Christian Kelley #00

Christian Dane Kelley...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 All-California Collegiate Athletic Conference Association honoree...Signed by Pirates scout Brian Tracy.

2019

Was a non-roster invitee in spring training for the third straight year...Spent entire season with Triple-A Indianapolis, where he made 79 appearances (74 starts) behind the plate...Threw out 23 of the 80 runners attempting to steal against him (29%)...Tallied lone triple (third career) on 6/9 at Toledo...Hit three of his five home runs during the month of July.

2018

Was listed by Baseball America as the "Best Defensive Catcher" in the Pirates farm system prior to the 2018 season... Spent entire 2018 season with Double-A Altoona and set career highs in home runs and runs scored...Threw out 28 of the 81 runners attempting to steal against him (35%) in 2018 and ranked second among Eastern League catchers with 28 caught-stealings...Was the Opening Day catcher while making his Double-A debut on 4/5/18 vs. Akron...Recorded his second career four-hit game on 8/4/18 vs. Akron.

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.