Joe Kelly –
UC Riverside… 6-1, 178… junior… R/R…
closer… 9 saves for season, 5.33 ERA… 29 hits 25.1 IP, 18Ks… coming on in May…FB sits at 96, touches 99… average 81-85 slider…
5/15 Sickles mock: 44. Texas - Joe Kelly, RHP, UC Riverside - Texas has a history with relievers in the later rounds of the draft, but I don't think they'll pass up on a big arm like Kelly's. His fastball is as good as anyone's, and he's batting Billy Bullock for second-best relief prospect. Previously: #46…
5-28 from MLBBonusBaby: - Kelly’s still got the best arm strength of the pure college relievers, and I think he’ll be part of a run on relievers in the supplemental first to second round.
Fr. PGCrossChecker: Kelly looked like a future star as a slender 6-1, 160 lb freshman in 2007 when he went 3-1, 1.32, 6 SV’s in 22 games and was selected to pitch for Team USA during the summer. That was the same year that Riverside went 38-21 and gained an NCAA Regional Berth. But a shoulder injury that kept Kelly from pitching until late March destroyed his sophomore season and his lack of success in 2008 paralleled his teammates: 2-1, 9.35, 6 SV’s and only 8 K’s in 17 innings vs 24 hits. Although he has only appeared in 5 games and 9.1 innings thus far in 2009, as Riverside hasn’t needed him in numerous one sided games, Kelly has strongly reaffirmed his prospect status. Scouts in Southern California say that Kelly is a solid first round selection at this point and there has even been talk of him in the first 10 picks. Kelly’s fastball has sat steadily in the 94-96 mph range every outing according to one scout and has hit 99 mph frequently. Kelly’s best secondary pitch is a change up and he also throws a power curveball.
Scout.com: The relief staff for Riverside is led by JR Joe Kelly (RHP, 5 apps, 1-0, 1.93 ERA, 3 saves, 9 IP, 8 H, 1 BB, 10 K, .222 BA, 2 HR) who was first team all Big West in 2007 (3-1, 1.32 ERA, 6 saves, 27 IP) before struggling with injuries last season (2008 – 2-1, 9.35 ERA, 6 saves, 17 IP). Kelly throws hard, with a fastball that sits in the 95 to 97 range, and also throws a slider and changeup. He is projected by Baseball America to be the first Big West player drafted in June and is rated as the #34 college prospect and #72 overall. Kelly has allowed 3 R’s (1 ER) on 4 H’s in 2 1/3 IP in 2 apps against Fullerton.
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