This is the fastball draft. First Shelby Miller, now Joe Kelly. BA says:
Plagued by shoulder trouble early in his college career, Kelly has emerged as one of the nation’s top college closers in 2009. At 6-foot-1, he doesn’t fit the classic image of the physically intimidating closer, but his stuff is plenty big. In fall ball Kelly flashed a fastball that ranged from 93-96 mph, with wicked natural sink, and he maintained his stuff in the spring and now regularly clocks in at 94-97. Strictly a short relief man, Kelly is an aggressive hurler who wants the ball in pressure situations. He had nine saves this spring for the Highlanders, with 18 strikeouts against five walks in 25 innings, though his 5.33 ERA wasn’t impressive. In his delivery, Kelly is reminiscent of Brett Hunter, chosen last year out of Pepperdine, with a high-effort delivery from a low three-quarters arm slot, and he falls off to his left after delivery. Most pitchers begin their pro careers as starters and are then converted to relievers, but Kelly figures to be a closer from the opening bell. His stuff may help him rush through the minors as quickly as any pitcher in the draft class.
For the third round, I think this is a pretty solid pick, despite less than stellar numbers in college. This site also gives him a pretty good review. 65 fastball, 60 slider. That hopefully adds up to a decent bullpen arm. We have a lot of these guys in the system already, but the Cardinals could have done worse with this pick.
Here’s a link to some video of Kelly in action.
Entries (RSS)
Jason Motte v 2.0?
If Stock doesn’t stick with catching and goes back to pitching, the Cardinals could end up with three pretty darn good pitchers out of these picks.
I think this pick tells us why the Cardinals really don’t have a lot of star caliber prospects in their system. LHP or HS infielder would have been the better choice. Pete Kozmas old teammate Austin Kirk would have been nice.
I sure hope this isnt a precursor to day 2.
Nothing is going to ruin my “Miller High”…but taking a guy who all he has to show for 3 years pitching is a radar gun reading…well not much to say.
I just dont like the scout who OK’s these UC-fill in the blank college SP’s…havent liked one yet.
Oh well, still happy..but as I said on Cards talk wouldnt break my heart if he didnt sign and we get a 3rd rounder in 2010 as comp.
That is how much I dont like this pick, rather he just not sign.
Oh well, enough of my sourpuss….tomorrow springs new hope, I am excited!~
See, I like the Joe Kelly pick. I’m much less sanguine on the Stock choice, actually. I liked Kelly back when I was doing my previews, and I still like him.
I don’t like the pick with Shields and Barrett sitting right there, but as a 3rd rounder in general it could be a good pick.
MLB’s scouting profile:
Anytime a college pitcher can throw 99 MPH consistently, with movement, there’s going to be interest. Throw in the face that Kelly has a nasty slider and a pretty good changeup and there’d be a reason for scouts to be excited. But Kelly has been far too hittable for a guy with that kind of stuff. He doesn’t have great command, and a long arm arc allows hitters to track the ball too well. Right now, he’s more of a thrower than a pitcher. That said, it’s hard to imagine his power arm staying on the board very long in June.
well i was complaining big time on the 3rd rounder a couple years ago, and it looks like i might be eating some crow on that one. i hope its the same story with this pick.
i hope kelly signs early and they send him to batavia and start him. they will use the piggy back so he won’t go more than 3 innings or so at any one time, and he really needs innings after not getting any in high school and hardly any in college. get him 50 innings or so this summer and then keep starting him next spring as long as the A-ball teams are using the piggy back. if he is pitching well keep starting him, if the stuff is down shift him back to the pen.
I’d like this pick if the Cards didn’t already have at least 5 decent relief prospects between high A and AAA (Todd,Salas,Samuel,Sanchez,Reifer), to say nothing of all the middling starters like Ottavino who likely fit best in the pen if anywhere at all. To say nothing of Motte and Perez. How many of these guys do they need?
Given the other issues in the low minors, I just think there are other areas of much greater need. Unless they had some super-high grade on him, or they think he can be a starter (the scouting reports sure don’t make that seem likely) Kelly seems unnecessary.
RH power arms are good for trading…they will never be the centerpiece, but they can make or break deals…not a big fan of drafting based on that, but this guy seems to have wicked stuff…would have rather had a MI or corner power hitting OF, but i’ll take him
hey everyone, don’t worry, this kid is a competitor. what they don’t tell you is that he has already broken the schools save record as a Jr and that he rarely pitched in high school… only been pitching 3 years. Came in to the school on an outfielder scholarship. you won’t be dissapointed.