Antoine Kelly

Antoine Kelly
Chicago Cubs – No. 62
Pitcher
Born: (1999-12-05) December 5, 1999
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
MLB debut
July 31, 2026, for the Chicago Cubs
MLB statistics
Win–loss record0–0
Earned run average0.00
Strikeouts1
Stats at Baseball Reference 
Teams

Antoine Jermaine Kelly (born December 5, 1999) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2026.

Career

Kelly attended Maine East High School in Park Ridge, Illinois. The San Diego Padres selected Kelly in the 13th round (381 overall) in the 2018 Major League Baseball draft.[1] Kelly elected to attend Wabash Valley College instead. In his lone season at Wabash Valley, Kelly started 13 games posting a 9–0 win–loss record with a 1.88 earned run average (ERA) and 112 strikeouts.[2]

The Milwaukee Brewers selected Kelly in the second round, 65th overall, in the 2019 Major League Baseball draft.[3] Kelly signed with the Brewers and Kelly posted a 2.84 ERA over 31+2⁄3 innings with the Arizona League Brewers Blue and the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in 2019.[4] Kelly did not play in 2020 due to the cancellation of the Minor League Baseball season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In November 2020, Kelly underwent thoracic outlet syndrome surgery.[5] Upon completing rehab Kelly split the 2021 season between the AZL Brewers, Wisconsin, and the Carolina Mudcats, going a combined 0–2 with a 9.78 ERA over 19+1⁄3 innings. He opened the 2022 season with Wisconsin, going 2–4 with a 3.86 ERA and 119 strikeouts over 91 innings.[6] Kelly represented the Brewers at the 2022 All-Star Futures Game.[7]

On August 1, 2022, the Brewers traded Kelly and Mark Mathias to the Texas Rangers in exchange for Matt Bush.[8] Kelly finished the season with the Frisco RoughRiders of the Double-A Texas League, posting a 7.23 ERA with 24 strikeouts over 18+2⁄3 innings.[9] Kelly received a non-roster invitation to major league spring training in 2023. Kelly split the 2023 season between Frisco and the Round Rock Express of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League, going a combined 3–1 with a 2.04 ERA and 79 strikeouts over 57+1⁄3 innings.[10] Kelly was named the Texas Rangers 2023 Reliever of the Year.[11] On November 14, 2023, the Rangers added Kelly to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.[12]

Kelly was optioned to Triple–A Round Rock to begin the 2024 season.[13] In 18 appearances, he struggled to a 9.37 ERA with 22 strikeouts across 16+1⁄3 innings of work. Kelly was designated for assignment by the Rangers on July 8, 2024.[14]

On July 15, 2024, Kelly was claimed off waivers by the Colorado Rockies.[15] He was removed from the 40–man roster and sent outright to the Triple–A Albuquerque Isotopes on August 29.[16] Kelly made nine appearances for Triple-A Albuquerque, but struggled to a 9.35 ERA with 10 strikeouts across 8+2⁄3 innings pitched. Kelly made 34 relief appearances for Albuquerque in 2025, registering a 3-5 record and 5.63 ERA with 41 strikeouts and four saves across 38+1⁄3 innings pitched. He elected free agency following the season on November 6, 2025.[17]

On November 14, 2025, Kelly signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers.[18] Kelly was assigned to the Triple-A Oklahoma City Comets to begin the regular season,[19] for whom he logged an 0-3 record and 5.14 ERA with 22 strikeouts in 21 innings pitched across 23 appearances.

On June 6, 2026, the Dodgers traded Kelly to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for cash considerations and he was added to their 40-man roster.[20] In 13 appearances for the Triple-A Iowa Cubs, he logged a 1–1 record and 2.79 ERA with 22 strikeouts across 19+1⁄3 innings pitched. On July 31, Kelly was promoted to the major leagues for the first time.[21] He made his debut the same day against the New York Yankees, and pitched 1+1⁄3 scoreless inning. Kelly also recorded his first career strikeout against Ben Rice.

References

  1. ↑ Martorano, Dion (2018-06-06). "Antoine Kelly First Maine East Alum Drafted In 13 Years". Journal & Topics Media Group. Retrieved 2022-11-20.
  2. ↑ Wabash Valley's Kelly picked No. 65 by Brewers, Wabash Valleys Kelly picked No. 65 by Brewers, 5 June 2019
  3. ↑ Maine East grad Antoine Kelly fulfills dream, signs with brewers, Chicago Tribune, 8 June 2019
  4. ↑ "Antoine Kelly joining roster pool", CBS Sports
  5. ↑ Mark Polishuk (2021-03-22). "Injury Notes: Engel, Lorenzen, Antone, Reds, Kelly". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved 2021-05-02.
  6. ↑ "Antoine Kelly Traded to Rangers". 2 August 2022.
  7. ↑ Miller, John (2022-07-07). "Wisconsin Timber Rattlers pitcher Antoine Kelly headed to 2022 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game". WGBA-TV. Retrieved 2022-11-20.
  8. ↑ McCalvy, Adam. "Bush deal further helps bolster Brewers' bullpen". MLB.com.
  9. ↑ Postins, Matthew (October 24, 2022). "Rangers Top 30 Prospect Wraps: Antoine Kelly". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2022-11-20.
  10. ↑ "2020 Minor League Baseball Season Cancelled".
  11. ↑ "Texas Rangers announce 2023 Minor League Award winners". MLB.com. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
  12. ↑ "Rangers Select Prospects for Arizona Fall League". 23 September 2023.
  13. ↑ "Rangers' Antoine Kelly: Heads to minors camp". cbssports.com. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  14. ↑ "Rangers Select Daniel Robert". mlbtraderumors.com. July 8, 2024. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
  15. ↑ "Rockies Claim Antoine Kelly, Designate Josh Rogers". mlbtraderumors.com. July 15, 2024. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  16. ↑ "Rockies Outright Antoine Kelly". mlbtraderumors.com. August 29, 2024. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  17. ↑ "Minor League Free Agents 2025". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved November 23, 2025.
  18. ↑ "Transactions". MiLB.com.
  19. ↑ "OKC Comets Release 2026 Preliminary Roster". milb.com. March 26, 2026. Retrieved March 26, 2026.
  20. ↑ "Dodgers To Trade Antoine Kelly To Cubs". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved June 7, 2026.
  21. ↑ "Cubs Recall Antoine Kelly For MLB Debut". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
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