Casey Kelly
Encyclopedia
Casey Kelly is an American minor league baseball player in the San Diego Padres
organization. He was a first round draft choice, 30th overall, in the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft
by the Boston Red Sox
. The top minor league prospect in the Boston Red Sox
organization, he was acquired by the Padres after the 2010 season along with three other prospects in exchange for All-Star
player Adrian Gonzalez
.
at Sarasota High School
, and he was offered a scholarship to play football for the University of Tennessee
. He was also drafted in the first round, 30th overall, in the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft
by the Boston Red Sox
. He was drafted as a pitcher
, though he wanted to play shortstop
. Kelly chose baseball over football and signed with the Red Sox for a $3 million signing bonus, $700,000 more than the sixth player in the draft received.
Kelly played the first half of the 2009 season with Greenville and Salem as a pitcher. He was elected to the All-Star Futures Game
. He finished the second half of season as a shortstop. On December 8, 2009, Kelly announced his decision to continue his career as a full-time pitcher. He had hit .222 while striking out 27 percent of the time, while he had a 6–1 record with a 1.12 ERA pitching.
In 2010 mid-season minor league prospect rankings, Kelly was ranked #10 by ESPN
and #24 by Baseball America
.
, Reymond Fuentes, and Eric Patterson
to the San Diego Padres
for three-time All-Star first baseman Gonzalez. Kelly was considered the top prospect in the Red Sox organization. Entering the 2011 season, he was ranked 22 among the Top 50 Prospects by MLB.com
. The Padres invited Kelly as a non-roster player to their Major League camp for 2011 Spring Training. The top prospect in the Padres' Minor League system, Kelly opened the 2011 regular season in Double-A with the San Antonio Missions
.
, both played in the majors.
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
organization. He was a first round draft choice, 30th overall, in the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft
2008 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2008 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft continued Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft of high school and college baseball players, and was held on June 5 and 6, 2008.-First round selections:* Did not sign...
by the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
. The top minor league prospect in the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
organization, he was acquired by the Padres after the 2010 season along with three other prospects in exchange for All-Star
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
player Adrian Gonzalez
Adrián González
Adrian Gonzalez is an American professional baseball first baseman with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball.Gonzalez was the first overall pick in the 2000 Major League Baseball Draft by the Florida Marlins. He was traded to the Texas Rangers, and later to the San Diego Padres, where he...
.
Early baseball career
Kelly was a two-time regional player of the year as a quarterbackQuarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
at Sarasota High School
Sarasota High School
Sarasota High School is a public high school in Sarasota, Florida. The mascot is the Sailor.- History :Sarasota High School first opened in 1913. A new school was built in 1926 on South Tamiami Trail and the school was relocated...
, and he was offered a scholarship to play football for the University of Tennessee
Tennessee Volunteers football
The Tennessee Volunteers football team are an American college football team at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville . The NCAA Division I team is also a member of the Southeastern Conference ....
. He was also drafted in the first round, 30th overall, in the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft
2008 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2008 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft continued Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft of high school and college baseball players, and was held on June 5 and 6, 2008.-First round selections:* Did not sign...
by the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
. He was drafted as a pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
, though he wanted to play shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
. Kelly chose baseball over football and signed with the Red Sox for a $3 million signing bonus, $700,000 more than the sixth player in the draft received.
Kelly played the first half of the 2009 season with Greenville and Salem as a pitcher. He was elected to the All-Star Futures Game
All-Star Futures Game
The All-Star Futures Game is an annual baseball exhibition game between a team of top minor league prospects from the United States and a team of prospects from other parts of the World...
. He finished the second half of season as a shortstop. On December 8, 2009, Kelly announced his decision to continue his career as a full-time pitcher. He had hit .222 while striking out 27 percent of the time, while he had a 6–1 record with a 1.12 ERA pitching.
In 2010 mid-season minor league prospect rankings, Kelly was ranked #10 by ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
and #24 by Baseball America
Baseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
.
Trade to San Diego
On December 6, 2010, Kelly was traded along with Anthony RizzoAnthony Rizzo (baseball)
Anthony Rizzo is an American professional baseball first baseman for the San Diego Padres in Major League Baseball...
, Reymond Fuentes, and Eric Patterson
Eric Patterson
Eric Scott Patterson is an American professional baseball outfielder for the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball. He has also played second base in the majors, which he predominantly played in the minor leagues...
to the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
for three-time All-Star first baseman Gonzalez. Kelly was considered the top prospect in the Red Sox organization. Entering the 2011 season, he was ranked 22 among the Top 50 Prospects by MLB.com
MLB.com
MLB.com is the official site of Major League Baseball and is overseen by Major League Baseball Advanced Media, L.P. . MLB.com is a source of baseball-related information, including baseball news, statistics, and sports columns...
. The Padres invited Kelly as a non-roster player to their Major League camp for 2011 Spring Training. The top prospect in the Padres' Minor League system, Kelly opened the 2011 regular season in Double-A with the San Antonio Missions
San Antonio Missions
The San Antonio Missions are a minor league baseball team based in San Antonio, Texas. The team, which plays in the Texas League, is the Double-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres major-league club. The Missions play in Nelson W. Wolff Municipal Stadium, located in San Antonio...
.
Awards
- 2008 Louisville Slugger Pre-Season High School First Team All-American
- Mr. Baseball Florida 2008
- Florida 6A Player of the Year 2008
- Red Sox ML Pitcher of the Month (April 2009)
- Carolina League Player of the Week (June 1–7, 2009)
- South Atlantic League All-Star (2009)
- Futures Game All-Star (2009)
- Carolina League Player of the Week (June 22–28, 2009)
- 2009 Red Sox Minor League Pitcher of the Year
- 2010 Portland Sea Dogs Pitcher of the Year
Personal
Kelly's father, Pat, and uncle, MikeMike Kelly (outfielder)
Michael Raymond Kelly was an outfielder for the Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, and Colorado Rockies....
, both played in the majors.