Bobby Kielty

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Minnesota Twins #16 prospect in 2002
  Like Jon McDonald, Kielty went to the Cape Cod League after not being drafted as a junior. He won the league's MVP award and was Baseball America's Summer Player of the Year in 1998, and suddenly commanded much more attention on the open market. Kielty signed for $500,000 and blitzed through the system to make his major league debut last summer. He doesn't profile as a prototypical everyday corner outfielder, but he offers versatile tools. Among them are the ability to drive the ball into the gaps from both sides of the plate with average power. Kielty's biggest asset is his discipline. He's also capable of playing all three outfield spots. A sore left elbow prevented Kielty from swinging from the left side early last season. He's the favorite to be Minnesota's Opening Day right fielder, though the position ultimately will belong to Michael Cuddyer.
• 
  Ranked Minnesota Twins #8 prospect in 2001
  Kielty commanded a $500,000 bonus as a nondrafted free agent in 1998 after bursting into prominence after the draft as the Cape Cod League player of the year. He missed six weeks in 1999 because of allergies that affected his vision. Laser eye surgery corrected the problem. Kielty is a solid hitter who has good gap power from both sides of the plate. He also has a good eye at the plate, leading the Eastern League in walks before finishing the year in Triple-A. Defensively, he gets the best jumps of any outfielder in the organization and has a playable arm. Kielty doesn't hit with consistent over-the-fence power, so the longer he can stay in center field the better. He struck out more than usual in the Arizona Fall League. At times, he gets too tough on himself. If Jacque Jones and Torii Hunter lay long-term claim to their outfield jobs in Minnesota, Kielty could run into a wall. But he has blossomed when least expected before, and he'll start 2001 a step away at new Triple-A affiliate Edmonton.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Eastern League #9 prospect in 2000
  Apparently, New Britain is relatively free of oak pollen, which caused an allergic reaction that cost Kielty much of his 1999 season at low Class A Quad City. Kielty's steady if unspectacular numbers this season were impressive. More impressive were his powerful frame and his aggressiveness from both sides of the plate. "He's really strong, so he gets away with a lot of stuff," Brown said. "He can get jammed but still has enough strength to muscle the ball into the outfield. I don't know if he's a true center fielder. He's probably a corner guy eventually." "He's a very raw player, but he's an old country, throwback kind of player who swings the bat from both sides and lets it fly," Varsho said. "He's a very good offensive player who they need to find a corner spot. He's a guy who came out of nowhere and surprised a lot of guys in this league."

• December, 1999 Scouting Report
  Apparently, New Britain is relatively free of oak pollen, which caused an allergic reaction that cost Kielty much of his 1999 season at low Class A Quad City. Kielty's steady if unspectacular numbers this season were impressive. More impressive were his powerful frame and his aggressiveness from both sides of the plate. "He's really strong, so he gets away with a lot of stuff," Brown said. "He can get jammed but still has enough strength to muscle the ball into the outfield. I don't know if he's a true center fielder. He's probably a corner guy eventually." "He's a very raw player, but he's an old country, throwback kind of player who swings the bat from both sides and lets it fly," Varsho said. "He's a very good offensive player who they need to find a corner spot. He's a guy who came out of nowhere and surprised a lot of guys in this league."