Overview

Rating: 2.38

2025 stats: Casey Kellly appeared in 2 games in early August he had a total of 1.2 IP. He walked a batter and gave up a hit in his other appearance. For Reno he pitched in 24 games, 20 starts, and had a record of 3-7 with an ERA of 5.63. He gave up 14 home runs, walked 48 and stuck out 61 in 115 innings.

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Date of birth: October 4th, 1989

2025 salary: He is pre arb eligible. Baseball-Reference doesn’t have info on a dollar amount since 2014. He made $501,400 with the Padres that season.

2026 status: He is a candidate to be cut loose this off season as roster space is needed to protect prospects, and other things,
https://www.azsnakepit.com/arizona-diamondbacks-analysis-amp-commentary/85989/the-arizona-diamondbacks-coming-40-man-roster-crunch-rule-5-edition

2025 in review

You might be wondering why Kelly is rated so low. Well, it’s not that Kelly. Casey Kelly was drafted in the 1st round by the Boston Red Sox in the 2008 draft. The Dbacks took Wade Miley several picks later that year. Kelly was traded, along with Antony Rizzo, to the Padres 2 years later in the Adrian Gonzalez deal. He only appeared in 2 games for the Tucson Padres, so it is somewhat doubtful that I would have seen him. I do remember Mike Rizzo playing here, though. Kelly had 6 starts in 2012 for the San Diego Padres and underwent a Tommy John surgery a year later. He came back to the Majors for 3 games in the 2015 season with the Padres. That offseason he was traded to Atlanta, spent time in the Cubs organization in 2017 and then played for the Giants in 2018.

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He played in parts of 7 seasons in Korea (2018-2024) all with the LG Twins. His team won the championship in the 2023 season. There was no overlap with Merrill Kelly in the KBO. Casey Kelly had a combined record of 73-46 with 989 innings in the KBO. He struk out 753, walked 240 and gave up 60 home runs. His best season was in 2022 where he went 16-4 with a 2.54 ERA.

In August of 2024, he signed a minor league deal with the Cinncinati Reds. He appeared in 2 games for the Reds. He became a free agent and right before 2025 Spring Training was signed by the Diamondbacks to a minor league deal. He did get a non roster invite to ST. He spent most of the season in Reno. He appeared in 24 games and had 115 innings pitched. He struck out 60, walked 48 and gave up 11 home runs. He had a WHIP of 1.652.

In early August, the Diamondbacks selected Casey Kelly’s contract from Reno to place Kevin Ginkel on the 60 day IL. He pitched in 2 games, one against the Padres (8/6) and one against the Rockies (8/8). He gave up a hit in the first game and walked a batter in the second. Did not give up a run and had a FIP of 4.94. He was optioned to Reno on August 17th and Nabil Crismatt was recalled in the corresponding move.

2026 outlook

He is pre arb eligible, but he is a candidate to be released in a roster crunch. He has no options remaining, so this might be the end of the line for a 35 year old pitcher.