Zack Kelly #37

Full name is Zachery Reed Kelly...He and his wife, Brittany, have a son...Graduated from Lord Botetourt High School (Va.)...Attended Concord University (W.Va.) from 2014-15 and Newberry College (S.C.) from 2016-17, Division II schools...Entering the 2026 season, only four other people who have attended Newberry College have appeared in the majors: Neil Chrisley (1957-61), Cal Cooper (1948), Billy Rhiel (1929-30, ‘32-33) and Al Shealy (1928, ‘30)...In the Community As part of the Red Sox Rookie Development Program in 2023, visited patients at Boston Children’s Hospital and hosted a Play Ball clinic with the Red Sox Foundation...Attended Red Sox Winter Weekend in January 2024, signing autographs and posing for pictures with fans...Attended Red Sox Fenway Fest in January 2025 and 2026, signing autographs and posing for pictures with fans.

2025

Pitched more than one inning in 10 of his 28 games, including 2+ in 5, and 4.0 on 9/3 vs. CLE...Struck out multiple batters in nine games, including a career-high tying four strikeouts in four different games (4/15 at TB, 6/6 at NYY, 6/25 at LAA, and 9/3 vs. CLE)...Appeared in 11 games in September, tying his most games pitched in a month (also: August 2024)...Did not allow a walk in seven consecutive games from 9/16 through the end of the season, tying the longest streak in his career without allowing a walk (24 BF)...Posted a 2.70 ERA (7 ER/ 23.1 IP) with 24 SO in his 20 ML games from 6/1 through the end of the season...Had a 2.96 ERA (8 ER/24.1 IP) with 25 SO in 18 night games, compared to an 8.18 ERA (10 ER/11.0 IP) with 10 SO in 10 day games.

2024

Appeared in 49 games (three starts) over two stints with BOS, going 6-3 with a 3.97 ERA (25 ER/56.2 IP). Ranked second among Red Sox pitchers (min. 20.0 IP) with a .208 opponent AVG (Jansen-.196). In nine appearances with Triple-A Worcester, allowed 0 runs and only one hit in 12.2 IP (.026 AVG, 1-for-38). Ranked in MLB’s 95th percentile in hard-hit rate (31.1%), as well as the 70th percentile or higher in fastball velocity (87th, 96.5 mph), ground-ball rate (77th, 47.7%), whiff rate (71st, 28.1%) and strikeout rate (70th, 25.3%). In three games as an opener, allowed 0 runs and only one hit in 7.2 IP (.042 AVG, 1-for-24)...Started games on 6/9 at CWS (2.0 IP), 6/23 at CIN (2.2 IP), and 8/26 vs. TOR (3.0 IP). Was 4-0 with a 3.65 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, and .169 opponent AVG on the road, compared to 2-3 with a 4.22 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and .236 opponent AVG at home. Held righties to a .182 AVG/.559 OPS (3 HR) and lefties to a .242 AVG/.860 OPS (7 HR).

2023

Made his first career Opening Day roster but missed 143 games due to right elbow inflammation...Posted a 3.86 ERA (4 ER/9.1 IP) in eight games with BOS and made seven rehab appearances in the minors...Five of his eight outings with BOS were scoreless...Tossed 2.0+ innings in two of his eight appearances...Attended his second ML Spring Training...Posted a 2.70 ERA (3 ER/10.0 IP) in eight games...Pitched on Opening Day (3/30 vs. BAL), relieving Corey Kluber in the fourth inning (0.2 IP, 2 BB, 2 SO)...Posted a 3.68 ERA (3 ER/7.1 IP) in six games before being placed on the injured list on 4/13 with right elbow inflammation...Removed from his start on 4/12 at TB with an injury...Transferred to the 60-day IL on 4/16...On 5/2, underwent an ulnar nerve transposition revision in his right elbow...The procedure was performed by Dr. Jeffrey Dugas at Andrews Sports Medicine in Birmingham, Ala...Started his rehab assignment on 9/1 with High-A Greenville...Made seven rehab appearances with Low-A Salem (2), Greenville (1), Double-A Portland (1) and Triple-A Worcester (3)...Reinstated from the 60-day IL on 9/24 and remained with BOS for the rest of the season...Tossed a perfect inning on 9/26 vs. TB, his first ML appearance since 4/12. 

2022

Made his MLB debut, appearing in 13 games for BOS...Allowed three runs on five hits over 1.0 IP in his final outing (10/1 at TOR), but in his other 12 appearances he posted a 2.13 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, and .196 opponent AVG. Pitched primarily for Triple-A Worcester...Was 6-3 with a 2.72 ERA and 13.05 SO/9.0 IP in a team-leading 44 appearances (49.2 IP, 34 H, 15 ER, 25 BB, 72 SO). Attended Spring Training as a non-roster invitee, his first ML Spring Training camp. Posted a 1.69 ERA (2 ER/10.2 IP) through his first 10 outings with the WooSox, nine of which were scoreless. Did not allow an ER in 10 consecutive appearances from 5/22-6/17 (10.1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 BB, 16 SO). Recognized by the Red Sox as the organization’s Minor League Relief Pitcher of the Month for August. Surrendered 0 ER in 11 consecutive appearances for Worcester from 7/22-8/27 (14.2 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 7 BB, 23 SO). Selected to the active ML roster on 8/29, his first career appearance on a 40-man roster...Remained with BOS for the remainder of the season. Made his ML debut on 8/29 at MIN...Struck out each of his first two batters faced in a scoreless sixth inning, then tossed a perfect seventh inning the next night at MIN (1 SO). Placed on the paternity list on 9/2...Reinstated on 9/5. Earned his first career win on 9/29 vs. BAL by tossing a scoreless eighth inning (H, SO).

2021

Made a career-high 36 relief appearances between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester, his Red Sox organization debut...Was also his Triple-A debut...Between the two levels, posted a 2.18 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, .194 opponent AVG, and 13.70 SO/9.0 IP (45.1 IP, 31 H, 11 ER, 18 BB, 69 SO)...Ranked among Sox minor leaguers in relief appearances (T-8th, 36) and saves (T-6th, 6-for-8)...Posted a 2.89 ERA (6 ER/18.2 IP) in 15 appearances for Worcester...Held LHH to a .154 AVG (10-for-65, 0 HR) and RHH to a .221 AVG (21-for-95, 2 HR)...Threw 2.0+ innings nine times...In those games, posted a 0.92 ERA (2 ER/19.2 IP)...Recorded 8 SO in 3.0 scoreless innings in his season debut (5/7 vs. New Hampshire)...Made 12 consecutive scoreless appearances from 5/27-7/1 (14.0 IP)...Retired his final 17 batters faced...Each of his final five outings was perfect (5.0 IP, 0-for-15, 10 SO).