Zack Kelly - Right-handed pitcher
2021 highest level: Worcester
The 26-year-old Kelly was signed as a minor league free agent in January of 2021 and had a very impressive showing across Portland and Worcester. In 45.1 innings, Kelly struck out 69, walked only 18 and allowed 31 hits. He had a 2.18 ERA and 1.081 WHIP overall and allowed only two home runs all year. Kelly has a very heavy fastball in the mid-90s and a pair of averageish secondaries. His has shown the ability to limit hard contact and miss bats, but was also repeating Double-A at the start of the year. The Red Sox did re-sign him early this off-season, which seems to indicate how they value him, and as a result they could look to protect him to ensure he is in the organization next year.
This last sentence may give a clue as to what they will do with Kelly. He was a MiLB FA this offseason. They could have waited until after Friday's deadline to re-sign him which would have avoided putting him through the Rule 5 process.