Casey Kelly to Salem

[Dojji]

Apparently the promotion was made official yesterday.

 

He deserved it on merit but I honestly thought he'd be held back because of a couple factors -- mostly because there's no real rush seeing how young Kelly is, and also because it makes the concept of Kelly playing shortstop again logistically difficult.

 

Of course, if Kelly's going to put up numbers like these, we may never WANT him to play SS again, but let's not get ahead of ourselves. Shortstop is clearly still in Kelly's plans at least, he does have some upside there, and he's still a fair ways from the majors as a pitcher with a lot that can still go wrong.

 

Still, nice to see good work rewarded.

[jacksonianmarch]

I was surprised they bypassed short season, but I see why. He's been very, very good. The question is, how deep do the sox let him go? Most guys in their 1st yr out of high school get cut off around 110IP.

[example1]

Didn't they say he was going to pitch 100 innings and then convert to a SS? If he is at Salem he may find hitting to be more difficult and decide that he has a better chance as a pitcher.

[Dojji]

I'm pretty sure we should let his talent decide which way he goes. He looks great as a pitcher now but don't prejudge against him as a shortstop just because he's a good pitcher.

[example1]

The story when he was drafted was that the Sox liked him as a SS, but were really excited about his potential as a pitcher. I would never sneeze at a potential MLB SS with power, speed, etc., and I don't expect the Sox to do so. At the same time, I think they love developing pitchers. It really seems to be what they're best at. Clay Buchholz was a JC pitcher who had only been throwing for a few years when he was drafted. Kelly's early success says that even if he doesn't like pitching as much, he's got some pretty elite talent (elite compared to, say, you and I).

[Looch Ness Monster]

I was kind of shocked to see how much he just dominated the class A hitters. I'll be interested to see how he does in Salem. I expect similar results though because I don't think the jump from A to A+ is considerable at all. I would say the jump from A+ to AA is though.

[Dojji]

On the other hand, being in Salem at the end if the year is clear "potential 2010 September callup" territory. Not bad for a 19YO

[jacksonianmarch]

On the other hand' date=' being in Salem at the end if the year is clear "potential 2010 September callup" territory. Not bad for a 19YO[/quote']

 

Not as a HS pitcher and not with the sox depth.

[Dojji]

I know that, I'm not saying he's going to be called up I'm saying he's "in range."

[example1]

I know that' date=' I'm not saying he's going to be called up I'm saying he's "in range."[/quote']

 

I wouldn't be shocked if he ended up with a timetable that resembles Bowden's if all continues to go well. That probably means being in the minors until long after he would have been called up on most other clubs. Plus, he'll be competing with guys like Tazawa, Hagadone (?), Stolmy, and this year's draft picks. Could be a long ride for him at SP.

 

At SS it could be a different story if he shows any offensive prowess.

[jacksonianmarch]

example, a lot of other clubs would not have him in high A right now. The sox are interesting in that they seem to bypass the lower levels and let their kids mature in AA and AAA for a few yrs. Cant mess with the results, though. Most teams go level to level with HS phenoms, unless you are Porcello in a system that lacks any sort of pitching depth that is.

[example1]

example' date=' a lot of other clubs would not have him in high A right now. The sox are interesting in that they seem to bypass the lower levels and let their kids mature in AA and AAA for a few yrs. Cant mess with the results, though. Most teams go level to level with HS phenoms, unless you are Porcello in a system that lacks any sort of pitching depth that is.[/quote']

 

Are you saying Bowden would be in AAA if he were on most other clubs? If you aren't then I don't think we disagree.

 

The Sox may or may not speed pitchers through the lower levels, but the fact is that they simply don't have space on their MLB roster for young guns to come up and get their bumps there--which is a good thing. If Bowden were on another club he would be in their rotation and may have been as of last year.

 

I compared he and Kelly because, despite Bowden's success, he was always playing above a level with his age and they pushed him to do so. I think they'll do the same thing with Kelly (assuming results like today's are abnormal for him).

[jacksonianmarch]

They didnt push Bowden as much as say Buchholz. But I do think most teams would have had Bowden start in AAA this yr. He was an 05 draftee. For comparison purpose, Zach McCallister was a 2006 draftee and he is in AA for us. So I dont think that is too much of a change. But what the sox did with Buchholz was interesting in having him skip through A+ ball after only 3 starts.

[james22]

they should trade kelly ina package for mark texera

[Looch Ness Monster]

Casey Kelly yesterday with a one hitter in 6 IP but he gets the no decision because the Salem Red Sox are pathetic offensively and could only get one hit themselves. The bullpen blew it and walked 4 straight batters in extra innings.

 

But I really think Kelly is a top 25 prospect in baseball at this point. His final start of the year could come at AA Portland at 19 years old. (He's at a 100 IP threshold and is at about 90 something now including his spring training IP) He hasn't been challenged whatsoever yet. And he has three plus pitches. His fastball which (like I said at 19 years old) is around 92 MPH..his changeup which is about 84 MPH with a lot of sink and a deadly curveball at about 77 MPH. And he has gold glove abilities on the mound as he is an absolute athletic freak. He was signed on for a full scholarship to play Quarterback Tennessee but opted to play for the Red Sox instead. He also plays Shortstop at a Major League level. So that's where the athletic ability comes from.

 

Updated stats after yesterday's start...(almost a joke they're so amazing)..

 

A (Greenville) and A+ (Salem) totals:

77.0 IP, 7-3, 1.64 ERA, 0.831 WHIP, 63 K:12 BB, .187 opponents BA

 

Gotta love the High School kid outperforming the college kids.

[Rdsxmbnt]

Have we seen the last of Kelly's pitching this year?

 

He put on a great final show if it is:

7.0 IP, 1 hit, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K

[Looch Ness Monster]

Totals: 84.0 IP, 7-3, 1.50 ERA, 0.774 WHIP, 67 strikeouts, 12 BB, 2 HR

A - 48.1 IP, 6-1, 1.12 ERA, 0.852 WHIP, 39 strikeouts, 9 BB, 0 HR

A+ - 35.2 IP, 1-2, 2.04 ERA, 0.681 WHIP, 28 strikeouts, 3 BB, 2 HR

 

I'm not sure if we've seen the last of Kelly's pitching this year. I say they give him one more start at Portland. What could it hurt? They can't touch him at A and A+.

[Dutchy]

Have we seen the last of Kelly's pitching this year?

 

He put on a great final show if it is:

7.0 IP, 1 hit, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K

 

Why would it be his final start? The Red Sox said they'd let him pitch for 100 innings, then have him play the rest of the year as a shortstop. He's only up to 77 innings on the year.

[Looch Ness Monster]

Why would it be his final start? The Red Sox said they'd let him pitch for 100 innings' date=' then have him play the rest of the year as a shortstop. He's only up to 77 innings on the year.[/quote']

 

He's at 84 after tonight and the SP-SS innings limit includes spring training where he pitched close to 20.

[Dutchy]

He's at 84 after tonight and the SP-SS innings limit includes spring training where he pitched close to 20.

 

Does it really include spring training? I've never heard of that, but I guess it's different for high school pitchers.

[Cocos Disciples]

He's about half way through the season, so he's gotta be close to moving to SS. I would imagine they're making a decision between the two positions after this season, correct?

 

Also, Kelly is the Sox representative for the AS weekend Future's Game.

[Dutchy]

He's about half way through the season, so he's gotta be close to moving to SS. I would imagine they're making a decision between the two positions after this season, correct?

 

Also, Kelly is the Sox representative for the AS weekend Future's Game.

 

It sounds like he really wants to play shortstop and the Red Sox want to try him out as a pitcher. I think he's more of a raw talent as a batter, but at 6'3'', 200 lbs. he has some serious power. He slugged .563 last year in Lowell after being called up. As a pitcher, he seems a little more polished. I've heard a lot about how smooth and repeatable his delivery is and how good his curve is for a high school guy.

[Looch Ness Monster]

He's about half way through the season, so he's gotta be close to moving to SS. I would imagine they're making a decision between the two positions after this season, correct?

 

Also, Kelly is the Sox representative for the AS weekend Future's Game.

 

They'll definitely be making a decision after this season. Kelly's future would probably be more important to the team as a pitcher though. He's probably 4-5 years away as a position player, while he's probably 2 1/2 years away as a pitcher. That's what I think is going to make the decision easier no matter how he does next year as a shortstop.

 

But the thing about Kelly that makes him great as a pitcher is his ability to field his position. He's made some incredible diving plays that most pitchers wouldn't be able to make. His athletic ability as a former Tennessee-committed Quarterback and a Shortstop definitely help that

[Dojji]

I have to admit, I love what Kelly could be as a SS but at this point, the man is a starting pitcher. He's light-years better than I thought he'd be on the mound and there's no way he changes people's minds about him as a SS unless he just gets ridiculous there and hits 15 Hr's between now and the end of the season. Nedless to say, I don't see that happening..

 

As things stand right now he's on pace to be a candidate for a big league call up by September of 2010 as a pitcher, it might be 2 more seasons before he tastes the majors as an SS if he even sticks there and can hit. Just leave the guy on the mound. If you're worried about his innings limit, send him to the pen until the end of the year.

[Looch Ness Monster]

Red Sox prospect Casey Kelly, who is amidst a unique season in which he will pitch into July before moving to shortstop for the second half of the year, had his transition delayed slightly by his excellence on the mound. The Sox' 2009 first-round pick was named to the All-Star Futures Game -- to be played in St. Louis on July 12 -- as a pitcher. In order to ensure that he remains on a regular throwing schedule through that exhibition game, Kelly -- who was scheduled to finish his season as a pitcher around the first week of July -- will continue pitching through the Futures Game.

 

"Basically, [the Futures Game] is going to delay his shortstop play by about a week," said Sox farm director Mike Hazen. "We didn’t feel like it was safe enough to do it the other way."

 

Following the Futures Game, Kelly (who has been taking batting practice during the month of June) will report to Fort Myers in the Rookie Level Gulf Coast League, where he will play for about a week while the Sox figure out where to assign him as a position player.

 

Kelly has gone 1-2 with a 2.02 ERA since earning a promotion to Salem of the High-A Carolina League on the strength of his excellence (6-1, 1.12) for Single-A Greenville of the South Atlantic League. The 19-year-old has allowed one or no hits in three of his six starts since going to Salem. In his most recent outing on Sunday, Kelly retired the first 19 batters he faced before an error and then a single broke up the perfect game.

 

Sox prospect Kelly's switch to shortstop delayed

 

Good to hear. I want him to continue pitching. His next scheduled start is Thursday. I'd like to see him continue to dominate and get one final look with AA Portland before he heads off to the Futures Game and faces hitters at that level and beyond.

[Soxfan1]

BoSox pitching prospect gets shot at shortstop

 

By Jeff Passan, Yahoo! Sports

 

ST. LOUIS – Casey Kelly threw his last pitch of the season Sunday night. He is one of the best pitching prospects in baseball, and he is perfectly healthy, so if none of this makes sense, understand that little about Kelly’s young career does.

 

The Boston Red Sox are undertaking a grand experiment in their handling of Kelly, one that could change how teams guide young players who show exceptional talent as a pitcher and everyday player. Kelly is a shortstop, too, a potentially dynamic one, and given his druthers, he’d play there full-time.

 

And when Boston chose him with the 30th overall selection in the 2008 draft, Kelly said he would turn down a scholarship to play quarterback at the University of Tennessee and sign with the Red Sox under one condition: He gets to play shortstop, even though the Red Sox – and almost every other team – viewed him as a potential top-of-the-rotation pitcher. So Boston offered a compromise: play shortstop in 2008, then pitch the first half of 2009 before returning to shortstop in the second half.

ADVERTISEMENT

 

The novelty appealed to Kelly. If he couldn’t be the next Babe Ruth, two-way phenomenon, he’d settle for a modern-day facsimile. Then he went out and put up a 2.08 earned-run average over 95 innings at two levels of Class A, and thus the reality that the Red Sox are shutting down perhaps the best arm in a system loaded with good ones.

 

“I mean, I’ve had a lot of success pitching,” Kelly said before the All-Star Futures Game, where he pitched a scoreless sixth inning for the U.S. in a 7-5 loss to the World team. “It’s kind of crazy. I want to play shortstop, but should I?”

 

For Kelly, that’s a familiar question: Should he? Should he go to Tennessee and possibly quarterback the Volunteers in front of 100,000 fans at Neyland Stadium, or should he follow the lead of his father, former major league catcher Pat Kelly, and join an organization that churns out homegrown players like widgets? Should he go for immediate glory or immediate money?

 

Head and heart both said baseball, and the Red Sox handed him a $3 million bonus, spread over five years because he’s a two-sport athlete. This time, they’re in conflict. His heart is at shortstop. He loathes time between starts. Charting pitches bores him. He wants action. His head knows that a nearly 5-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio could get him to the major leagues by his 20th birthday.

 

“Nineteen-year-olds just don’t do this,” Red Sox farm director Mike Hazen said. “He’s certainly surpassed our expectations. Our scouting staff had him nailed as a pitcher. They were raving about him.”

 

Because of the plan, the Red Sox deviated from their usual innings limits with Kelly. They stretched him to six and seven innings per start, first at low Class A Greenville (where he dominated with a 1.12 ERA) and then at high A Salem (where he has a 3.09 ERA – which drops to below 2.00 if you subtract his one poor start).

 

In his second start at Salem, Kelly threw six perfect innings. It wasn’t just the domination or six strikeouts that impressed the Red Sox. Kelly needed only 60 pitches to seat 18 hitters, the kind of performance that left observers wondering: This kid wants to be a shortstop?

 

“I don’t think he was surprised by his success,” Pat said. “He was surprised by everyone’s reaction to it. His brother [Chris, a minor league pitcher] would text him and say, ‘It’s not that easy.’ Casey would text him back and say, ‘Yes it is. I don’t understand why it’s so hard for everyone else.’ “

 

Such ease complicates Kelly’s decision. He wants to play for the Red Sox. If his right arm takes him there, he wouldn’t dare deny it. Though he’d always wonder if an extra year or two hitting might have helped grow him into a top-flight shortstop.

 

“Nineteen years old, and I’m trying to predict what I’m going to do for the rest of my life,” Kelly said. “The decision’s going to be made for me by the performance. It’ll stand out which is the best. With the football-baseball thing, it was the same thing. And there’s no wrong choice.”

 

Kelly’s father, now managing a Gulf Coast League affiliate for Cincinnati, says, unequivocally, “He’s a better position player than a pitcher.” Scouts are almost universal in their disagreement. They love his athleticism at 6-foot-3, 194 pounds, and his glove, and his makeup and attitude. They just wonder about his bat. In 98 rookie-ball at-bats last season, Kelly struck out 34 times. Then he thrived in a promotion to short-season Lowell, piping another layer of ambiguity atop many others.

 

“There’s so much value in both positions,” Hazen said. “A [No.] 1 or 2 starter or an everyday shortstop – how can you decide? I don’t think anyone presupposes having answers here. When we sat down to map it out, we said we’d take it year to year, and this offseason I think we’re going to have a few meetings.”

 

Should Kelly thrive, the meetings could grow contentious. Baseball hasn’t seen a true two-way player since Brooks Kieschnick was a relief pitcher/pinch hitter for Milwaukee five years ago. Others tried. Pittsburgh’s John Van Benschoten(notes) experiment ended miserably. Dave Stieb played outfield every day and started every fifth in the minor leagues before staying a pitcher for good. Ken Brett did a little hitting in 1974, Willie Smith a little pitching a decade earlier and Ruth, of course, was downright dominant until the Yankees made him a full-time hitter and watched him crank 54 home runs in his first season with no pitching duties.

 

Kelly looks at the first half like a football season. He played about once a week. He asked the Red Sox, jokingly, whether he could pinch hit in an extra-innings game. (No.) He took batting practice twice a week.

 

“And it’s gone surprisingly good,” Kelly said. “I haven’t missed a beat.”

 

So he’s off to the Red Sox’s spring training complex in Florida for a week to take hundreds of ground balls and swings before shipping back out. He might go to Lowell. He might go to Greenville. Doesn’t really matter.

 

The experiment is about to get even more interesting.

 

This article caught my interest. At this point, isn't pitching likely better for the kid?

[jacksonianmarch]

He's 19 in a system that has Beckett, Lester, and DiceK at least through 2010 with Buchholz, Bowden, and Masterson ahead of him. They can afford to slow up his pitching development to appease the kid. And if he comes out of the box on fire, then, they might have something. That being said, I would assume the sox worst nightmare would be when he turns doubleplays.

[Looch Ness Monster]

This article caught my interest. At this point' date=' isn't pitching likely better for the kid?[/quote']

 

Who knows? In a small sample size last year at Lowell he was hitting over .300. He could end up being just as good of a shortstop as a starting pitcher. Maybe it wouldn't be too bad to have a top tier shortstop in the system. Starting pitching is our strength, if the kid bats over .300 and plays gold glove defense at SS (which is about what he'd have to do to abandon pitching, with how good he is)..we have practically zero offense in our farm system.

[BoSox21]

just noticed that Kelly is now SoxProspects.com's #1 ranked prospect in the syster

[SchillingIsTheNatural]

Trade him and 2-3 more top prospects for Roy Halladay