The Kansas State Wildcats may have a legitimate national star on their hands, and his name is Dee Kennedy.
A new graphic circulating from 64Analytics on X is putting Kennedy squarely in the national spotlight. The data visualization compares every Division I player’s on-base percentage against runs per plate appearance, two metrics that, when paired, offer a strong indicator of overall offensive impact.
And Kennedy? He’s not just showing up; he’s thriving at the very top.
Positioned in the upper-right quadrant of the graph, Kennedy finds himself in elite territory, surrounded by only a handful of the most productive hitters in college baseball. In fact, he’s one of just five players highlighted by name and photo in the graphic, underscoring just how rare his production has been this season.
Players in that range aren’t just good, they’re driving winning at a national level. High on-base percentage combined with elite run production suggests Kennedy is consistently turning opportunities into scoring outcomes, whether that’s crossing the plate himself or creating chaos for opposing defenses.
For Kansas State, that production has been invaluable.
In a competitive Big 12 baseball landscape, having a hitter who can anchor the lineup and deliver at that level changes the ceiling of a team. Kennedy’s consistency and efficiency at the plate have made him one of the most dangerous offensive weapons in the conference, and now, increasingly, in the country.
Which brings up the bigger question: Does Dee Kennedy have a legitimate case for National Player of the Year?
Based on the numbers alone, the answer is trending toward yes.
While awards like that often factor in team success, national exposure, and late-season momentum, Kennedy checks a critical box: elite, measurable production that stacks up with anyone in Division I baseball. Being visually isolated among the best in the country on a metric-driven graph only strengthens that argument.
Of course, there’s still plenty of season left. Sustaining this level of performance, and pairing it with team success, will ultimately determine how serious that Player of the Year conversation becomes.
But one thing is already clear: Dee Kennedy is no longer just a name to know in the Big 12.
He’s become a national force.
