Levi Hunter Kelly (born May 14, 1999) is an American former professional baseball pitcher.

Levi Kelly
Kelly with Kane County in 2019
Pitcher
Born: (1999-05-14) May 14, 1999 (age 25)
St. Albans, West Virginia
Bats: Right
Throws: Right

Amateur career

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Kelly began his high school career at Nitro High School in Nitro, West Virginia.[1][2][3] As a freshman, he committed to play college baseball at Louisiana State University.[4][5] Following his freshman year, he transferred to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.[6] After his sophomore year at IMG, he transferred to Bishop Verot High School in Fort Myers, Florida. In 2017, as a junior, he went 7–1 with a 0.62 ERA and 98 strikeouts over 56 innings.[7] Following his junior year, he transferred back to IMG Academy for his senior season.[8]

Professional career

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After his senior year, Kelly was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the eighth round of the 2018 Major League Baseball draft.[8][9][10]

Kelly signed with the Diamondbacks, and made his professional debut with the Arizona League Diamondbacks of the Rookie-league, pitching six scoreless innings. In 2019, Kelly spent the season with the Kane County Cougars of the Single-A Midwest League.[11][12] Over 22 starts, he pitched to a 5–1 record with a 2.15 ERA, striking out 126 over 100+13 innings.[13] Kelly did not play a minor league game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[14]

After recovering from a shoulder injury that forced him to miss the first month of the 2021 season, he was assigned to the Amarillo Sod Poodles of the Double-A Central.[15] In mid-August, after struggling to a 5.40 ERA over 25 innings pitched in relief, he was placed on the development list, where he finished the year.[16] He returned to Amarillo to begin the 2022 season, but pitched only one inning due to injury.[17] Kelly began the 2023 season with the High-A Hillsboro Hops, but struggled to an 11.05 ERA with two strikeouts in 7+13 innings pitched. He was released on May 4, 2023.[18]

References

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  1. ^ Smock, Doug (6 May 2015). "Baseball: Precocious Nitro freshman Levi Kelly garnering attention". Charleston Gazette-Mail.
  2. ^ Stevens, Rich (13 April 2015). "Nitro's Levi Kelly dealing with fame, notoriety". Charleston Gazette-Mail.
  3. ^ Hurst, Nicholas (May 7, 2015). "Nitro Freshmen Levi Kelly A Star In The Making". WCHS.
  4. ^ "Nitro's prized freshman Kelly commits to LSU". WV MetroNews. May 12, 2015.
  5. ^ Times-Picayune, Brody Miller, NOLA com | The (5 June 2018). "MLB Draft 2018: LSU-signee Levi Kelly drafted by Arizona Diamondbacks in 8th round". NOLA.com.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ "Nitro's Kelly transfers to IMG Academy". WV MetroNews. August 10, 2015.
  7. ^ Martin, Alexander. "Where are they now? Southwest Florida's 2018 Major League Baseball Draft class". The News-Press.
  8. ^ a b "Former in-state product Levi Kelly to begin professional baseball journey". WV MetroNews. June 20, 2018.
  9. ^ Regan, Adam. "Diamondbacks, Braves draft Verot's Alexander brothers; Canterbury's DiGiacomo to the Pirates". The News-Press.
  10. ^ "10 intriguing names picked on Draft Day 2". MLB.com.
  11. ^ Piecoro, Nick (24 May 2019). "Levi Kelly Speeds Up His Timetable". www.baseballamerica.com.
  12. ^ Johnson, Paul (9 July 2019). "Levi wears it well: Kelly develops new pitch for Kane County Cougars called a 'splutter'". chicagotribune.com.
  13. ^ "Diamondbacks' Levi Kelly: Joins D-Backs for camp". CBSSports.com. 29 June 2020.
  14. ^ "2020 Minor League Baseball season canceled". Mlb.com. 2020-06-30. Retrieved 2021-08-27.
  15. ^ RotoWire Staff (25 May 2021). "Diamondbacks' Levi Kelly: Returns from shoulder injury". CBSSports.com. Retrieved 2021-08-27.
  16. ^ "D-backs Top Prospects". MLB.com.
  17. ^ "Amarillo Sod Poodles Opening Day Roster Revealed".
  18. ^ "Levi Kelly Stats, Fantasy & News".
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