Antwone Kelly
Position RHP
Height: 5-foot-10
Weight: 238 pounds
Level: Triple-A
Notable: Could an MLB debut for Antwone Kelly be around the corner? The 22-year-old Aruba native and No. 7 Pirates prospect is navigating his first season at Triple-A after a solid 2025 campaign in which he led the club’s minor-league starters with a 3.02 ERA and .208 batting average against.
That season, Kelly made the jump from High-A Greensboro to Double-A Altoona. So far at Indianapolis, Kelly is 3-4 with a 4.67 ERA through 12 games (10 starts). Over 52 innings, he has struck out 44 with 23 walks and has a 1.46 WHIP and .265 opposing batting average.
None of those numbers would suggest Kelly has earned a promotion to Pittsburgh. However, with the Pirates looking increasingly desperate for bullpen help, Kelly could become an option, as he spent his early minor-league career alternating between starter and reliever.
In 2024, at Low-A Bradenton, the Pirates began utilizing him primarily as a starter, but since then, he has pitched a handful of relief outings, including twice this year at Indianapolis.
Kelly’s most recent appearance June 3 was out of the bullpen, and he tossed three scoreless innings. Earlier in the year, on April 23, the Indians experimented and used an opener for Kelly, who came on in the second inning and proceeded to deliver six strong frames.
If general manager Ben Cherington reaches into his pocket at Triple-A for bullpen help, several options await consideration, with Jose Urquidy, Isaac Mattson and Hunter Barco among them.
All three have spent time with the Pirates this season before being sent down.
Kelly has yet to receive a big-league call and would be in line to make his MLB debut.