PHILADELPHIA -- Ty Kelly's latest home is Philly.
He brought his many gloves to Citizens Bank Park, where he joined the Phillies on Tuesday before the game against the Marlins was postponed due to rain. The Phillies acquired Kelly on Saturday in a trade with the Blue Jays for cash considerations. He gives the Phillies another bench player, while Howie Kendrick is on the 10-day disabled list with a strained right oblique.
"Wherever they tell me to go," said Kelly, who replaced injured right-hander Aaron Nola on the 25-man roster.
Kelly, 28, played 39 games with the Mets last season and one this season, posting a .686 OPS in 72 plate appearances. He made the Opening Day roster, but was designated for assignment and claimed by the Blue Jays on April 10. He has played six positions in the big leagues: first base, second base, third base, left field, center field and right field. He also served as the Mets' emergency catcher.
"For most of my career, I've moved around a lot," said Kelly, who also has played in the Baltimore, St. Louis and Seattle organizations since being drafted in 2009. "It's just expanded the more I've played. I started in the infield and slowly started playing outfield. And then it just turned into everywhere."
Kelly has played shortstop in the Minor Leagues. He even pitched an inning in 2014 with Triple-A Tacoma. He retired the side on just five pitches.
"Fastballs, four-seamers," said Kelly, when asked what he threw in that inning. "It read 90 mph at one point, but I was told by the pitchers it was only 89."