Jared Kelley Stats & Scouting Report

IP	44.1
ERA	4.26
WHIP	1.71
BB/9	6.09
SO/9	7.71

Full name Jared Matthew Kelley
Born 10/03/2001 in Victoria, TX
Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 230 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Refugio
Drafted in the 2nd round (47th overall) by the Chicago White Sox in 2020 (signed for $3,000,000).

View Draft Report

A man among boys in the high school class, Kelley is the most MLB-ready prep pitcher thanks to his current stuff and physicality. Standing 6-foot-3, 215 pounds, Kelley runs his fastball up into the 97-99 mph range with shocking ease. He looks like he’s playing catch on the mound with a loose, fluid delivery and little to no head whack in his finish. Perhaps in part because of the ease of his entire operation, Kelley locates his premium stuff in a way that’s beyond his years, with some scouts projecting him to have future plus command. The ease in which he does everything makes it look like his fastball explodes out of his hand, and he pairs that pitch with a low-80s plus changeup that he throws with good arm speed. The pitch is a swing-and-miss offering with excellent diving life and, like he does with his fastball, Kelley shows good feel to spot it where he wants in or out of the strike zone. The biggest question with Kelley entering the spring was in regard to his breaking ball. Over the summer he showed a slider in the low 80s, sometimes-slurvy slider. It was inconsistent and far from the wipeout projection that teams would like to see out of the top high school pitcher in the class. While Kelley didn’t get a full spring season, scouts still saw signs of improvement from his breaking ball and gave it a chance for it to become average or above-average. Kelley will battle the stigma and spotty track record that comes with being a hard-throwing high school righty, while also competing in one of the strongest college pitching classes in recent memory. Still, he does several things at an exceptionally high level that are impossible to teach, and has No. 2 starter upside. Kelley is committed to Texas.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme

Track Record: The White Sox went for power arms with their top two picks in the abbreviated 2020 draft, and signed Kelley with a well over-slot $3 million bonus in the second round. After spending his first White Sox summer at the alternate training site, Kelley struggled with shoulder fatigue and forearm tightness in 2021. He battled back with a decent showing in 2022, mostly at Low-A Kannapolis. With an additional three starts at Double-A Birmingham in September, Kelley finished with 76.2 innings and a combined 3.52 ERA.

Scouting Report: The two keys to Kelley's improvement, besides staying healthy, were using his two-seam fastball to get more ground balls, and getting back to more regular use of his plus changeup. His plus fastball averages 95 mph and touches 98. The pitch is at its best when he pitches down in the zone to both sides and then elevates late in the count to get swings-and-misses with his four-seam fastball. An 80-83 mph changeup is his bread-and-butter pitch, thrown with good arm speed and deception. He has a short-breaking slider in the 82-84 mph range that is fringey, but improved later in the season when he started throwing it harder. Kelley is still figuring out who he is as a pitcher. He needs to add more pitchability and repeat his delivery more consistently to improve below-average control.

The Future: Kelley will likely return to Birmingham to start in 2023. Conditioning his large body is another key factor that could determine if he's a starter or should switch to a reliever role.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Slider: 50. Changeup: 60. Control: 40
Track Record: Kelley was one of the top high school pitchers in the 2020 draft class, but the depth of pitching caused him to drop to the second round. The White Sox drafted him 47th overall and signed him for an above-slot $3 million bonus. Kelley pitched at the alternate training site and instructional league after signing and earned positive reviews, but he struggled in his pro debut at Low-A Kannapolis in 2021. Kelley battled shoulder fatigue and forearm tightness during the year and finished 0-7, 7.61 with 27 strikeouts and 26 walks in 23.2 innings.

Scouting Report: Kelley still flashes premium stuff with a fastball that touches 99 mph and a slider and changeup which each flash above-average. He generates his fastball velocity with little effort and gets late run on the pitch. His 85-88 mph slider with late tilt has more cut to it at higher velocities and more sweep and depth when he slows it down. His changeup is a bit firm at 85-87 mph, but he has a feel for it and its armside life tunnels well off his fastball. Kelley’s biggest hurdle is his conditioning, as he needs to get his big body leaner and more athletic. He generates power from his physical stature but needs to transfer that power more efficiently. Improvements to shoulder and core strength could pay dividends.

The Future: Kelley will spend much of his offseason in the weight room looking to add strength. External evaluators believe his ceiling is a hard-throwing reliever, but the White Sox internally still view him as a potential starter.
Fastball: 70. Slider: 50. Changeup: 60. Control: 50.

TRACK RECORD: Kelley surprisingly fell out of the first round in the 2020 draft after ranking as one of the top prep pitchers in the class. The White Sox quickly selected him in the second round, No. 47 overall, and signed him away from a Texas commitment for $3 million, nearly double slot value. Kelley reported to the team’s alternate training site after signing and finished the year in instructional league, where he was one of the top pitchers in Arizona.

SCOUTING REPORT: Kelley stands out for his strong, classic pitcher’s frame and the ease with which he pumps 95-97 mph fastballs. The White Sox worked with him on staying behind his fastball to help it maintain its axis and riding life through the zone. That makes it a potential plus-plus pitch. Kelley’s low-80s changeup is another potential plus offering that plays well off his fastball and keeps hitters of balance. His slider is a work in progress, with the White Sox emphasizing throwing it with intent in order to maintain mid-80s velocity. Kelley has a sturdy, durable build that should help him log innings and throw strikes, but he doesn’t have much room to get bigger.

THE FUTURE: Kelley is set to make his pro debut in 2021. If all goes well, he has a chance to become a mid-to-front-of-therotation starter.

Draft Prospects

A man among boys in the high school class, Kelley is the most MLB-ready prep pitcher thanks to his current stuff and physicality. Standing 6-foot-3, 215 pounds, Kelley runs his fastball up into the 97-99 mph range with shocking ease. He looks like he’s playing catch on the mound with a loose, fluid delivery and little to no head whack in his finish. Perhaps in part because of the ease of his entire operation, Kelley locates his premium stuff in a way that’s beyond his years, with some scouts projecting him to have future plus command. The ease in which he does everything makes it look like his fastball explodes out of his hand, and he pairs that pitch with a low-80s plus changeup that he throws with good arm speed. The pitch is a swing-and-miss offering with excellent diving life and, like he does with his fastball, Kelley shows good feel to spot it where he wants in or out of the strike zone. The biggest question with Kelley entering the spring was in regard to his breaking ball. Over the summer he showed a slider in the low 80s, sometimes-slurvy slider. It was inconsistent and far from the wipeout projection that teams would like to see out of the top high school pitcher in the class. While Kelley didn’t get a full spring season, scouts still saw signs of improvement from his breaking ball and gave it a chance for it to become average or above-average. Kelley will battle the stigma and spotty track record that comes with being a hard-throwing high school righty, while also competing in one of the strongest college pitching classes in recent memory. Still, he does several things at an exceptionally high level that are impossible to teach, and has No. 2 starter upside. Kelley is committed to Texas.

Scouting Reports

BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme

Track Record: The White Sox went for power arms with their top two picks in the abbreviated 2020 draft, and signed Kelley with a well over-slot $3 million bonus in the second round. After spending his first White Sox summer at the alternate training site, Kelley struggled with shoulder fatigue and forearm tightness in 2021. He battled back with a decent showing in 2022, mostly at Low-A Kannapolis. With an additional three starts at Double-A Birmingham in September, Kelley finished with 76.2 innings and a combined 3.52 ERA.

Scouting Report: The two keys to Kelley's improvement, besides staying healthy, were using his two-seam fastball to get more ground balls, and getting back to more regular use of his plus changeup. His plus fastball averages 95 mph and touches 98. The pitch is at its best when he pitches down in the zone to both sides and then elevates late in the count to get swings-and-misses with his four-seam fastball. An 80-83 mph changeup is his bread-and-butter pitch, thrown with good arm speed and deception. He has a short-breaking slider in the 82-84 mph range that is fringey, but improved later in the season when he started throwing it harder. Kelley is still figuring out who he is as a pitcher. He needs to add more pitchability and repeat his delivery more consistently to improve below-average control.

The Future: Kelley will likely return to Birmingham to start in 2023. Conditioning his large body is another key factor that could determine if he's a starter or should switch to a reliever role.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Slider: 50. Changeup: 60. Control: 40
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme

Track Record: The White Sox went for power arms with their top two picks in the abbreviated 2020 draft, and signed Kelley with a well over-slot $3 million bonus in the second round. After spending his first White Sox summer at the alternate training site, Kelley struggled with shoulder fatigue and forearm tightness in 2021. He battled back with a decent showing in 2022, mostly at Low-A Kannapolis. With an additional three starts at Double-A Birmingham in September, Kelley finished with 76.2 innings and a combined 3.52 ERA.

Scouting Report: The two keys to Kelley's improvement, besides staying healthy, were using his two-seam fastball to get more ground balls, and getting back to more regular use of his plus changeup. His plus fastball averages 95 mph and touches 98. The pitch is at its best when he pitches down in the zone to both sides and then elevates late in the count to get swings-and-misses with his four-seam fastball. An 80-83 mph changeup is his bread-and-butter pitch, thrown with good arm speed and deception. He has a short-breaking slider in the 82-84 mph range that is fringey, but improved later in the season when he started throwing it harder. Kelley is still figuring out who he is as a pitcher. He needs to add more pitchability and repeat his delivery more consistently to improve below-average control.

The Future: Kelley will likely return to Birmingham to start in 2023. Conditioning his large body is another key factor that could determine if he's a starter or should switch to a reliever role.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Slider: 50. Changeup: 60. Control: 40
BA Grade: 50/Extreme

Track Record: Kelley was one of the top high school pitchers in the 2020 draft class, but the depth of pitching caused him to drop to the second round. The White Sox drafted him 47th overall and signed him for an above-slot $3 million bonus. Kelley pitched at the alternate training site and instructional league after signing and earned positive reviews, but he struggled in his pro debut at Low-A Kannapolis in 2021. Kelley battled shoulder fatigue and forearm tightness during the year and finished 0-7, 7.61 with 27 strikeouts and 26 walks in 23.2 innings.

Scouting Report: Kelley still flashes premium stuff with a fastball that touches 99 mph and a slider and changeup which each flash above-average. He generates his fastball velocity with little effort and gets late run on the pitch. His 85-88 mph slider with late tilt has more cut to it at higher velocities and more sweep and depth when he slows it down. His changeup is a bit firm at 85-87 mph, but he has a feel for it and its armside life tunnels well off his fastball. Kelley&#39s biggest hurdle is his conditioning, as he needs to get his big body leaner and more athletic. He generates power from his physical stature but needs to transfer that power more efficiently. Improvements to shoulder and core strength could pay dividends.

The Future: Kelley will spend much of his offseason in the weight room looking to add strength. External evaluators believe his ceiling is a hard-throwing reliever, but the White Sox internally still view him as a potential starter.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 70. Slider: 55. Changeup: 55. Control: 30
Track Record: Kelley was one of the top high school pitchers in the 2020 draft class, but the depth of pitching caused him to drop to the second round. The White Sox drafted him 47th overall and signed him for an above-slot $3 million bonus. Kelley pitched at the alternate training site and instructional league after signing and earned positive reviews, but he struggled in his pro debut at Low-A Kannapolis in 2021. Kelley battled shoulder fatigue and forearm tightness during the year and finished 0-7, 7.61 with 27 strikeouts and 26 walks in 23.2 innings.

Scouting Report: Kelley still flashes premium stuff with a fastball that touches 99 mph and a slider and changeup which each flash above-average. He generates his fastball velocity with little effort and gets late run on the pitch. His 85-88 mph slider with late tilt has more cut to it at higher velocities and more sweep and depth when he slows it down. His changeup is a bit firm at 85-87 mph, but he has a feel for it and its armside life tunnels well off his fastball. Kelley’s biggest hurdle is his conditioning, as he needs to get his big body leaner and more athletic. He generates power from his physical stature but needs to transfer that power more efficiently. Improvements to shoulder and core strength could pay dividends.

The Future: Kelley will spend much of his offseason in the weight room looking to add strength. External evaluators believe his ceiling is a hard-throwing reliever, but the White Sox internally still view him as a potential starter.
Fastball: 70. Slider: 50. Changeup: 60. Control: 50.

TRACK RECORD: Kelley surprisingly fell out of the first round in the 2020 draft after ranking as one of the top prep pitchers in the class. The White Sox quickly selected him in the second round, No. 47 overall, and signed him away from a Texas commitment for $3 million, nearly double slot value. Kelley reported to the team's alternate training site after signing and finished the year in instructional league, where he was one of the top pitchers in Arizona.

SCOUTING REPORT: Kelley stands out for his strong, classic pitcher's frame and the ease with which he pumps 95-97 mph fastballs. The White Sox worked with him on staying behind his fastball to help it maintain its axis and riding life through the zone. That makes it a potential plus-plus pitch. Kelley's low-80s changeup is another potential plus offering that plays well off his fastball and keeps hitters of balance. His slider is a work in progress, with the White Sox emphasizing throwing it with intent in order to maintain mid-80s velocity. Kelley has a sturdy, durable build that should help him log innings and throw strikes, but he doesn't have much room to get bigger.

THE FUTURE: Kelley is set to make his pro debut in 2021. If all goes well, he has a chance to become a mid-to-front-of-therotation starter.
Fastball: 70. Slider: 50. Changeup: 60. Control: 50.

TRACK RECORD: Kelley surprisingly fell out of the first round in the 2020 draft after ranking as one of the top prep pitchers in the class. The White Sox quickly selected him in the second round, No. 47 overall, and signed him away from a Texas commitment for $3 million, nearly double slot value. Kelley reported to the team’s alternate training site after signing and finished the year in instructional league, where he was one of the top pitchers in Arizona.

SCOUTING REPORT: Kelley stands out for his strong, classic pitcher’s frame and the ease with which he pumps 95-97 mph fastballs. The White Sox worked with him on staying behind his fastball to help it maintain its axis and riding life through the zone. That makes it a potential plus-plus pitch. Kelley’s low-80s changeup is another potential plus offering that plays well off his fastball and keeps hitters of balance. His slider is a work in progress, with the White Sox emphasizing throwing it with intent in order to maintain mid-80s velocity. Kelley has a sturdy, durable build that should help him log innings and throw strikes, but he doesn’t have much room to get bigger.

THE FUTURE: Kelley is set to make his pro debut in 2021. If all goes well, he has a chance to become a mid-to-front-of-therotation starter.
Fastball: 70. Slider: 50. Changeup: 60. Control: 50.

TRACK RECORD: Kelley surprisingly fell out of the first round in the 2020 draft after ranking as one of the top prep pitchers in the class. The White Sox quickly selected him in the second round, No. 47 overall, and signed him away from a Texas commitment for $3 million, nearly double slot value. Kelley reported to the team’s alternate training site after signing and finished the year in instructional league, where he was one of the top pitchers in Arizona.

SCOUTING REPORT: Kelley stands out for his strong, classic pitcher’s frame and the ease with which he pumps 95-97 mph fastballs. The White Sox worked with him on staying behind his fastball to help it maintain its axis and riding life through the zone. That makes it a potential plus-plus pitch. Kelley’s low-80s changeup is another potential plus offering that plays well off his fastball and keeps hitters of balance. His slider is a work in progress, with the White Sox emphasizing throwing it with intent in order to maintain mid-80s velocity. Kelley has a sturdy, durable build that should help him log innings and throw strikes, but he doesn’t have much room to get bigger.

THE FUTURE: Kelley is set to make his pro debut in 2021. If all goes well, he has a chance to become a mid-to-front-of-therotation starter.