After '21 season of learning curves, Kelley ready to build off experience

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The statistics from Jared Kelley’s 2021 Minor League season don’t exactly paint a picture of success for the White Sox second-round pick in the 2020 Draft, taken 36 players behind Garrett Crochet.

But a look beyond those numbers provides a greater understanding of the right-hander’s first full professional season.

“There were plenty of positive takeaways, even though if you look at kind of the surface numbers, it would indicate that perhaps he needed to make greater adjustments,” said White Sox assistant general manager/player development Chris Getz during an interview on Tuesday at the White Sox Minor League camp. “But that's just part of his process.”

“My first season was kind of tough for me,” Kelley told MLB.com during a recent interview. “It’s going to be a little bit tough on everybody in their first year, especially not being able to throw so much. First time going from high school to pro ball, it’s going to take a little bit. You aren’t going to go out there and dominate hitters. You have to get the feel of what pro ball is like.”

Getz pointed out how Kelley, the No. 5 White Sox prospect, per MLB Pipeline, who turned 20 on Oct. 3, gets lumped in with Andrew Dalquist and Matthew Thompson as young White Sox pitchers who have gone the route of high school straight to the pros. But Dalquist and Thompson, the sixth- and seventh-ranked White Sox prospects, respectively, are one year older.

Kelley worked at the White Sox alternate training site in Schaumburg, Ill., during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season but then primarily moved to Low-A Kannapolis in ’21. In 12 starts overall, between Kannapolis and the Arizona Rookie League, Kelley finished with a 0-7 record, a 7.61 ERA and 27 strikeouts against 26 walks in 23 2/3 innings.

Innings were going to be limited, but Kelley still was disappointed in pitching as little as he did. He also cited not throwing as many strikes and not having as much confidence as issues from 2021.

“I think it was just more on the mental side of things,” Kelley said. “Not trusting my stuff. Trying to do too much. Trying to make some pitch too nasty than what it should be.”

His 2022 goals build off last year’s shortcomings.

“[My goal] would be being able to last an entire season and being out there and competing with my teammates and [throwing] strikes,” Kelley said. “I’m not too worried about the level. Just go out there and pitch and everything will take care of itself.”

A forearm flexor issue and soreness in the back of his shoulder also limited Kelley’s innings in his debut. He proclaimed everything to be good currently as he throws bullpen sessions in Arizona to get prepared.

“Jared's in really good shape, he's worked hard this offseason,” Getz said. “It's really about building a foundation for him to have a productive season.

“He's worked hard on his core strength, his shoulder strength and really just learning the ins and outs of what it takes to be a starting pitcher in the professional game. He's on a normal progression right now. We're happy with where Jared's at. I know that he's really confident and he should be, because of the work he put in this offseason.”

Dalquist and Thompson struggled to some extent last season, making the jump from the Arizona White Sox to Kannapolis with the Great Falls stop in between and, of course, very little baseball action in 2020. So, all three should take a step forward in ’22, or at least so the White Sox believe.

Those struggles didn’t hamper the confidence of Kelley, who knows what he has in his high-octane fastball but would like to work the changeup more into his repertoire.

“That was a pitch that was a really big weapon for him in high school, and [the] slider wasn't quite as good,” said White Sox pitching coordinator Everett Teaford of Kelley’s change. “He's improved the slider. It's kind of that kid with a new toy thing where he didn't use the changeup as much as we would like because he had that. Increasing the changeup is definitely high on his to-do list.”

“This year ... I kind of know what a full season looks like. I know what I need to do to prepare, get my body right, get my arm in shape to last the entire season,” Kelley said. “I know what kind of pitcher I am. I know what my ability is. It’s not like this year I’m going into it scared or anything like that. Now I know what I need to do and how I need to pitch. I take last season more as a learning curve than anything.”