Christian Kelley #26

Christian Dane Kelly...Is a 2012 graduate of Don Lugo High School in Chino, CA...Received All-Mt. Baldy League second-team honors as a junior...Guided the Don Lugo team to a Mt. Baldy League championship and earned league MVP honors after hitting .434 with three home runs and 31 RBI during his senior season...Played baseball at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, where he majored in Kinesiology...Was nominated for a Division II Gold Glove Award as a catcher in 2015 at Cal Poly Pomona…Was named to the NCAA Division II West All-Region second team in 2015 and was also a first-team AllCalifornia Collegiate Athletic Conference Association honoree... Signed by Pirates scout Brian Tracy.

2017

Attended first big league camp as a non-roster invitee with the Pirates...Spent entire season with Single-A Bradenton, where he was named to the Florida State League's mid-season All-Star team...Ranked first among all Florida State League catchers in games (89), total chances (757), putouts (653) and assists (97)...Also ranked fourth in the league after throwing out 25.3 percent of the baserunners attempting to steal against him (23-for-91)...Hit safely in five straight games from 4/7-13 and in eight of his nine contests from 4/7-18...Hit his first home run and tallied three RBI on 5/5 vs. Dunedin...Recorded his first career stolen base on 5/13 vs. Palm Beach...Hit .346 (28- for-81) in 22 games during the month of May...Hit his second and final home run on 6/9 at Dunedin...Batted .275 (22-for-80) vs. lefthanders and .233 (57-for-245) off righties.