Overview
- The call-up was reported Friday by Pirates reporter Aiden Stepansky and was carried by MLB Pipeline, Yahoo Sports and SportsNet Pittsburgh as a developing transaction.
- Kelly is a 22-year-old right-hander who pitched for the Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic and is ranked by MLB Pipeline as Pittsburgh’s No. 7 overall prospect and No. 3 pitching prospect.
- His fastball frequently exceeds 100 mph and reached triple digits 17 times this year at Triple-A Indianapolis, where he has 47 strikeouts in 54 innings.
- Triple-A numbers also show control concerns, with a 4.0 walks per nine rate and a 4.50 ERA, so the club appears likely to use him in relief to maximize velocity while limiting exposure.
- The promotion remains reported rather than formally announced, the Pirates have not listed a corresponding roster move, and the next developments to watch are his first MLB appearance and whether his command improves against big-league hitters.