Levi Kelly

Levi Kelly
Kelly with Kane County in 2019
Pitcher
Born: (1999-05-14) May 14, 1999 (age 25)
St. Albans, West Virginia
Bats: Right
Throws: Right

Levi Hunter Kelly (born May 14, 1999) is an American former professional baseball pitcher.

Amateur career

Kelly began his high school career at Nitro High School in Nitro, West Virginia.[1][2][3] As a freshman, he committed to play college baseball at Louisiana State University.[4][5] Following his freshman year, he transferred to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.[6] After his sophomore year at IMG, he transferred to Bishop Verot High School in Fort Myers, Florida. In 2017, as a junior, he went 7–1 with a 0.62 ERA and 98 strikeouts over 56 innings.[7] Following his junior year, he transferred back to IMG Academy for his senior season.[8]

Professional career

After his senior year, Kelly was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the eighth round of the 2018 Major League Baseball draft.[8][9][10]

Kelly signed with the Diamondbacks, and made his professional debut with the Arizona League Diamondbacks of the Rookie-league, pitching six scoreless innings. In 2019, Kelly spent the season with the Kane County Cougars of the Single-A Midwest League.[11][12] Over 22 starts, he pitched to a 5–1 record with a 2.15 ERA, striking out 126 over 100+1⁄3 innings.[13] Kelly did not play a minor league game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[14]

After recovering from a shoulder injury that forced him to miss the first month of the 2021 season, he was assigned to the Amarillo Sod Poodles of the Double-A Central.[15] In mid-August, after struggling to a 5.40 ERA over 25 innings pitched in relief, he was placed on the development list, where he finished the year.[16] He returned to Amarillo to begin the 2022 season, but pitched only one inning due to injury.[17] Kelly began the 2023 season with the High-A Hillsboro Hops, but struggled to an 11.05 ERA with two strikeouts in 7+1⁄3 innings pitched. He was released on May 4, 2023.[18]

References

  1. ^ Smock, Doug (6 May 2015). "Baseball: Precocious Nitro freshman Levi Kelly garnering attention". Charleston Gazette-Mail.
  2. ^ Stevens, Rich (13 April 2015). "Nitro's Levi Kelly dealing with fame, notoriety". Charleston Gazette-Mail.
  3. ^ Hurst, Nicholas (May 7, 2015). "Nitro Freshmen Levi Kelly A Star In The Making". WCHS.
  4. ^ "Nitro's prized freshman Kelly commits to LSU". WV MetroNews. May 12, 2015.
  5. ^ Times-Picayune, Brody Miller, NOLA com | The (5 June 2018). "MLB Draft 2018: LSU-signee Levi Kelly drafted by Arizona Diamondbacks in 8th round". NOLA.com.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ "Nitro's Kelly transfers to IMG Academy". WV MetroNews. August 10, 2015.
  7. ^ Martin, Alexander. "Where are they now? Southwest Florida's 2018 Major League Baseball Draft class". The News-Press.
  8. ^ a b "Former in-state product Levi Kelly to begin professional baseball journey". WV MetroNews. June 20, 2018.
  9. ^ Regan, Adam. "Diamondbacks, Braves draft Verot's Alexander brothers; Canterbury's DiGiacomo to the Pirates". The News-Press.
  10. ^ "10 intriguing names picked on Draft Day 2". MLB.com.
  11. ^ Piecoro, Nick (24 May 2019). "Levi Kelly Speeds Up His Timetable". www.baseballamerica.com.
  12. ^ Johnson, Paul (9 July 2019). "Levi wears it well: Kelly develops new pitch for Kane County Cougars called a 'splutter'". chicagotribune.com.
  13. ^ "Diamondbacks' Levi Kelly: Joins D-Backs for camp". CBSSports.com. 29 June 2020.
  14. ^ "2020 Minor League Baseball season canceled". Mlb.com. 2020-06-30. Retrieved 2021-08-27.
  15. ^ RotoWire Staff (25 May 2021). "Diamondbacks' Levi Kelly: Returns from shoulder injury". CBSSports.com. Retrieved 2021-08-27.
  16. ^ "D-backs Top Prospects". MLB.com.
  17. ^ "Amarillo Sod Poodles Opening Day Roster Revealed".
  18. ^ "Levi Kelly Stats, Fantasy & News".