Jeff Kent: Mormon Athlete

Jeffrey Franklin Kent is a former Major League Baseball player. He was the 2000 National League Most Valuable Player. He continues as the MLB all-time record holder for most home runs by a second baseman.

Kent was drafted in the 20th round of the 1989 amateur draft by the Toronto Blue Jays. He also played in the majors for the New York Mets, the San Francisco Giants, the Cleveland Indians, and the Houston Astros. He was playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers when he retired in 2008. He is a five-time All-Star and four-time recipient of the Silver Slugger Award.

Kent was born on March 7, 1968, in Bellflower, California. He grew up in Huntington Beach and attended the University of California at Berkeley where he played ball from 1987 to 1989. In September 2014, he donated $531,000 to UC Berkeley for the creation of a scholarship for female student athletes. His donation created the Jeff Kent Women Driven Scholarship Endowment, which will award one female student athlete a full scholarship.

In 2012, Kent appeared on the reality television show “Survivor: Philippines.” He was the ninth contestant to be voted off.

Kent joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1989. He and his wife, Dana, have four children and live on a ranch near Austin, Texas. He has several businesses in the Austin area, including motorcycle dealerships called Kent Power Sports.