Kenny Kelly
| AB | 14 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .286 |
| OBP | .333 |
| SLG | .357 |
| HR | 0 |
- Full name Kenneth Alphonso Kelly
- Born 01/26/1979 in Plant City, FL
- Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 190 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Miami (FL)
- Debut 09/07/2000
- Drafted in the 2nd round (82nd overall) by the Tampa Bay Rays in 1997.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Before Ken Dorsey made his near-flawless three-year run as the University of Miami's quarterback, Kelly took snaps for the Hurricanes. He gave up football in February 2000 to sign a four-year major league contract worth $2.2 million with the Devil Rays, who had signed him as a second-round pick three years earlier and let him play two sports. When Kelly was mediocre in his first year of focusing on baseball, Tampa Bay got out of the remaining three years of his contract by selling him to Seattle for $350,000 in April 2001. Kelly finally seemed to have turned the corner late that season, finishing strong in Double-A and starring in the Arizona Fall League. But he regressed in 2002, and if he doesn't make a strong rebound this season it may be time to write him off. His athleticism is unquestioned. Kelly has tremendous speed, pop in his bat and a decent arm. But he hasn't shown the ability to control the strike zone or make adjustments, nor the instincts to steal bases. He tends to dwell on bad at-bats, and he has plenty of them. It's time for him to turn his tools into skills. Kelly will be out of options after 2003, which he'll begin in Triple-A. -
The Devil Rays' financial difficulties were the Mariners' gain last April. Ken Dorsey's predecessor as the University of Miami's starting quarterback, Kelly gave up football to sign a fouryear major league contract worth $2.2 million in February 2000. He followed with a mediocre season in Double-A, and last spring Tampa Bay was looking for ways to save money. The Rays sold Kelly to Seattle for $350,000 and saved another $1.25 million by shedding his contract. He continued to struggle in Double-A, hitting just .223 through July. Then he finished with a flourish, batting .298-7-27 over the final two months and earning all-prospect honors in the Arizona Fall League, where he hit .351-7-21. The Mariners think Kelly's improvement is for real, that all he needed was time to get acclimated to baseball and some subtle adjustments to his swing. He has all the raw tools, including power that has begun to show, exciting speed and a strong arm. He's yet another quality center fielder in an organization loaded with them. Kelly still needs some time in Triple-A to hone his strike-zone judgment and his instincts, but he's not far from being able to contribute in the major leagues. -
After bypassing his role as the starting quarterback at the University of Miami in order to focus all of his efforts on baseball, Kelly persevered to improve as the 2000 campaign progressed. An exceptional athlete, he led Orlando in runs, stolen bases and triples. The most obvious need for Kelly is to play as much baseball as possible. While he has plus speed, he needs to learn to use his legs by keeping the ball on the ground and dropping down bunts. Shortening his swing also would help his plate coverage. His power is minimal, so he must strive to increase his on-base percentage. Defensively, Kelly needs to take better routes to the ball. Other aspects of center-field play, such as throwing to the right base and hitting the cutoff man, aren't second nature to him and only will come with more experience. After receiving a September callup, Kelly was sent to the Arizona Fall League before returning early to Florida to work individually on some basic drills. He's expected to play in Triple-A this year. -
Background: The Devil Rays originally placed Kelly at Charleston just to get him two weeks of extra at-bats before sending him to short-season ball. He surprised them by handling Class A pitching, easily winning a spot in the Charleston outfield. Kelly plays quarterback at the University of Miami during the fall. Strengths: Kelly is one of the best athletes in baseball, combining well-above-average speed and excellent strength with easy, balanced actions. Tampa Bay officials call him a "Charlie Ward type athlete," capable of doing just about anything he wants to physically. Kelly's baseball instincts, an unknown before 1998, can now also be counted as a plus. Weaknesses: On the baseball field Kelly's biggest challenge is accumulating enough repetitions to keep improving as a hitter. Off the baseball field, the biggest hurdle for Tampa Bay will be the fact that Kelly has three more seasons of football eligibility ahead of him. The Future: Tampa Bay has gambled heavily in the dual sport arena looking for high-ceiling athletes. Tampa Bay hopes that Kelly--unlike third baseman Doug Johnson, a quarterback at Florida--will choose to focus on baseball regardless of his gridiron accomplishments.
Minor League Top Prospects
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In a move that typified the fortunes of the Devil Rays and Mariners, Tampa Bay designated Kelly for assignment in March and sold him to Seattle for $350,000 in order to save $1.25 million on the contract it gave him to give up playing quarterback at the University of Miami. Afterward, Kelly started hitting the ball with more authority and refining his raw tools. "He started the year as an athlete," an AL scout said, "and turned into a ballplayer before it was over." Kelly has speed to spare and a strong, accurate arm. He still relies more on reactions than instincts in the field and on the basepaths.
