Rank History
| Year | Team | Position | Team Rank | OFP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | MIL | LHP | 16 | 40 |
Grades Update: Jan 2021
| OFP | Role | FB | SL | CH | Cnt/Cmd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40 | 40 | 60 | 45 | 40 | 40/30 |
Jan 2021 Report
Evaluator: Justin Lada
Age: 21 yr
Height: 6-6
Weight: 205 lbs
Hits/Throws: L/L
Acquired: 2019 Round 2
RuleV: 2022
Physical Description: Tall, athletic build. Frame to add good weight and strength. Already has begun to fill some of that frame out. Long legs, high waist. Good wingspan.
Delivery & Mechanics: Works from third base side of the rubber. Balanced, mid section knee kick. Works front hip to stay back, showing back to the hitter. Gets into drive leg well. Long arm action. Strides closed and fires across his body from a 3/4 arm slot. Easy, smooth arm speed. Will use both a slide step and leg kick from the stretch. TIilts front hip up occasionally a little like Aroldis Chapman, which he used as a prep athlete but has opted more for a hip turn as a pro. Crossbody delivery makes it hard for him to repeat delivery and consistently get square. Gets good extension with long legs and stride.
Fastball: 90-95 t97. Ball jumps out of his hand. Closed stride sometimes cuts off his velocity. Features occasional arm side run. Extension and wingspan can help it play up. Average spin. Gets good angles and plane on the heater. Gets swing and misses in the zone. Below average command. Potential for triple digit velocity with added strength and consistent mechanics. Unsure how velocity will hold up over longer outings without seeing more than 60 pitches. Grade: 60
Slider: 83-84. Lacks consistent shape. Shows 2-9 break at times and acts more like a crude cutter at others. Below average command. Has the arm slot and delivery type to unlock an above average offering with more consistent shape. Grade: 45
Changeup: 85-88. Occasionally shows deep vertical break like a splitter. Will also show arm side run. Shows good arm speed to sell the pitch. Needs consistent shape. Grade: 40
Control and Command: Lacks present command of any of his three offerings. Can get away with missing with his velocity. Cross body delivery and inconsistent mechanics give him reliever command at best right now. Athleticism is there to improve on mechanics and consistency to lead to average command. Control: 40 | Command: 30
Overall: Kelly has excellent, easy arm speed and velocity. He has a projectable, athletic starters frame. The crossbody motion and mechanical inconsistencies have him tracking more as a reliever currently with his control. There's reasonable hope for triple-digit velocity with added strength to his frame and more consistent mechanics. He tracks more as a reliever due to having two below average pitches right now and needs to develop one of pair with his fastball to excel as a reliever. He'll need to improve to at least fringe average command and an average secondary to fill a relief role.
OFP: 40
Role: 40 - Low Leverage Reliever
Risk: Extreme
