Ken Kendrick Blasts Player, Talks Openly About Diamondbacks’ Collapse

WVU fans may know Ken Kendrick as one of the school’s most prominent donors, but his first priority is to the MLB franchise he owns. And Kendrick doesn’t sound too happy with how his Arizona Diamondbacks performed in 2024, most notably one of the team’s new additions.

A year after the Diamondbacks surprised the baseball world by using a late-season push to a Wild Card birth as their path to winning the National League pennant. Even though they didn’t win the World Series – losing to the Texas Rangers – the Diamondbacks achieved a major accomplishment that created increased expectations heading into the 2024 season. But unlike 2023, Arizona blew their playoff chances in September and failed to qualify for October baseball.

Arizona’s collapse caused Kendrick to speak out, and in somewhat surprising fashion, blast a decision made by his franchise. On Monday, Kendrick voiced his regret in signing starting pitcher Jordan Montgomery to a two-year, $47.5 million deal in the offseason.

During an appearance on the Burns & Gambo Show on Arizona Sports’ 98.7, Kendrick offered his true feelings about Montgomery. “Looking back, in hindsight, a horrible decision to have invested that money in a guy that performed as poorly as he did. It was or biggest mistake this season from a talent standpoint. And I’m the perpetrator of that,” said Kendrick.

"If anyone wants to blame anyone for Jordan Montgomery being a Diamondback, you're talking to the guy that should be blamed."

D-backs managing general partner Ken Kendrick on the signing of Montgomery in the offseason.

Full interview: https://t.co/c9zHhCcebT pic.twitter.com/4wfNmwihSX

— The Burns & Gambo Show (@BurnsAndGambo) October 1, 2024

But to Kendrick’s credit, he also said anyone upset about Montgomery’s signing should blame him.

“If anyone wants to blame anyone for Jordan Montgomery being a Diamondback, you’re talking to there guy who should be blamed, because I brought it to their attention, I pushed for it.”

And while it’s not common to hear an owner speak out publicly against one of his team’s players, Kendrick is right that Montgomery was a big disappointment for the Diamondbacks. After ironically helping the Rangers beat Arizona in the 2023 World Series, Montgomery posted an 8-7 record with a 6.23 ERA throughout the summer this year.

It’s safe to say Kendrick hopes Montgomery doesn’t pick up his $22.5 million option for 2025.

For a related story, Ken Kendrick openly expressed his disappointed over the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes relocation to Utah.