Bio
Lefty Justin Kelly comes to the Explorers after spending time with the Atlanta Braves and Los Angles Angeles of Anaheim organizations as well as in Mexico. Kelly was drafted in the 33rd round of the 2016 MLB Draft out of the University of California at Santa Barbara by the Angels. He would spend his first two professional seasons in Angels organization before being dealt to Atlanta Braves on November 30, 2017. Kelly would reach AA with the Braves before being released and would go on to play in AAA Mexico.
Kelly last pitched professionally in 2022 with Leon in the Mexican League. He made three appearances, surrendering two earned runs on five hits over 2.1 innings with one strikeout. Kelly split the 2021 season between Long Island in the Atlantic League and Monclova in Mexico. He began the season with Long Island, appearing in six games over 6.2 inning with a 6.75 ERA. He would sign with Mexico in June and work 15 innings, making 21 appearances out of the pen with a 5.40 ERA. He gave up nine earned runs on 14 hits while striking out 19.
Kelly would miss the 2020 season due to the worldwide pandemic. He began the 2019 season with the Atlanta Braves organization, tossing 5.1 scoreless innings at AA Mississippi and working another 13.2 innings at High A Florida. He would post a 1-1 record and a 5.93 ERA while striking out 22 with a 1.537 WHIP. The Braves would release Kelly on May 22, but he would sign with AAA Monclova in Mexico on June 6. He would finish the season strong, surrendering just four earned runs in 16.1 innings in 28 games. Kelly would allow nine hits while striking out 16, picking up one relief win and adding a 1.224 WHIP.
In 2018, Kelly spent the bulk of the season at High-A Florida, pitching in 29 games totaling 44.1 with a 3-2 record and three saves. He would strike out 51 batters while giving up 31 hits and 15 earned runs while posting a 1.376 WHIP. At AA Mississippi, Kelly went 1-0 with a 5.06 ERA in 10.2 innings all in relief for the Braves. He would add 14 strikeouts in his seven games out of the pen.
Kelly saw time at five different stops, covering all four classifications in 2017 for the Los Angles Angels of Anaheim organization. He would go 6-4 with a 3.53 ERA in 63.2 innings and two saves. Kelly would punch out 57 while pitching in a total of 25 games in relief and adding another six games as a starter. He would open the season at AAA Salt Lake City, making two relief appearances over 4.0 innings. Kelly would give up five earned runs on seven hits for a 11.25 ERA. Kelly would cover the rest of the system that season, going 1-0 at AA Mobile with a 7.50 ERA in two games and 0-1 High A Inland Empire with a 5.79 ERA. He would notch two saves at Low A Burlington in 11 games, going 2-3 with a 2.43 ERA and go 3-0 at rookie level Orem with a 1.86 ER in eight games. Kelly was traded following the 2017 season to the Atlanta Braves organization.
In 2016 Kelly made his pro debut, going 2-1 at rookie-level Orem in 17 games (one start) with a 6.44 ERA. He allowed 26 earned runs with 33 strikeouts and a 1.872 WHIP. Kelly would close out his college career before the Angels drafted him by going 2-1 with a 3.80 ERA with 35 strikeouts in 23.2 innings for UC-Santa Barbara. Kelly made 10 appearances for the Gauchos in his senior season, including two starts enroute to the College World Series in Omaha. His 13.3 K/9 rate led the team, and he would be named to the Nashville Regional All-Tournament Team after earning a win and a save over two outings. He would make the start against Arizona in the College World Series in the final game for UCSB, allowing three earned runs in three-plus innings, taking the hard luck loss.
Kelly would redshirt in 2015 after transferring from Virginia Tech. He would appear in three games for the Hokies in 2014 where he allowed three earned runs in 1.1 innings. Kelly spent two seasons at Bakersfield College in 2012 and 2013. He would go 5-3 in his freshman season with a 3.98 ERA and 5-4 with a 3.80 ERA in his sophomore season. Prior to his college career, he was a three-year starter at Stockdale High School in Bakersfield, California where he also played basketball and football. During his senior season in high school, he went 5-4 with a 2.90 ERA while also playing centerfield. Kelly also has international experience playing for Team Mexico in the 2019 Premier 12 tournament.