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Joe Kelly (Photo: USA Baseball)
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Biographical Data |
| Player Name: | Joe Kelly |
| Position: | Relief
Pitcher |
| School: | UC Riverside |
| School Type: | College |
| Academic Class: | Junior |
| Birthdate: | 6/9/88 |
| Height: | 6'1" |
| Weight: | 178 lbs. |
| Bats: | Right |
| Throws: | Right |
| Report Date(s): | 4/28/09 |
| Game(s): | San Diego |
Focus
Area |
Comments |
| Fastball: | Kelly can crank it up to 99 mph and
sits regularly at 96 mph. |
| Fastball movement: | Has filthy arm-side life when
he stays on line, but hitters tend to track it well because of a big arm arc. |
| Slider: | An average pitch that he throws 81-85
mph. He can throw it for strikes with a late 3/4 break when he's on top |
| Changeup: | It's rare for a closer to have one,
but it's an average offering for him, thrown 80-83 mph. It has a late drop that looks kind of like a
splitter. |
| Control: | His command is below average. He's a
thrower more than a pitcher. |
| Poise: | Competes well, but has a tendency to
answer every situation by throwing too hard. |
| Physical Description: | Kelly is rail thin, with
gangly arms and legs that make him look taller than he is. |
| Medical Update: | Had a turned ankle, but is
basically healthy. |
| Strengths: | Has the plus stuff you'd look for in
a power-armed Major League closer. |
| Weaknesses: | For a guy with that kind of stuff,
he gets hit way too much. His command is inconsistent and the torque on his delivery could take a toll. |
| Summary: | Anytime a college closer can throw 99
mph consistently, with movement, there's going to be interest. Throw in the fact that Kelly has a nasty slider and a pretty
good changeup and there'd be reason for scouts to be excited. But Kelly has been far too hittable for a guy with
that kind of stuff. He doesn't have great command, and a long arm arc allows hitters to track the ball too well.
Right now, he's more of a thrower than a pitcher. That said, it's hard to imagine his power arm staying on the board
very long in June. |
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