Jason Daniel Kendall is an American professional baseball catcher who is a free agent. He is the son of former catcher Fred Kendall, who played in the majors from 1969–1980. Kendall attended and played at Torrance High School in California, where he tied a national high school record by hitting safely in 43 straight games. He was drafted out of high school in the first round of the 1992 Major League Baseball Draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates. Kendall made his major league debut 1996. In his rookie year, he hit .300, made the National League All-Star Team, and was named NL rookie of the... year by The Sporting News . He was also an All-Star in 1998 and 2000. In 1999, he suffered a season-ending injury when he dislocated his ankle while running to first base in a July 4 game against Milwaukee after attempting to beat out a bunt. On May 19, 2000, Kendall became the first Pirate to hit for the cycle in Pittsburgh's Three Rivers Stadium and Kris Benson pitched a three-hitter in a 13–1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals.
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