Shawn Kelley
Encyclopedia
Shawn Andrew Kelley is a Major League Baseball
relief pitcher
for the Seattle Mariners
. He attended Ballard High School, and later Austin Peay State University
. Kelley was drafted by the Mariners in the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft
. He made his professional debut in 2007, and later made his major league debut in 2009. Kelley bats and throws right-handed.
(ERA), and 95 strikeouts in 74 innings pitched
. He also batted
.564 with seven home runs, and 21 stolen bases.
with a 2.57 ERA in four games, one start. Kelley sustained an elbow injury in his first season and had Tommy John surgery
, which ended his redshirt
freshman
season. During his freshman season in 2004, Kelley went 3–3 with a 3.45 ERA, and 51 strikeouts in 16 games, 10 starts. That season, he finished with the third lowest ERA in the Ohio Valley Conference
. In his sophomore
season in 2005, Kelley went 7–4 with a 3.59 ERA, one save, and 70 strikeouts in 17 games, 16 starts. That season, he was selected to the second-team All-Ohio Valley Conference. His junior
season, Kelley went 5–6 with a 3.30 ERA, and 89 strikeouts in 18 games, 14 starts. His final season, 2007, Kelley went 11–3 with a 2.40 ERA, and 82 strikeouts in 17 games, 16 starts. On April 9, 2007, he was named the Ohio Valley Conference's Pitcher of the Week. He won his second Pitcher of the Week award on April 23. At the end of the 2007 season, Kelley was named to the second-team American Baseball Coaches All-South Region. On the academic side, Kelley received a bachelor's degree
in political science
.
. With the AquaSox, he went 1–0 with a 3.00 ERA, and four strikeouts in three games, all in relief. After his stint in Everett, Kelley was promoted to the Class-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
. In his debut with the Timber Rattlers, Kelley attained the win
after pitching two relief innings. In nine games with Wisconsin, Kelley went 1–1 with a 2.25 ERA, and 14 strikeouts. In 2008, Kelley split the season between the Class-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, the Class-A Advanced High Desert Mavericks
, and the Double-A West Tenn Diamond Jaxx
. With the Timber Rattlers, he was involved in no decisions
, and record a 3.52 ERA with three saves, and 12 strikeouts in eight games. He was then promoted to the Mavericks where in 12 relief appearances he was involved in no decisions, gave-up no earned runs, saved three games, and struck-out 12. Finally, with the Diamond Jaxx, Kelley went 3–1 with a 2.11 ERA, nine saves, and 44 strikeouts in 29 games, all in relief. Kelley was tied for first among Diamond Jaxx pitchers in games finished
(24), and was second in saves. At the end of the 2008 regular season, Kelley played in the Venezuelan Winter League.
as a non-roster invitee. During spring training, Mariners' manager
Don Wakamatsu
was reportedly impressed by Kelley's performance and was quoted as saying, "[Kelley's] stuff is outstanding. Very impressive." Kelley made the Mariners' 25-man roster after spring training. Kelley made his major league debut on April 10 against the Oakland Athletics
and struck-out two in one inning pitched. On May 1, Kelley picked up his first major league win in 1 innings pitched against the Oakland Athletics. On May 6, Kelley strained his left oblique
and was placed on the 15-day disabled list
. As a result, the Mariners called-up pitcher Garrett Olson
from the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers
to replace Kelley on the 25-man roster. Kelley pitched three rehab games in the minor leagues
. His first were with the rookie-level Arizona League Mariners, where he pitched two games, both starts, and gave up no earned runs. The last was with the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers, where he gave up no earned runs in one relief appearance. On June 3, the Mariners' activated Kelley from the disabled list, and as a result optioned first baseman
Mike Carp
to Triple-A Tacoma. On the season, Kelley went 5–4 with a 4.50 ERA, and 41 strikeouts in 41 games, all in relief for Seattle.
. The accident required Kelley to receive six stitches. Kelley made the Mariners' 25-man roster out of spring training for the second time in his career in 2010. On April 30, after pitcher Cliff Lee
was activated from the disabled list, the Mariners optioned Kelley to the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers. However, on May 6, after Mark Lowe was placed on the disabled list, Kelley was recalled and placed on the Mariners' 25-man roster.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
for the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
. He attended Ballard High School, and later Austin Peay State University
Austin Peay State University
Austin Peay State University is a four-year public university located in Clarksville, Tennessee, and operated by the Tennessee Board of Regents. It is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools .-History:...
. Kelley was drafted by the Mariners in the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft
2007 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2007 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft was Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft of high school and college baseball players, and was held on June 7 and June 8, 2007...
. He made his professional debut in 2007, and later made his major league debut in 2009. Kelley bats and throws right-handed.
High school
At Ballard High School, Kelley went 9–1 with a 1.12 earned run averageEarned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
(ERA), and 95 strikeouts in 74 innings pitched
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
. He also batted
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.564 with seven home runs, and 21 stolen bases.
College
Kelley played baseball at Austin Peay State University. In his first season, 2003, he was involved in no decisionsDecision (baseball)
A decision is a statistical credit given to a baseball pitcher.There are two types of decisions: win and loss.In order to receive a win, the starting pitcher must complete at least five innings and leave with the lead. If the pitcher's lead is preserved by the bullpen, he is credited with a win...
with a 2.57 ERA in four games, one start. Kelley sustained an elbow injury in his first season and had Tommy John surgery
Tommy John surgery
Tommy John surgery, known in medical practice as ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, is a surgical procedure in which a ligament in the medial elbow is replaced with a tendon from elsewhere in the body...
, which ended his redshirt
Redshirt (college sports)
Redshirt is a term used in American college athletics that refers to a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen his or her period of eligibility...
freshman
Freshman
A freshman or fresher is a first-year student in secondary school, high school, or college. The term first year can also be used as a noun, to describe the students themselves A freshman (US) or fresher (UK, India) (or sometimes fish, freshie, fresher; slang plural frosh or freshmeat) is a...
season. During his freshman season in 2004, Kelley went 3–3 with a 3.45 ERA, and 51 strikeouts in 16 games, 10 starts. That season, he finished with the third lowest ERA in the Ohio Valley Conference
Ohio Valley Conference
The Ohio Valley Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the midwestern and southeastern United States. It participates in Division I of the NCAA; the conference's football programs compete in the Football Championship Subdivision , the lower of two levels of Division I...
. In his sophomore
Sophomore
Sophomore is a term used in the United States to describe a student in the second year of study at high school or university.The word is also used as a synonym for "second", for the second album or EP released by a musician or group, the second movie of a director, or the second season of a...
season in 2005, Kelley went 7–4 with a 3.59 ERA, one save, and 70 strikeouts in 17 games, 16 starts. That season, he was selected to the second-team All-Ohio Valley Conference. His junior
Junior (education)
"Junior" is a term used in the United States to describe a student in their 3rd year of study . A Junior is considered an upperclassman...
season, Kelley went 5–6 with a 3.30 ERA, and 89 strikeouts in 18 games, 14 starts. His final season, 2007, Kelley went 11–3 with a 2.40 ERA, and 82 strikeouts in 17 games, 16 starts. On April 9, 2007, he was named the Ohio Valley Conference's Pitcher of the Week. He won his second Pitcher of the Week award on April 23. At the end of the 2007 season, Kelley was named to the second-team American Baseball Coaches All-South Region. On the academic side, Kelley received a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
.
2007–2008 seasons
Kelley was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 13 round of the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft. He began his professional career that season with the Class-A Short-Season Everett AquaSoxEverett AquaSox
The Everett AquaSox are a minor league baseball team in Everett, Washington, USA. They are a Short-Season A classification team in the Northwest League, of which they are the current defending champions...
. With the AquaSox, he went 1–0 with a 3.00 ERA, and four strikeouts in three games, all in relief. After his stint in Everett, Kelley was promoted to the Class-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers are a minor league baseball team of the Midwest League, and the Class A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. They are located in Grand Chute, Wisconsin, and are named for timber rattlesnakes. The team plays its home games at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium...
. In his debut with the Timber Rattlers, Kelley attained the win
Win (baseball)
In professional baseball, there are two types of decisions: a win and a loss . In each game, one pitcher on the winning team is awarded a win and one pitcher on the losing team is given a loss in their respective statistics. These pitchers are collectively known as the pitchers of record. Only...
after pitching two relief innings. In nine games with Wisconsin, Kelley went 1–1 with a 2.25 ERA, and 14 strikeouts. In 2008, Kelley split the season between the Class-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, the Class-A Advanced High Desert Mavericks
High Desert Mavericks
The High Desert Mavericks are a minor league baseball team in Adelanto, California, USA. Their Major League parent club is the Seattle Mariners. They are a Class A - Advanced team in the California League and had been a farm team of the Kansas City Royals since 2005 before the switch...
, and the Double-A West Tenn Diamond Jaxx
West Tenn Diamond Jaxx
The Jackson Generals are a minor league baseball team of the Southern League and the Double-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. The team is located in Jackson, Tennessee, and plays their home games at Pringles Park; opened in 1998, the park currently holds 6,000 fans.From their inaugural season...
. With the Timber Rattlers, he was involved in no decisions
Decision (baseball)
A decision is a statistical credit given to a baseball pitcher.There are two types of decisions: win and loss.In order to receive a win, the starting pitcher must complete at least five innings and leave with the lead. If the pitcher's lead is preserved by the bullpen, he is credited with a win...
, and record a 3.52 ERA with three saves, and 12 strikeouts in eight games. He was then promoted to the Mavericks where in 12 relief appearances he was involved in no decisions, gave-up no earned runs, saved three games, and struck-out 12. Finally, with the Diamond Jaxx, Kelley went 3–1 with a 2.11 ERA, nine saves, and 44 strikeouts in 29 games, all in relief. Kelley was tied for first among Diamond Jaxx pitchers in games finished
Games finished
In baseball statistics, a relief pitcher is credited with a game finished if he is the last pitcher to pitch for his team in a game. A starting pitcher is not credited with a GF for pitching a complete game...
(24), and was second in saves. At the end of the 2008 regular season, Kelley played in the Venezuelan Winter League.
2009 season
At the start of the 2009 season, Kelley was invited to Mariners' spring trainingSpring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
as a non-roster invitee. During spring training, Mariners' manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
Don Wakamatsu
Don Wakamatsu
Wilbur Donald "Don" Wakamatsu is a former Major League Baseball catcher and manager. He was the manager of the Seattle Mariners for the season, as well as the majority of the season...
was reportedly impressed by Kelley's performance and was quoted as saying, "[Kelley's] stuff is outstanding. Very impressive." Kelley made the Mariners' 25-man roster after spring training. Kelley made his major league debut on April 10 against the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
and struck-out two in one inning pitched. On May 1, Kelley picked up his first major league win in 1 innings pitched against the Oakland Athletics. On May 6, Kelley strained his left oblique
Abdominal external oblique muscle
The external oblique muscle is the largest and the most superficial of the three flat muscles of the lateral anterior abdomen.-Structure:...
and was placed on the 15-day disabled list
Disabled list
In Major League Baseball, the disabled list is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players.-General guidelines:...
. As a result, the Mariners called-up pitcher Garrett Olson
Garrett Olson
Garrett Andrew Olson is a Major League Baseball pitcher currently in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization.-High school:Olson attended Buchanan High School in Clovis, California...
from the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers
Tacoma Rainiers
The Tacoma Rainiers are a minor league baseball team that plays in the Pacific Coast League , and are the Triple-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners...
to replace Kelley on the 25-man roster. Kelley pitched three rehab games in the minor leagues
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
. His first were with the rookie-level Arizona League Mariners, where he pitched two games, both starts, and gave up no earned runs. The last was with the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers, where he gave up no earned runs in one relief appearance. On June 3, the Mariners' activated Kelley from the disabled list, and as a result optioned first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
Mike Carp
Mike Carp
Christopher Michael Carp is a Major League Baseball first baseman for the Seattle Mariners.-Professional career:...
to Triple-A Tacoma. On the season, Kelley went 5–4 with a 4.50 ERA, and 41 strikeouts in 41 games, all in relief for Seattle.
2010 season
On February 24, 2010, during spring training workouts, Kelley was injured after he was accidentally kicked in the chin by teammate Mark LoweMark Lowe
Mark Christopher Lowe is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the Texas Rangers. He made his Major League debut for the Seattle Mariners on July 7, in relief against the Detroit Tigers, loading the bases before striking out the side. He bats left-handed and throws right-handed. His fastball...
. The accident required Kelley to receive six stitches. Kelley made the Mariners' 25-man roster out of spring training for the second time in his career in 2010. On April 30, after pitcher Cliff Lee
Cliff Lee
Clifton Phifer "Cliff" Lee is a Major League Baseball left-handed starting pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies. Lee has also played for the Cleveland Indians, the Seattle Mariners, and the Texas Rangers....
was activated from the disabled list, the Mariners optioned Kelley to the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers. However, on May 6, after Mark Lowe was placed on the disabled list, Kelley was recalled and placed on the Mariners' 25-man roster.