Former Astros Prospect & Youth Baseball Coach Jon Kenner Died In Car Crash At 35

Former Houston Astros prospect Jon Kenner has died in a car accident at age 35.

After his playing career, he became a coach for the 14U HTX Battle Bucks in the Houston area. He was driving home from a practice when his car veered off the road. His car hit a utility pole and flipped over. The Galveston County Medical Examiner’s Office said he died upon impact. His former team made a statement about his death.

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“We are deeply saddened to hear of the tragic passing of Jon Kenner over the weekend,” the Astros said. “Jon was drafted by the Astros in 2013 and developed into one of the organization’s most productive players, advancing to the Triple-A level and also appearing in several spring training games. Our thoughts and prayers are with Jon’s family and friends during this very difficult time.”

He played seven seasons in the minor leagues with the Astros, Minnesota Twins and Los Angeles Dodgers. He also played a year in the Mexican baseball league. He retired from professional baseball in 2021.

The Battle Bucks had their last game before Kenner’s death on April 12. They played two games in the 2026 14U PGBA Triple Play Classic. They were supposed to play three games, but the final game got rained out. The Battle Bucks currently have a record of 9-9.

The Battle Bucks play in the Perfect Game league in Texas. This league has produced 17 MLB players, 378 draft picks and over 10,000 college players.  Atlanta Braves pitcher AJ Smith-Shawver was the first to make his debut in 2023. Pittsburgh Pirates top prospect Konnor Griffin also played in the Perfect Game League.