Pittsburgh Pirates: Five Potential Rule 5 Draft Selections
By Noah Wright
![AMARILLO, TEXAS - JULY 04: Pitcher Levi Kelly #32 of the Amarillo Sod Poodles pitches during the game against the Wichita Wind Surge at HODGETOWN Stadium on July 04, 2021 in Amarillo, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) AMARILLO, TEXAS - JULY 04: Pitcher Levi Kelly #32 of the Amarillo Sod Poodles pitches during the game against the Wichita Wind Surge at HODGETOWN Stadium on July 04, 2021 in Amarillo, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Frumbunter-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fgetty-images-2F2018-2F08-2F1328947623-850x560-06489fd1eaab415b1c9dec5ac391ef2f.jpg)
Right-handed pitcher Levi Kelly
Levi Kelly was an 8th round pick by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2018. After 6 scoreless innings in 2018 to start his professional career, Kelly had a fantastic 2019 season which put him on prospect maps. In 100.1 innings at Low-A Kelly posted an ERA of 2.15, WHIP of 1.10, and FIP of 2.80. Kelly was a strikeout machine, striking out 30.9% of all batters faced. He also allowed just 4 home runs for a 0.36 HR/9. He wasn’t a master at command, but a 9.6% walk rate isn’t awful either.
After the 2020 season where there was no minor league ball, Kelly started the2021 season at Double-A. He opened the season as the organization’s 14th best prospect, but his 2021 season wouldn’t go as planned. He only pitched 25 innings, all in relief. He missed a good chunk of time because of an arm injury. When he was pitching, he wasn’t pitching effectively. He allowed 15 earned runs on 16 hits. 3 of those were long balls. He also walked more batters than he struck out with only 27 strikeouts and 28 walks.
Now to say the right-hander doesn’t have talent would be an untrue statement. He has one of the best sliders in the minor leagues. It projects as a 70-grade pitch. Kelly isn’t a flamethrower and averages out around 92-95 MPH with his four-seamer. He’ll also toss a curveball and splitter. Overall, it’s an arsenal that could work as a back-of-the-rotation starter but projects much better as a reliever.
Some of Kelly’s struggles could be chalked up to injury. Kelly would be a fantastic use of the Rule 5 draft. It’s hard to pass up on a guy who has a 70-grade slider. Moving him to the pen would allow him to only focus on one or two other offerings. Plus, the fact he ranks as a top 15 prospect in a system that’s a top 5 system is also notable.