Carson Franklin Kelly...A Chicago native, he signed a two-year Major League contract with the Cubs on Dec. 13, 2024...Has spent time in the Cardinals (2012-18), Diamondbacks (2019-23), Tigers (2023-24), Rangers (2024) and Cubs (2025) organizations...Hit for the cycle on March 31, 2025 at Athletics, becoming the first Cub to accomplish the feat since Mark Grace on May 9, 1993 vs. San Diego...Became the first Cubs catcher with a cycle since Randy Hundley on Aug. 11, 1966 vs. Houston...Received Arizona's 2022 Good Guy Award by the Arizona chapter of the BBWAA, an honor which recognizes the player who most fosters a positive relationship with the media...Tied Arizona's single-season record for homers by a catcher with 18 in 2019 (also: Miguel Montero - 2011)…In 2016, was named the Cardinals' Minor League Player of the Year, participated in the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game and played with Glendale in the Arizona Fall League following the campaign...Made his Major League debut on Sept. 5, 2016 at Pittsburgh, doubling in his first at-bat...Was named a Mid-Season All-Star three times: 2017 (Pacific Coast League), 2016 (Texas League) and 2014 (Midwest League)…Earned a Rawlings Gold Glove Award as a catcher with High-A Palm Beach in 2015...Was selected by St. Louis in the second round of the 2012 draft...Graduated from Westview High School (Ore.) in 2012...Was named the Gatorade Oregon High School Player of the Year in 2011 and 2012...Became the 68th player in Cubs history born in Chicago, the first since Cliff Floyd in 2007.
2025
Batted .249 (92-for-369) with 13 doubles, one triple, 17 home runs, 50 RBI and a .761 OPS in 111 games with the Cubs...Finished the season tied for fifth among NL catchers with 17 home runs, one shy of his single-season career high...Hit .286 (52-for-182) with 22 RBI and an .819 OPS on the road, compared to .214 (40-for-187) with 28 RBI and a .704 OPS at home...On March 31 at Athletics, recorded the first cycle by a Cub since Mark Grace did so on May 9, 1993 vs. San Diego and the first Cubs catcher to accomplish the feat since Randy Hundley on Aug. 11, 1966 vs. Houston...Became the first catcher to hit for the cycle since J.T. Realmuto on June 12, 2023 at Arizona; also walked twice, joining Joe Gordon (Sept. 8, 1940) and Mickey Cochrane (Aug. 2, 1933) as the lone Major Leaguers since 1901 to both hit for the cycle and walk twice in the same game...Recorded the most RBI by a Cub in their first five player games with the team in franchise history (10)...Recorded 10 RBI in a three-game span from March 31-April 5...Recorded a walk in seven consecutive games from March 31-April 13, his longest streak walking in a career-high 10 straight from April 7-22, 2021...On April 12, recorded his second career multi-homer game, both against the Dodgers (also: Aug. 9, 2019 in Los Angeles)...Became the first Major League catcher since Boston's Rich Gedman in 1985 to hit for the cycle and record a multi-homer game in the same season...On April 18 vs. Arizona, recorded his third career multi-homer game, second this season...Also tied his career high with five RBI (also: March 31, 2025 at Athletics)...Became the 12th Cubs catcher with multiple two-homer games in the same season (last: Willson Contreras - 2022)...Became the first catcher in Cubs history to record at least five home runs and 20 RBI in their first 19 games with the club...Tallied a 10-game on-base streak from April 22-May 7, posting a .432 OBP during the stretch, the third-longest streak of his career...Hit his eighth home run of the season in his 20th game of May 5 vs. San Francisco, the second-most home runs in the first 20 games of a Cubs catcher's season, trailing Gabby Harnett in 1925 (nine)...From July 4-5, tallied his 10th and 11th home runs, his first in back-to-back games this season, the eighth time he has accomplished the feat in his career...On Aug. 9 at St. Louis, recorded his fifth three-plus-hit game of the season (last: July 21 vs. KC)...On Sept. 1 vs. Atlanta, recorded the second walk-off hit of his career, a 10th-inning single (last: 1B, April 6, 2019 vs. Boston)...Also blasted a game-tying two-run home run in the eighth inning...Became the first Cub since Corey Patterson on Sept. 14, 2004 vs. Pittsburgh to record a game-tying homer in the eighth inning or later and also tally a walk-off hit in the same game...On Sept. 7 vs. Washington, recorded his 15th and 16th home runs of the season, his third multi-homer game of the year (last: April 18 vs. Arizona) and the fourth of his career...Batted .179 (5-for-28) in eight postseason games...Marked his first career MLB playoff experience...Recorded two hits in Game 3 of the Wild Card Series vs. SD.
2024
Carson played in a combined 91 games in 2024 with Detroit (60 games) and Texas (31 games), batting .238 (67-for-287) with nine doubles, one triple, nine home runs and 37 RBI...Threw out 19-of-78 (24.4%) of attempted base stealers...Batted .289 (44-for-152) with an .833 OPS over 46 games from May 13-Aug. 17, ranking among the leaders of A.L. primary catchers (min. 150 PA) in slugging (first, .474), on-base percentage (second, .359), OPS (second) and average (third)…Began the season with the Tigers and was acquired by the Rangers on July 28 for catcher Liam Hicks and right-handed pitcher Tyler Owens...Following the trade, batted .235 (24-for-102) with five doubles, two home runs and eight RBI in 31 games with Texas...Hit safely in 14 of his first 17 starts with the Rangers, batting .300 (18-for-60) in that span...Collected his 200th career RBI on bases-loaded walk on in Game 2 on Aug. 10 at New York (A.L.)…Recorded first Rangers home run on Aug. 11 at New York (A.L.), part of a three-hit effort...Was the third instance of a Rangers starting catcher to record a three-hit game with a homer in 2024...Fell a triple shy of cycle on Sept. 27 at Los Angeles (A.L.), going 3-for-4 with a home run in a 5-2 win.
2023
Began the 2023 season in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization, before being signed by the Tigers as a free agent on Aug. 19... Did not commit an error in 47 games behind the plate during the season, extending his errorless streak at catcher to 156 games... Collected his first hit as a Tiger with a single in the fifth inning on Aug. 26 vs. Houston... Pitched in the eighth inning on Aug. 27 vs. Houston and struck out Jake Meyers for his first big league punchout... Drew three walks on Aug. 31 vs. New York (AL), equaling his single-game career high (other, Aug. 27, 2022 at Chicago (AL)... Blasted a two-run homer in the fifth inning on Sept. 22 at Oakland, his first in a Tigers uniform... was his second round-tripper of the season with his other coming with the Diamondbacks on July 2 at Los Angeles (AL).
2022
Hit .211 (67-for-317) with 18 doubles, seven homers, 35 RBI and 29 walks over 104 games in his fourth season with Arizona...Made his second straight Opening Day start....On the 10-day injured list from May 5-June 10 (strained left oblique)....Had a career-high 13-game hitting streak (.422; 19-for-45) from July 4-25....Plated a career-high four RBI on Aug. 29 vs. Phillies...Tallied his first and second-career stolen bases on Aug. 20 vs. Cardinals and Sept. 28 @ Astros...Served as leadoff hitter in a career-high 14 games (6 in 2021)...Received the D-backs’ 2022 "Good Guy Award" by the Arizona chapter of the BBWAA, an honor which recognizes the player who most fosters a positive relationship with the media...Was one of four catchers in the Majors in 2022 to not post an error (also: Tyler Stephenson/CIN, Nick Fortes/MIA, Luke Maile/CLE) [min. 40 G].
2021
Hit .240 (73-for-304) with 11 doubles, one triple, 13 home runs and 46 RBI in 98 games in his third season with Arizona... His .240 average, .343 OBP, .411 slugging pct. and .754 OPS were all up from 2020 (.221/.264/.385/.649)... Finished with 101 strikes framed, ninth-most in the NL (had 90 strikes framed in 101 games in 2019)... Walked in a club-record-tying 10 straight games from April 7-22 (third time)... Reached base safely in a career-best 20 straight games from April 7-May 8... Career-high four hits Aug. 12 vs. Padres.
2020
Batted .221 with 5 doubles, 5 home runs and 19 RBI in 39 games in his second season with the D-backs...Was 11-for-30 (.367) with runners in scoring position...Made his first pitching appearance on Aug. 9 @ Padres (0 ER in 1.0 IP).
2019
Hit .245 (77-for-314)/.348 OBP/.478 SLG with 19 doubles, 18 home runs, 47 RBI, 48 walks and 46 runs scored in 111 games in his first season with the D-backs…37 of his 77 hits (48.1 pct.) went for extra bases...His 18 homers tied the single-season club record for catchers (also: Miguel Montero, 2011) and were tied for fourth among NL catchers (also: Jorge Alfaro/MIA), behind Yasmani Grandal/MIL (25), Willson Contreras/CHC (24) and J.T. Realmuto/PHI (23)...Posted the highest slugging pct. (.490) and OPS (.844) by a catcher in team history, while his on-base pct. (.354) was second to Montero in 2012 (.390) and average (.250) was ninth [stats as C only]...Among all catchers after May 4 (min. 300 PA), was second in on-base pct. (.373), slugging pct. (.514) and OPS (.887) and ninth in average (.259)...Entered 2019 rated by Baseball America as the D-backs' No. 4 prospect and Best Defensive Catcher.
2018
Spent the majority of the season with Triple-A Memphis, hitting .269/.378 OBP/.395 SLG with 14 doubles, 7 home runs and 41 RBI in 83 games…also played in 19 games with the Cardinals (11 starts at catcher)...Threw out 33.3 pct. of attempted basestealers with Memphis (17-for-51), fourth-best among Pacific Coast League catchers...On the Cardinals' 10-day disabled list from May 17-26 with a strained right hamstring...Batted .312 AVG/.413 OBP/.390 SLG (24-for-77) vs. left-handed pitching...Entered the season ranked by Baseball America as the Best Defensive Catcher in the Cardinals' organization for the second time (also: 2016).
2017
Was recalled from Memphis (AAA) on 7/21 and started at CHI that day hitting a 2-run double ... Had season-highs with two hits and two runs at MIL (8/29) ... Started the last six games of the season ... Finished the season with a career-best three game hit streak vs. MIL ... Started 14 games in 2017 and has made only one error in 191 career total chances ... Batted .283 with 10 HR, 41 RBI in 83 games at Memphis (AAA). Threw out 12-of-45 (26.7%) attempted base stealers ... Posted a multi-home run game vs. Colorado Springs (4/11) ... Hit a walk-off RBI single vs. Round Rock (7/14) on his 23rd birthday ... Named Cardinals Minor League Player of the Month for May batting .381 (32-84) with 3 HR, 15 RBI and a 1.018 OPS in 22 games ... Selected to the Pacific Coast League All-Star Team as the starting catcher ... Rated as the No. 3 prospect and the "Best Defensive Catcher" in the Cardinals organization by Baseball America in their "Best Tools" survey.
2016
Progressed through three levels of the organization, beginning the season at Double-A Springfield, advancing to Memphis (AAA) on 7/11 before a call-up to the Majors on 9/4...Made his Major League debut on 9/5 at PIT when he entered the game in the 7th at catcher before collecting a double in his first Major League at-bat (off Bastardo) and scored his first run in the following at-bat on a double by Grichuk...Picked up his first Major League RBI on 9/8 vs. MIL on a groundout in the 9th...Appeared in 10 September games, making two starts. Caught a total of 36.0 innings, committing no errors in 32 chances with no passed balls...Played 64 games while at Springfield, 60 behind the plate with 58 starts; had a 33% caught stealing rate (21/63)...Hit in five-straight games from 5/17-5/23 (11-21, .524) during a month in which he batted .333 (26-78) with 2 HRs and 7 RBI...Upon his promotion to Triple-A collected hits in nine of his first 10 games and 15 of his first 18 games (22-65, .338)...Hit .370 with runners in scoring position (10-27) with 14 RBI and .400 (4-10) RISP w/ 2 outs...Caught the final four innings of MLB's Futures Game during All-Star week for Team USA; went 0-2 at the plate...Named to the Texas League All-Star North Division team, but did not play due to his selection to USA Future's team...Ranked as the organization's No. 4 prospect by Baseball America.
2015
Played 108 games in Palm Beach (A) and won the Rawlings Gold Glove award for the best defensive catcher in all of Minor League Baseball in 2015...led all Florida State League catchers with a .996 fielding percentage...also ranked first among catchers in games (108), total chances (821) and putouts (751)...threw out 36.0% of attempted base stealers (31 CS/86 SB ATT), ranking 4th in the FSL and helped Palm Beach to the highest caught stealing percentage among FSL teams at 42.0%...ranked second on the team in HR (8) and RBI (51)...posted 18 multi-hit games with five 3-hit games...recorded hits in 11 straight home games from 8/8 through the end of the season, batting .419 (18-43) during the stretch...started two games at catcher in the Florida State League playoffs and was 2-for-8 with a walk... rated as the "Best Defensive Catcher" and No. 10 prospect in the Cardinals organization by Baseball America.
2014
Former infielder was converted to catcher at the beginning of the season and received a Spring Training invite as a 19-year old...played the entire season at Peoria (A), starting 79 games at catcher...was selected to the Midwest League All-Star Game and went 0-for-2 entering the game as a pinch-hitter in the 6th inning and caught the remainder of the game in a 7-0 victory for the MWL West All-Stars... ranked 2nd on the Peoria sqaud with 37 walks and 3rd in HR (6), RBI (49), doubles (17), triples (4) and hits (90)... posted career highs with five RBI and three doubles in a game at Quad Cities (6/21)...batted .311 with runners in scoring position and two outs (14-45)...threw out 33.0% of attempted base stealers (37 CS/112 SB ATT) and tied for the league lead in catcher DP's (10).
2013
Played 113 games in his first full season, beginning with 43 games at Peoria (A) and finishing with 70 at State College (SS-A). Ranked 2nd on the State College squad playing in 70-of-75 games and starting 65 at third base...Batted .257 with 6 HR and 45 RBI, while hitting 22 doubles for the entire season...Was 2nd Toughest to Strike Out in the New York-Penn League with one strikeout per 9.55 plate appearances...Led New York-Penn League third basemen in fielding percentage at .942, committing 9 errors in 156 total chances...Hit safely in 49-of-70 games with 18 multi-hit efforts including a career-high four-hit game vs. Williamsport (8/22)...Rattled off an 11-game home hitting streak from 8/8-28, batting.422 (19-45) during the stretch. Also reached base safely in 16 straight home games from 7/30 through the end of the season, posting a .441 on-base percentage...Ranked 4th in the New York-Penn League in total at-bats with 271...Had a hot July batting .317 (32-101) with 14 RBI...Rated as the No. 10 prospect in the Cardinals organization by Baseball America.
2011
Played in 56 games for Johnson City, starting 48 at third base...played first professional game at the age of 17, hitting his first home run vs. Elizabethton (7/7) off Angel Mata...had 11 multiple-hit games topping out with a three hit game vs. Burlington (6/30)...hit nine home runs to rank 2nd on the squad and T6th in the Appalachian League...rated as the 9th-best prospect in the Cardinals organization by Baseball America.
