Editing Jeff Kent

{{short description|American baseball player (born 1968)}}
{{for|the English academic and musician|Jeff Kent (author)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2013}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name=Jeff Kent
|image=Kent-crop.jpg
|caption=Kent with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2008
|width=240
|position=[[Second baseman]]
|bats=Right
|throws=Right
|birth_date={{birth date and age|1968|3|7}}
|birth_place=[[Bellflower, California]], U.S.
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate=April 12
|debutyear=1992
|debutteam=Toronto Blue Jays
|finalleague = MLB
|finaldate=September 27
|finalyear=2008
|finalteam=Los Angeles Dodgers
|statleague = MLB
|stat1label=[[Batting average (baseball)|Batting average]]
|stat1value=.290
|stat2label=[[Hit (baseball)|Hits]]
|stat2value=2,461
|stat3label=[[Home run]]s
|stat3value=377
|stat4label=[[Run batted in|Runs batted in]]
|stat4value=1,518
|teams=
* [[Toronto Blue Jays]] ({{mlby|1992}})
* [[New York Mets]] ({{mlby|1992}}–{{mlby|1996}})
* [[Cleveland Indians]] ({{mlby|1996}})
* [[San Francisco Giants]] ({{mlby|1997}}–{{mlby|2002}})
* [[Houston Astros]] ({{mlby|2003}}–{{mlby|2004}})
* [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] ({{mlby|2005}}–{{mlby|2008}})
|awards=
* 5× [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] ([[1999 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1999]]–[[2001 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|2001]], [[2004 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|2004]], [[2005 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|2005]])
* [[NL MVP]] (2000)
* 4× [[Silver Slugger Award]] (2000–2002, 2005)
* [[San Francisco Giants Wall of Fame]]
}}
'''Jeffrey Franklin Kent''' (born March 7, 1968) is an American former professional [[baseball]] [[second baseman]].  He played 17 seasons in [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) from 1992 to 2008 for the [[Toronto Blue Jays]], [[New York Mets]], [[Cleveland Indians]], [[San Francisco Giants]], [[Houston Astros]], and [[Los Angeles Dodgers]].

Kent won the [[National League (baseball)|National League]] [[Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award|Most Valuable Player]] award in 2000 with the San Francisco Giants, and is the all-time leader in [[home run]]s among second basemen.<ref name="hall"/> He [[Run batted in|drove in]] 90 or more [[Run (baseball)|runs]] from 1997 to 2005.<ref name="hall">[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCI/is_9_64/ai_n15657357 Jeff Kent: his numbers will earn him hall of fame consideration] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080918144456/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCI/is_9_64/ai_n15657357 |date=September 18, 2008 }}</ref><ref name="Tim">[http://static.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/kurkjian_tim/1518489.html Kent taking his place among all-time greats]</ref> Kent is a five-time All-Star, and his 560 career [[Double (baseball)|doubles]] put him in 30th on the all-time doubles list.<ref name="hall"/><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/team/player_career.jsp?player_id=116999 |title=2007 Career Highlights, MLB Bio |access-date=February 10, 2008 |archive-date=October 7, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081007004724/http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/team/player_career.jsp?player_id=116999 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Kent attended the [[University of California, Berkeley]] (UC Berkeley), where he played [[college baseball]] for the [[California Golden Bears baseball|Golden Bears]] before being selected in the 20th round of the [[1989 Major League Baseball draft|1989 MLB draft]] by the Blue Jays.

==Early life==
Born in [[Bellflower, California]], Kent graduated from [[Edison High School (Huntington Beach, California)|Edison High School]] in [[Huntington Beach, California]], where he was dismissed from the baseball team after clashing with his coach over a position change.<ref>{{cite news |title=Trouble as a Prep Doesn't Slow Kent's Rise to Majors : Baseball: Former Edison infielder, who overcame difficult senior season, gets a quick call from Blue Jays. |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-07-22-sp-4226-story.html |newspaper=LA Times}}</ref>

==College career==
Kent played [[college baseball]] at [[University of California, Berkeley|UC Berkeley]] from 1987 to 1989. In 1988 he played both [[collegiate summer baseball]] with the [[Cotuit Kettleers]] of the [[Cape Cod Baseball League]] and the [[College World Series]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://capecodbaseball.org.ismmedia.com/ISM3/std-content/repos/Top/2012website/archives/Current%20Year/All_Time_MLB_CCBL_Alumni.pdf |title=Major League Baseball Players From the Cape Cod League |publisher=capecodbaseball.org |access-date=January 9, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://calbears.com/sports/2016/6/27/210279011.aspx | title=Jeff Kent Bio }}</ref>

==Professional career==
===Draft and minor leagues===
Kent was selected in the 20th round of the [[1989 MLB Draft]] by the [[Toronto Blue Jays]].

===Toronto Blue Jays (1992)===
After three seasons in the minor leagues, Kent was invited to [[spring training]] with the Blue Jays in 1992 and made the opening day roster. He made his debut on April 12 against the [[Baltimore Orioles]] and recorded his first career hit in his first career at-bat, a double in the 6th inning against [[José Mesa]].<ref>Garrett, J. P.. [https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/jeff-kent/ "Jeff Kent"], ''Society for American Baseball Research'', February 3, 2022</ref> He hit his first home run on April 14 against [[New York Yankees]] [[pitcher]] [[Lee Guetterman]]. He saw limited [[at-bat]]s early in the season; however, an injury to starting [[third baseman]] [[Kelly Gruber]] granted Kent a more regular role in the line-up.

===New York Mets (1992–1996)===
Kent was traded to the Mets on August 27, 1992, for pitcher [[David Cone]], as Toronto bolstered their pitching rotation for a successful [[1992 World Series|World Series run]]; Kent earned a [[World Series ring]] despite the trade.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/jeff-kent/ | title=Jeff Kent – Society for American Baseball Research }}</ref> Kent's time with the Mets was marked with some success and some failure. Although he batted well, particularly for a second baseman, the Mets were among the worst teams in the [[National League (baseball)|National League]]. Furthermore, he acquired a very poor reputation in the clubhouse, where he was known for a quick temper and isolationism. He refused to participate in his hazing ritual with the Mets, feeling he had left his rookie status back in Toronto.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/09/15/sports/baseball-mets-pull-a-little-prank-but-kent-pulls-a-big-fit.html | title=BASEBALL; Mets Pull a Little Prank, but Kent Pulls a Big Fit | work=The New York Times | date=September 15, 1992 | last1=Sexton | first1=Joe }}</ref> During the 1992 season, he started the only game of his career at [[shortstop]] in order to allow [[Willie Randolph]] to play his final career game at second base.

===Cleveland Indians (1996)===
In a deal made prior to the 1996 trade deadline, the Mets sent Kent and [[José Vizcaíno]] to the [[Cleveland Indians]] for [[Álvaro Espinoza]] and [[Carlos Baerga]]. The following offseason, Kent was again traded, this time to the [[San Francisco Giants]] along with José Vizcaíno and [[Julián Tavárez]]. The San Francisco trade was initially very unpopular, as it sent [[Matt Williams (third baseman)|Matt Williams]], a longtime Giant and a fan-favorite, to the Indians. [[Brian Sabean]], in his first year as [[general manager]] of the Giants, was so widely criticized for the move that he famously defended himself to the media by saying, "I am not an idiot."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/GM-Defends-Williams-Deal-Sabean-I-am-not-an-2959131.php |title=GM Defends Williams Deal / Sabean: 'I am not an idiot' |first=David |last=Bush |date=November 16, 1996 |work=San Francisco Chronicle}}</ref>

===San Francisco Giants (1997–2002)===
[[File:Jeff Kent, baseball player.jpg|thumb|Kent during his tenure with the Giants]]
Kent's career took off in San Francisco, starting in 1997. Immediately inserted in the line-up behind superstar [[Barry Bonds]], and with the confidence of manager [[Dusty Baker]], Kent finally rose to his full potential, hitting .250 with 29 home runs and 121 [[Run batted in|RBI]].<ref name="br01">[https://www.baseball-reference.com/k/kentje01.shtml Jeff Kent career stats] Baseball-Reference.com</ref> He was consistently among the top RBI hitters in the league over his next five seasons with the Giants, amassing 689 RBI over six years. He also won the 1998 [[Willie Mac Award]] for his spirit and leadership. Kent's contributions were recognized in 2000 (33 home runs, 125 RBI, .334 [[Batting average (baseball)|batting average]], and a .986 [[fielding percentage]])<ref name="br01"/> with the National League [[MLB Most Valuable Player award|MVP Award]], beating out teammate and perennial MVP candidate Barry Bonds. Despite the fact that Bonds overshadowed Kent in almost every offensive category, it was Kent's clutch hitting in RBI spots that won many games for the Giants that year, and ultimately won him the award. The Giants finished first in the NL West at 97–65, but lost to the Mets in the [[National League Division Series]] 3–1.<ref>[https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/SFG/2000.shtml 2000 SF Giants] Baseball-Reference.com</ref>

In 2002, Kent had another stellar year for a second baseman (37 home runs, 108 RBI, .313 batting average, and a .978 fielding percentage).<ref name="br01"/> The combination of Kent and MVP-winner Bonds propelled the Giants to a 95–66 record, good enough for the NL Wild Card. The Giants would beat the [[Atlanta Braves]] in the [[National League Division Series]] 3–2 and the [[St. Louis Cardinals]] in the [[National League Championship Series]] 4–1. In the World Series for the first time since 1989, the Giants would nearly clinch the championship (failing to hold a 5–0, 7th-inning lead) in the sixth game, before falling to the [[Anaheim Angels]] in seven games.<ref>[https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/SFG/2002.shtml 2002 SF Giants] Baseball-Reference.com</ref> Despite the team's success that season, Kent's relationship with the Giants had soured. The Giants front office had lost confidence in Kent after an incident during spring training left him with a broken wrist. Kent had initially claimed that he had broken his wrist after slipping and falling while washing his truck; ensuing media reports indicated that, in reality, Kent had crashed his motorcycle while performing [[wheelie]]s and other stunts, in direct violation of his contract.<ref>Schulman, Henry. [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2002/03/26/SP136870.DTL "Story should not have laugh track"], ''San Francisco Chronicle'', March 26, 2002, p. C1.</ref>

During his time with the San Francisco Giants, Kent was involved in a well-documented incident of racial hostility directed towards his teammate [[Tsuyoshi Shinjo]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Daily Shincho Editorial Team |date=2024-03-26 |title=「大谷翔平」違法賭博問題で思い出される「新庄剛志」の受けたヒドい仕打ち(Shohei Ohtani Illegal Gambling Issue Brings to Mind the Terrible Treatment Tsuyoshi Shinjo Endured ) |url=https://www.dailyshincho.jp/article/2024/03260551/?all=1&page=2 |access-date=2025-02-12 |website=デイリー新潮(Daily Shincho) |language=ja}}</ref> According to reports, Kent exhibited a "white supremacist" attitude, particularly in relation to minority players like Shinjo, who was Japanese. It was said that Kent and other white players ostracized players of color, including catcher [[Benito Santiago]] and Shinjo, whom they viewed as part of a group with Bonds. Shinjo himself faced direct hostility from Kent, who, upon encountering Japanese media during interviews, would often stop speaking and make derogatory comments such as, "I won’t talk because the Japanese media only wants to cover Shinjo," and "Leave now."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-11-22 |title=ビッグボス・新庄監督の意外な真実、メジャー時代の壮絶なイジメ、白人至上主義的な迫害（Big Boss Manager Shinjo's Surprising Truth: The Brutal Bullying and White Supremacist Discrimination During His Major League Days） |url=https://www.dailyshincho.jp/article/2021/11220600/?all=1&page=2 |access-date=2025-02-12 |website=デイリー新潮 (Daily Shincho) |language=ja}}</ref> These interactions reflected a broader atmosphere of tension and discrimination within the team during that period. This behavior reportedly led to strained relations between Kent and Shinjo, adding to the internal conflicts within the Giants' clubhouse at the time.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-11-22 |title=日本ハム新庄監督、陽キャの裏に隠されたメジャー時代の陰湿イジメ。究極プラス思考の原点とは？("Former Nippon Ham Fighters Manager Shinjo, the Hidden Dark Side of His Major League Days: The Ultimate Origin of His Positive Thinking?") |url=https://www.mag2.com/p/news/519363 |access-date=2025-02-12 |website=まぐまぐニュース！(Mag2News) |language=ja}}</ref>

In addition, growing tension that had been developing between Kent and Bonds for years finally boiled over: a midseason fight in the Giants dugout was widely reported in 2002 and caught on television.<ref>Schulman, Henry. [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2002/06/26/SP71883.DTL "Giants now battling each other"], ''San Francisco Chronicle'', June 26, 2002, p. C1.</ref> The feud between the two was so bad that, at the end of the season, San Francisco Chronicle beat reporter [[Ray Ratto]] said of the two, "The one who lives longer will attend the other's funeral, just to make sure he's dead."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ratto |first1=Ray |title=If nothing else, Giants' duo are great theater |url=https://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/If-nothing-else-Giants-duo-are-great-theater-2826236.php |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle}}</ref> The departure of manager Dusty Baker also factored into Kent's eventual decision to leave the Giants.

===Houston Astros (2003–2004)===
During the 2002 offseason, Kent signed a two-year, $19.9&nbsp;million deal with the [[Houston Astros]], citing his desire to be closer to his family's Texas ranch.
Kent turned one of the outs and collected an [[Assist (baseball)|assist]] during a [[triple play]] on August 19, [[2004 Houston Astros season|2004]], against [[2004 Philadelphia Phillies season|Philadelphia]], when [[Todd Pratt]] grounded out with the bases loaded in the fifth inning. Kent forced [[Marlon Byrd]] out at second base before throwing Pratt out at first base. It was Houston's first triple play turned in 13 years.<ref>{{cite news |last=Gelston |first=Dan |agency=Associated Press |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/games/2004-08-19-astros-phillies_x.htm |title=Astros assist fourth win in row with triple play vs. Phils |newspaper=USA Today |date=August 19, 2004 |access-date=April 9, 2016}}</ref>

From May 14 to June 11, he collected a hit in 25 straight games, which set a new franchise record; [[Willy Taveras]] topped his mark in 2006.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.astrosdaily.com/history/hitstreak.html | title=Houston Astros Hitting Streaks }}</ref> On October 2, 2004, he hit his 288th home run as a second baseman, surpassing [[Ryne Sandberg]] as the all-time home run leader at that position. In Game 5 of the [[2004 National League Championship Series]], Kent hit a three-run [[walk-off home run]] in the bottom of the ninth to break a scoreless tie and put Houston ahead of the [[2004 St. Louis Cardinals season|St. Louis Cardinals]] three games to two in the series. However, the Cardinals would win Games 6 and 7 in [[St. Louis]] to capture the pennant.

===Los Angeles Dodgers (2005–2008)===
[[File:Jeff Kent May 6, 2005 (6898945614).jpg|thumb|Kent at bat with the Dodgers in 2005]]
On December 14, 2004, he signed a $21&nbsp;million contract for three years with his hometown Los Angeles Dodgers. Kent started at second base for the [[National League (baseball)|National League]] in the [[2005 Major League Baseball All-Star Game]] at [[Comerica Park]], his fifth career All-Star selection and fourth career All-Star start. Kent became the first player in the history of the [[Dodgers–Giants rivalry]] to make and start the Midsummer Classic for both clubs. [[Joc Pederson]] has since joined this list. Kent had a good 2005 season, leading the Dodgers in batting average, [[on-base percentage]], [[Slugging percentage|slugging]], runs, [[Hit (baseball)|hits]], doubles, home runs and RBI (.289, .377, .512, 100, 160, 36, 29, and 105 respectively).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/LAD/2005.shtml |title=2005 Los Angeles Dodgers Batting, Pitching, & Fielding Statistics |website=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=September 16, 2012}}</ref> While missing games early on in the 2006 season because of an oblique injury, he came back late in the season and helped the Dodgers reach the postseason.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www2.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/players/Jeff_Kent/ |title=Maintenance Page |publisher=sportsnet.ca |access-date=September 16, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121121051203/http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/players/Jeff_Kent |archive-date=November 21, 2012 }}</ref> After the 2005 season, Kent signed an extension that would take him to the 2008 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=2388812 |title=Kent signs $11.5 million extension through 2007 – MLB – ESPN |publisher=[[ESPN]] |date=March 29, 2006 |access-date=September 16, 2012}}</ref> His last major league at-bat took place on October 15, 2008, in game five of the 2008 [[2008 National League Championship Series|NLCS]], in which he struck out looking against [[Cole Hamels]] to end the 7th inning.<ref>{{cite news |last=Rubin |first=Adam |agency=New York Daily News |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/phillies-beat-joe-torre-dodgers-5-1-advance-world-series-article-1.301910 |title=Phillies beat Joe Torre, Dodgers 5-1, advance to World Series |date=October 15, 2008 |access-date=August 9, 2023}}</ref> Following 2008, Kent announced his retirement from baseball on January 22, 2009.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20090122&content_id=3764032&vkey=pr_la&fext=.jsp&c_id=la |title=Second Baseman Jeff Kent retires after 17 major league seasons |access-date=January 22, 2009 |archive-date=March 7, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307232126/http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20090122&content_id=3764032&vkey=pr_la&fext=.jsp&c_id=la |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Career statistics===
In 2,298 games over 17 seasons, Kent posted a .290 [[batting average (baseball)|batting average]] (2461-for-8498) with 1320 [[run (baseball)|runs]], 560 [[double (baseball)|doubles]], 47 [[triple (baseball)|triples]], 377 [[home runs]], 1518 [[Run batted in|RBI]], 94 [[stolen bases]], 801 [[bases on balls]], .356 [[on-base percentage]] and .500 [[slugging percentage]]. He finished his career with a .978 [[fielding percentage]]. In 49 postseason games, he hit .276 (47-for-170) with 25 runs, 11 doubles, 9 home runs, 23 RBI and 13 walks.<ref name="br01" /> Kent hit 351 home runs as a second baseman, the most in MLB history in either league; he is one of only two second baseman to hit 300 home runs at the position of second base.<ref>[https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2690369-getting-robinson-cano-to-mlbs-all-time-2b-home-run-record Getting Robinson Cano to MLB's All-Time 2B Home Run Record]</ref>

==Post-playing career==
Kent and his wife Dana reside near [[Austin, Texas]], where they raise their four children, a daughter and three sons.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/2009-01-22-kent-announcement_N.htm |title=Jeff Kent gets emotional, retires from baseball after 17 seasons |date=January 23, 2009 |agency=The Associated Press |work=USA Today |access-date=March 1, 2015}}</ref> He also owns the {{convert|4000|acre|adj=on}} "Diamond K" cattle ranch near [[Tilden, Texas]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/GIANTS-CLUBHOUSE-Kent-Preparing-for-the-Future-2739554.php |title=GIANTS CLUBHOUSE / Kent Preparing for the Future |first=Henry |last=Schulman |date=September 12, 2000 |work=San Francisco Chronicle |access-date=March 1, 2015}}</ref> In 2008, Kent purchased the Lakecliff Country Club in [[Spicewood, Texas]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cybergolf.com/golf_news/two_austinarea_private_clubs_boast_top_layouts |title=Two Austin-area Private Clubs Boast Top Layouts |first=Steve |last=Habel |publisher=Cybergolf.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110921105021/http://www.cybergolf.com/golf_news/two_austinarea_private_clubs_boast_top_layouts |archive-date=September 21, 2011}}</ref> Kent also owns Kent Powersports, a chain of motorcycle and ATV dealerships.<ref name="cal-athletics"/>

Kent appeared as a contestant on the Summer 2009 television series [[The Superstars (2009 edition)|''Superstars'']], where he was teamed with actress [[Ali Landry]] in a series of sports competitions. They finished in fifth place in the competition.<ref>[https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/superstars/297211 TV Guide Superstars page]</ref> In 2012, Kent participated in ''[[Survivor: Philippines]]'', the 25th season of the American [[CBS]] competitive [[reality television]] series ''[[Survivor (American TV series)|Survivor]]''. He was the ninth contestant voted off, which placed him tenth and made him the second member of the jury, giving him a right to vote for the eventual winner at the Final Tribal Council.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://insidetv.ew.com/2012/08/20/survivor-philippines-cast-lisa-whelchel-jeff-kent/|title='Survivor: Philippines': 'Facts of Life' star Lisa Whelchel and baseball MVP Jeff Kent highlight new cast|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=August 20, 2012|access-date=August 20, 2012|last=Ross|first=Dalton}}</ref> When he was voted off, Kent claimed that the million dollar prize was "six hundred grand by the time [[Barack Obama|Obama]] takes it".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2012/11/08/former-giants-2b-jeff-kent-slams-president-obama-on-survivor/ |title=Former SF Giant Jeff Kent Slams Obama On 'Survivor' |publisher=CBS San Francisco |date=November 8, 2012}}</ref>

He has been an advocate for Major League Baseball using blood tests for [[HGH]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=3191880 |title=Kent says he advocates blood tests for players |publisher=ESPN |date=January 12, 2008 |access-date=February 21, 2011}}</ref> Since 2011, Kent has served as a spring training instructor for the San Francisco Giants.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/Jeff-Kent-joins-SF-Giants-as-spring-instructor-3243136.php |title=Jeff Kent joins SF Giants as spring instructor |first=Henry |last=Schulman |date=February 16, 2011 |work=San Francisco Chronicle |access-date=March 1, 2015}}</ref> He also coaches his sons' Little League teams, and in 2014 he became a volunteer assistant for [[Southwestern University]]'s baseball team.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.keyetv.com/sports/features/sports/stories/southwestern-baseball-kent-get-enough-868.shtml |title=Southwestern Baseball "Kent" Get Enough |date=February 6, 2014 |first=Adam |last=Winkler |publisher=KEYE-TV |access-date=March 1, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150320045612/http://keyetv.com/sports/features/sports/stories/southwestern-baseball-kent-get-enough-868.shtml |archive-date=March 20, 2015 }}</ref> In 2011, Kent donated $100,000 and raised awareness to help reinstate the [[California Golden Bears baseball|Cal baseball program]], which was being cut for cost-saving purposes.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.mercurynews.com/giants/ci_27606628/giants-great-kent-has-connection-third-base-prospect |title=Giants great Kent has connection with third-base prospect |first=Andrew |last=Baggarly |date=February 26, 2015 |access-date=March 1, 2015 |work=San Jose Mercury News}}</ref> In 2014, Kent announced the creation of the Jeff Kent Women Driven Scholarship Endowment to provide a full scholarship each year to one female student-athlete at UC Berkeley in perpetuity.<ref name="cal-athletics">{{cite press release |url=http://www.calbears.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=209669691 |title=Kent Announces Women Driven Scholarship Endowment |publisher=Cal Athletics |date=September 22, 2014 |access-date=March 1, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/Jeff-Kent-Cal-bring-light-to-dark-sports-5769828.php |title=Jeff Kent, Cal bring light to dark sports landscape |first=Al |last=Saracevic |date=September 20, 2014 |work=San Francisco Chronicle |access-date=March 1, 2015}}</ref>

In 2008, Kent donated to [[California Proposition 8|the campaign to ban same-sex marriage in California]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/10/los-angeles-dod.html|title = Jeff Kent opens his checkbook and takes a stand against gay marriage|date = October 29, 2008}}</ref>

===National Baseball Hall of Fame consideration===
Eligible for the [[National Baseball Hall of Fame]] for the first time in [[2014 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting|2014]], [[Baseball Writers' Association of America]] (BBWAA) voters gave Kent just 15.2% of their votes in his first year, well short of the 75% required for induction. Among 17 returnees to the ballot in 2015, Kent was one of only three who saw a decrease in support, dropping to 14.0%.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/hof_2015.shtml |title=2015 Hall of Fame Voting |website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> His support increased in subsequent elections, reaching 32.7% in [[2022 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting|2022]], his ninth appearance on the ballot. In 2023, his tenth and final appearance on the BBWAA ballot, he received 46.5%, falling short of the necessary threshold. Kent's underperformance relative to his offensive prowess has been attributed to poor defense, the tainted era he played in, and his reputation as a negative presence in the locker room.<ref>[http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/24387525/examining-jeff-kents-hall-of-fame-case Kent's HOF case] CBSSports.com, Retrieved 2013-12-26.</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Foolish Bailey |title=2023 Hall of Fame Ballot, a breakdown |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZ5Y9kUXh9c |website=YouTube |date=December 2022 |access-date=11 August 2023}}</ref>

==Personal life==

Kent and his wife, Dana, are members of [[the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]]. His daughter, Lauren, and his eldest son, Hunter, both attended [[Brigham Young University]] ([[BYU]]) in Provo, Utah. Lauren graduated from BYU in December 2017, and Hunter played on the practice squad for the Cougars, before taking leave to serve a two-year mission in [[Mexico]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.deseretnews.com/article/900021875/jeff-kents-son-colton-kent-finding-his-own-path-at-byu.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180705100720/https://www.deseretnews.com/article/900021875/jeff-kents-son-colton-kent-finding-his-own-path-at-byu.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 5, 2018|title=Jeff Kent's son Colton 'finding his own path' at BYU|website=[[Deseret News]]|date=June 16, 2018}}</ref>

Kent's son, Colton, played his prep baseball at [[Lake Travis High School]], in Austin, Texas. Colton signed to play college baseball at [[BYU]], but transferred to the [[College of Southern Idaho]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://athletics.csi.edu/roster.aspx?rp_id=1617|title=Colton Kent - Baseball}}</ref> (CSI) after a year at BYU.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://byucougars.com/athlete/baseball/1281494/Colton-Kent|title = Colton Kent profile - BSB}}</ref>

Kent's other son, Kaeden, currently plays baseball at Texas A&M University.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://12thman.com/sports/baseball/roster/kaeden-kent/11829|title = Kaeden Kent profile - TAMU}}</ref>

==Accomplishments==
[[File:Jeff Kent MVP 2000.jpg|thumb|right|upright=0.65|Jeff Kent MVP 2000 autographed baseball]]
*Five-time All-Star (1999–2001, 2004–05)<ref name="br01"/>
*Four-time Silver Slugger (2000–2002, 2005)<ref name="br01"/>
*National League MVP (2000)<ref>[https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_2000.shtml#NLmvp Baseball Awards Voting for 2000] ''Baseball-Reference.com''</ref>
*Finished 6th in National League MVP voting (2002)<ref>[https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_2002.shtml#NLmvp Baseball Awards Voting for 2002] ''Baseball-Reference.com''</ref>
*Finished 8th in National League MVP voting (1997)<ref>[https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1997.shtml#NLmvp Baseball Awards Voting for 1997] ''Baseball-Reference.com''</ref>
*Finished 9th in National League MVP voting (1998)<ref>[https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1998.shtml#NLmvp Baseball Awards Voting for 1998] ''Baseball-Reference.com''</ref>
*Finished Top-5 in RBIs (1997, 1998, 2000, 2002)
*All-time leader in home runs as a second baseman (377)<ref>{{cite web | last=Harrigan | first=Thomas | title=All time home run leaders at each position | website=MLB.com | date=2024-09-29 | url=https://www.mlb.com/news/all-time-home-run-leaders-at-each-position | access-date=2025-05-03}}</ref>
*Only second baseman to have 100 or more RBIs in six consecutive seasons (1997–2002)
*[[Hitting for the cycle|Hit for the cycle]] (1999)

==See also==
{{Portal|Biography|Baseball|Television|United States}}
*[[List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball career hits leaders]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball career doubles leaders]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball career runs scored leaders]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball career runs batted in leaders]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball career total bases leaders]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball players who hit for the cycle]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{baseballstats|mlb=116999|espn=2668|br=k/kentje01|fangraphs=1119|brm=kent--001jef}}, or [https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/K/Pkentj001.htm Retrosheet]

{{S-start}}
{{s-ach}}
{{Succession box| before = [[Vladimir Guerrero]]<br />[[Todd Helton]]<br />[[Todd Helton]] | title = [[Major League Baseball Player of the Month Award|National League Player of the Month]]| years = August 1998<br />June 2000<br />June 2002 | after = [[Mark McGwire]]<br />[[Sammy Sosa]]<br />[[Larry Walker]] }}
{{Succession box| before = [[Tony Eusebio]] | title = [[Houston Astros]] longest [[hitting streak]]| years = 2004—2006| after = [[Willy Taveras]] }}
{{Succession box| before = [[Neifi Pérez]] | title = [[Hitting for the cycle]]| years = May 3, 1999 | after = [[Todd Helton]] }}
{{S-end}}

{{MLB All Decade Team 2000s}}
{{NL 2B Silver Slugger Award}}
{{NL MVPs}}
{{San Francisco Giants Wall of Fame}}
{{Survivor contestants}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kent, Jeff}}
[[Category:1968 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American expatriate baseball players in Canada]]
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[[Category:University of California, Berkeley alumni]]
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[[Category:Edison High School (Huntington Beach, California) alumni]]