Kevin Kelly

Note: This page is for pitcher Kevin Kelly who made his debut in 2023; for others with the same name, click here.

Kevin Clayton Kelly

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 2", Weight 200 lb.
• School James Madison University
• High School Paul VI Catholic High School
• Debut April 1, 2023

• Born November 28, 1997 in Springfield, VA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Pitcher Kevin Kelly made his major league debut with the Tampa Bay Rays in the first days of the 2023 season after making the team out of spring training. He had originally been drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 19th round of the 2019 amateur draft, out of James Madison University, before being taken by the Colorado Rockies with the 6th pick of the 2022 Rule V Draft on December 7, 2022. That selection had been done on behalf of the Rays, who then acquired him from the Rockies in another transaction the following day.

He earned his first major league win in a historic game on April 13, 2023, as it was the 13th straight victory by the Rays from the start of the season, tying the modern major league record belonging to the 1982 Atlanta Braves and 1987 Milwaukee Brewers. He took over for Garrett Cleavinger in the 4th inning against the Boston Red Sox, after starter Jeffrey Springs had been forced to leave due to an injury while facing the first batter of the frame. Cleavinger struggled, allowing a run on two walks and a hit while retiring only one batter before Kelly took over. He got out of the inning by recording the final two outs, then allowed another run in the 5th, giving Boston a 3-1 lead, before being the beneficiary of a seven-run outburst by his teammates in the bottom of the 5th. He pitched the 6th inning as well, before turning the ball over to Braden Bristo who pitched the final three innings of Tampa's historic 9-3 win to earn the save in his major league debut.

Related Sites

• Kevin Kelly on mlb.com
• James Madison University bio