JUPITER, FL – MARCH 11: Carson Kelly #71 of the St. Louis Cardinals in action against the Atalanta Braves during a spring training baseball game at Roger Dean Stadium on March 11, 2017 in Jupiter, Florida. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
This week’s “Player of the Week” Honors at Legends on Deck will shine light on the Pacific Coast League with St. Louis Cardinals’ catching prospect Carson Kelly.
The twenty-two-year-old the starting catcher for the Memphis Redbirds and has one of the hottest bats in the PCL. Since May 8, Kelly has hit .359 with 14 hits and 5 RBIs; while batting .321 on the season so far.
While he might not be seen as one who smashes homeruns, Kelly, who is the Cardinals’ #2 prospect entering 2017, has a .402 OBP and slugging .527 with 5 homers, 8 doubles and 14 runs batted in. His 13 walks however is one of the most impressive stats showing his patience at the plate and his ability to see the ball well.
Kelly was drafted in the second round of the 2012 MLB Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals; foregoing his commitment to play baseball at the University of Oregon and has progressively worked his way through the Cards’ Farm System.
He was a part of the St. Louis Cardinals’ September Call-Ups at the end of the 2016 season and made his official Major League Debut on September 5, 2016 against the Pittsburgh Pirates and hit a double on a line drive in his first Big League at-bat.
His success in 2016 was then capped off with a trip to the Arizona Fall League as part of the Glendale Desert Dogs and was even named to the Future’s Game.
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