(Waldorf, MD, June 14, 2022) The Philadelphia Phillies selected the contract of right-handed pitcher Michael Kelly on Monday afternoon. The 2019 Blue Crabs starting pitcher will replace James Norwood in the Phillies’ MLB bullpen.
The 29-year-old heads to the MLB for the first time, becoming the third Crabs pitcher since 2018 to get the call after their time in Southern Maryland, joining Chris Mazza and Dusten Knight. Kelly becomes the 94th player in Blue Crabs franchise history with MLB experience.
The Florida native, Kelly, posted a 3-8 record to a accompany a 5.34 earned run average for Southern Maryland in 2019, his only season outside of affiliated baseball. The former first round draft pick spent the 2021 season in the Houston Astros organization, and has been with the Phillies’ Triple-affiliate, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, to this point in the 2022 campaign.
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About the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs
The Blue Crabs play in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, MLB’s premier Partner League. The Blue Crabs call Regency Furniture Stadium home in Waldorf, Maryland. For more information on the Blue Crabs, please call 301-638-9788 or visit http://www.somdbluecrabs.com. For media requests, contact Andrew Bandstra, 301-678-1124.
About the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB)
The Atlantic League is the first Partner League of Major League Baseball, a player gateway to the major leagues, and a leader in baseball innovation. ALPB has sent over 1,000 players to MLB organizations while drawing 42 million fans to its family friendly ballparks over its 24-year history. Please visit www.AtlanticLeague.com