golden League last year and began experimenting with converting to pitching. Joining the Arizona Winter League this January and under the tutelage of pitching coaches Les Lancaster (former Chicago Cubs reliever) and Bobby Post (legendary minor league hurler) he developed additional pitches to go along with his 95 mph fastball. With over a dozen MLB teams sending scouts to the AWL, the Diamondbacks moved fast as Arizona's Director of Player Development Mike Bell's organization provided thorough evaluations and Mike signed him just hours before Florida and Detroit were scheduled to watch his next game.

Kendall is the first member of the 2011 Arizona Winter League to be signed by an MLB organization with more sure to follow. Last year one player was signed during the AWL and five more short afterwards by MLB teams and another 61 by foreign and independent leagues.



Golden Baseball League Stories from February 23, 2011


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.


Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central