Former Red Sox’ first-round pick in 2008 picks up first career MLB save
On Saturday, the Reds selected the contract of former Red Sox first-rounder Casey Kelly.
If you remember Kelly, he was once a top pitching prospect in the Sox’ system that was traded with Anthony Rizzo and two other minor leaguers to the Padres for first baseman Adrian Gonzalez on Dec. 6, 2010.
The 34-year-old was summoned into the game against the Pirates and tossed three perfect innings, earning a save in the Reds’ 10-2 victory.
Kelly came on to pitch in relief for rookie Julian Aguiar with a six-run lead. He retired all nine Pirates he faced, including striking out two. The hurler threw 38 pitches, 25 for strikes, with his fastball topping out at 92 mph.
“This has just all been a whirlwind of a month,” Kelly said to reporters after the game. “Just trying to soak it all in.”
Kelly joined the Reds organization after he was released by the LG Twins in the KBO in late July. The righty was sent to Triple-A Louisville to play for his dad, Pat Kelly.
The former Sox’ farmhand found out on Friday night he was being promoted back to the bigs when his father approached him in the outfield following a postgame fireworks display.
Kelly approached his son and asked what he was doing on Saturday. The younger Kelly told his father, “I’m starting for you tomorrow.”
At the moment, he learned he would get another chance to pitch in the major leagues.
“We kind of just stared at each other for a good couple seconds,” Kelly said. “And then he started to cry, and I started to cry.”
Kelly took a major league mound for the first time in 2,159 days; his last appearance came in 2018 when he was pitching for the Giants.
“Casey did his part for sure,” Cincinnati manager David Bell said. “The good vibes, the positive response—that's just who our team is. Casey fits right in.”
Kelly is hopeful to finish the season strong and hopes to keep his dream of pitching in the big leagues alive.
“I really feel like pitching-wise, it’s the best I’ve been, being able to throw everything where I want to,” he said. “And, obviously, you have those days where they’re not. But, you know, I’m confident in my skills now as a pitcher. Again, this league is so hard. It’s the best of the best. So we’ll just see what happens.”
