Tyler Patrick Kelly (; born July 20, 1988) is an American-Israeli former professional baseball utility player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets. He plays for Team Israel.
At the University of California, Davis, Kelly led the Big West Conference with a .397 batting average as a sophomore in 2008. That summer he was a 2008 Cape Cod League All Star playing for the Brewster Whitecaps. The Baltimore Orioles selected Kelly in the 13th round (386th overall) of the 2009 Major League Baseball draft. Kelly was a 2009 New York-Penn League All Star, a 2011 South Atlantic League All Star, a 2012 Carolina League All Star, and a 2013 Eastern League All Star.
The Mets promoted Kelly to the major leagues in his eighth pro season, in 2016, after 855 minor league games, and 3,063 minor league at bats. He was the starting third baseman for Team Israel at the 2017 World Baseball Classic. In April 2017, he was acquired by the Phillies, and in January 2018, he signed a contract to return to the Mets. In August 2019, Kelly announced his retirement from professional baseball.
In September 2019, he obtained Israeli citizenship. He played for Team Israel at the 2019 and 2023 European Baseball Championships. He also played for the team at the Africa/Europe 2020 Olympic Qualification tournament in Italy in September 2019, which Israel won to qualify to play baseball at the 2020 Summer Olympics. He played third base for Team Israel at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo in the summer of 2021, and tied for fourth-most at the Olympics with four walks. Kelly also played for Team Israel in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
Early life Kelly was born in Dallas, Texas, the first child of Pat and Diane Kelly, and is Jewish. Ty Kelly's father is Catholic, and his mother is Jewish – by virtue of which he qualified to play for Team Israel.Michael Powell (September 21, 2016). "Good Bat? Cannon Arm? Jewish? Sign Him Up!". nytimes.com. The New York Times. Retrieved September 8, 2019. His father played both college basketball and baseball for the Colorado Buffaloes, before serving as an assistant baseball coach at San Joaquin Delta College. Ty Kelly is a vegan.Anna Starostinetskaya (August 24, 2018). "NY Mets’ Ty Kelly Goes Vegan to Combat 'Dad Bod'". vegnews.com. VegNews. Retrieved September 8, 2019.
Kelly attended St. Mary's High School in Stockton, California, where he played both basketball and baseball, graduating in 2006.Bob Brownne (March 10, 2017). "Tracy's connection to World Baseball Classic". Tracy Press. ttownmedia.com. Retrieved September 8, 2019. In baseball, he batted just under .400 as a senior, and received All-Tri-City Athletic League (TCAL) and all-area honors. In basketball, Kelly was named All-TCAL Defensive Player of the Year.
College baseball Kelly played his freshman year of college baseball for the Loyola Marymount Lions. He then transferred to the University of California, Davis, where he majored in Communications in his sophomore and junior years."Ty Kelly Stats, Highlights, Bio". MiLB.com. Minor League Baseball. 2018. Retrieved April 25, 2018.
Kelly led the Big West Conference with a .397 batting average (BA) as a sophomore in 2008, and was # 2 in the Big West Conference in hits, with 94, playing for the Aggies. He helped the Aggies reach the NCAA Division I baseball tournament in their first year of eligibility.
In 2008, Kelly played collegiate summer baseball for the Brewster Whitecaps of the Cape Cod Baseball League, and was named a league all-star. He was on the Brooks Wallace Player of the Year Watch List in 2009, and batted .307 with 20 doubles (tied for 3rd in the Conference)."2009 Big West Conference – Season Review," The Baseball Cube. His career batting average and hits total rank second and third, respectively, in Aggies history.
Professional career
Baltimore Orioles The Baltimore Orioles selected Kelly in the 13th round (386th overall) of the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft. He began his Minor League Baseball (MiLB) career that year as a third baseman and second baseman, with a .265 batting (BA) and 33 walks (BB) in 61 games, for the Short-Season A Aberdeen Ironbirds. Kelly was named a 2009 mid-season New York-Penn League All Star.
In 2010, Kelly played third base and second base for the Class-A Delmarva Shorebirds of the South Atlantic League; he batted .259 with 4 home runs (HR), 58 runs batted in (RBI), 30 doubles, 68 BB (5th in the league), and 11 sacrifice hits (3rd)."2010 South Atlantic League – Season Review", thebaseballcube.com; accessed April 25, 2018. In 2011, Kelly batted .274 with 4 home runs, 46 RBIs, and 67 walks (5th in the league) for Delmarva, primarily playing third base and left field."2011 South Atlantic League – Season Review", thebaseballcube.com; accessed April 25, 2018. He was named a 2011 mid-season South Atlantic League All Star.
In 2012, Kelly hit a combined .327/.425/.467, with 11 HR, and 70 RBI, split between the Advanced-A Frederick Keys of the Carolina League – for whom he batted .346 (2nd in the league)/.460 (2nd)/.513 (8th) with 54 walks (5th), while primarily playing second base and third base; Double-A Bowie Baysox of the Eastern League (primarily playing third base and left field); and Triple-A Norfolk Tides of the International League (IL) (playing second base and third base). Kelly was named Player of the Week in the Carolina League on July 16, 2012. He was named a 2012 mid-season Carolina League All Star. Kelly was named an MiLB.com Organization All-Star in 2012, for both Baltimore and Seattle. For the season, he led Orioles minor-leaguers in hits, batting, and total bases, and was third in RBI.
Seattle Mariners In 2013, Kelly hit .283 in 72 games for Bowie before being traded to the Seattle Mariners on June 30, for outfielder Eric Thames. He was named a 2013 mid-season Eastern League All Star. Kelly then batted .320/.456/.406, with 51 BB, in 54 games, for the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers of the Pacific Coast League (PCL). His 5-walk game on August 16, 2013, tied a PCL single-game record.
On the season, Kelly batted .298/.417/.392 and recorded 85 runs, 27 doubles, and 102 walks (second in the minors, behind Greg Bird), in 126 games. He led the minor leagues in fewest swings-per-at-bat (at 30.8%). Kelly was named a 2013 Baseball America High Class A All Star, and a 2013 MiLB.com Organization All-Star for Seattle.
In returning to Tacoma for 2014, Kelly batted .263/.381 (10th in the league)/.412, with 15 homers, in 134 games; he started 64 games at second base, 36 games at third base, 15 games in right field, and 5 games in left field. Kelly ranked 2nd in the PCL with 85 walks (trailing only Joc Pederson of the Dodgers), 8th in runs (81), and placed in the top 5 in MiLB in fewest swings-per-at-bat (with 36.4%). He was named a 2014 MiLB.com Organization All-Star for Seattle.
St. Louis Cardinals Kelly was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals for pitcher Sam Gaviglio on November 20, 2014. As a member of the Cardinals organization, Kelly played for the Triple–A Memphis Redbirds of the PCL and batted .203 in 79 games.
Toronto Blue Jays On July 22, 2015, he was claimed off waivers by the Toronto Blue Jays, and optioned to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons of the IL. Kelly was designated for assignment on August 29, and outrighted to the Bisons on August 31. He played in 117 games in 2015, batting .226, with 3 home runs, and 33 RBI. Kelly elected free agency on November 7.
Kelly's career minor league stat line includes a .275/.374/.380 batting average, 54 home runs, 482 RBI, 3,892 at bats, and 1,094 games played. He played 400 games at second base, 370 games at third base, 148 games in left field, 64 games in right field, 50 games at shortstop, 35 games in center field, 4 games at first base, and made 3 pitching appearances (3 innings in Triple-A).
New York Mets
On November 13, 2015, Kelly signed a minor league contract with the New York Mets that included an invitation to spring training. The Mets promoted Kelly to the major leagues on May 23, 2016, in his eighth pro season (after 855 minor league games, and 3,063 minor league at bats), to replace an injured Lucas Duda.Andrew Beaton (May 24, 2016). "A Mets Rookie’s Guide to Surviving the Minor Leagues; After his eighth minor-league season, 27-year-old Ty Kelly finally received his first call-up to the big leagues,", The Wall Street Journal At the time, he was leading the minor leagues with a .391 batting average and a .478 on base percentage.
Kelly made his major league debut starting at third base against the Washington Nationals on May 24. Kelly hit his first home run against Jameson Taillon on June 8 in Pittsburgh. In 2016, he had a 1.22 walks/strikeout ratio, the best in the major leagues, in 71 plate appearances.Jeff Quattrociocchi (April 20, 2017). "Toronto Blue Jays' Ty Kelly: Lover of walks, hater of strikeouts", jaysfromthecouch.com; accessed April 25, 2018.
He played 39 games for the Mets at six different positions, batted .241/.352/.345 in 58 at bats, and got a hit in his only postseason at bat, against four-time All Star Madison Bumgarner.Steve Tydings (May 28, 2017). "Now on Phillies' bench, Ty Kelly looks back fondly on Team Israel experience," NBC Sports Philadelphia.
In February 2017, Kelly was outrighted to the Mets' Triple-A team and invited to major league spring training by the Mets.Mitchell Northam (February 16, 2017). "Buck Britton is Shorebirds' new hitting coach", delmarvanow.com; accessed April 25, 2018.
In 2017, he made the New York Mets' opening day roster, and played in one game as a pinch hitter.Linda Surovich (April 10, 2017). "Blue Jays claim Ty Kelly off waivers from Mets", amazinavenue.com, April 10, 2017.Jon Santucci (March 30, 2017). "Zack Wheeler makes Mets opening day roster", tcpalm.com; accessed April 25, 2018. Kelly was designated for assignment on April 8 in order to make room for pitcher Paul Sewald on the 25-man roster.Abbey Mastracco (April 10, 2017). "Blue Jays claim Mets' Ty Kelly off waivers, here's what they're getting", nj.com; accessed April 25, 2018.
Toronto Blue Jays (second stint) On April 10, 2017, the Toronto Blue Jays claimed Kelly off waivers from the New York Mets. Kelly was recalled by the Blue Jays on April 18 and placed on the team's 25-man roster, sat on the team's bench, and was then designated for assignment on April 21 without having appeared in a Major League game.Tom Dakers (April 21, 2017). "Jays Call Up Mat Latos, DFA Ty Kelly", bluebirdbanter.com; accessed April 25, 2018.
Philadelphia Phillies On April 22, 2017, the Blue Jays sent Kelly to the Philadelphia Phillies, his third major league team of the season, for cash.
In 69 games, Kelly played second base, third base, and all three outfield positions, and batted .193 (.400 in extra inning games)/.260/.341 with 2 home runs and 14 RBIs in 88 at bats. On October 5, he elected to be a free agent.
New York Mets (second stint)
In January 2018, Kelly agreed to a minor league contract with the New York Mets, with an invitation to spring training.Aaron Yorke (January 23, 2018). "Mets sign Ty Kelly to a minor league contract; The reunion deal includes an invite to major league spring training", amazinavenue.com. In July, Kelly was designated for assignment, cleared waivers, and accepted an assignment to AAA Las Vegas.John Jackson (July 27, 2018). "Morning Briefing: Mets Look to Extend Winning Streak," Mets Merized Online. In the 2018 season, he had 11 at bats for the major league team. On October 2, he elected to become a free agent.Jacob Resnick on Twitter: "#Mets minor leaguers Chris Beck, Scott Copeland, Matt den Dekker, and Ty Kelly have elected free agency under Article XX(D). Today was the first day...
As of the end of the 2018 season, Kelly had played every position in the minor leagues except catcher.
Los Angeles Angels