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PITTSBURGH — Only three pitchers from Aruba have ever made it to the major leagues, but the exclusive list will soon grow by one.
Calvin Maduro was the first to reach the majors in 1996. Sidney Ponson became the second two years later, and two months after that, Radhames Dykhoff made his lone MLB appearance.
When Antwone Kelly takes the mound with the Pittsburgh Pirates for the first time, he will become the fourth Aruban to ever step on a big-league mound, and the first since Ponson made his last appearance in 2009.
“It means everything,” Kelly said on representing Aruba.
The Pittsburgh Pirates promoted Kelly, one of their top pitching prospects in the organization, on Friday ahead of their game against the Miami Marlins at PNC Park.
The 22-year-old was playing video games on his PlayStation when he received a phone call that he was headed to the big leagues.
“It feels amazing,” Kelly said outside his new locker in the Pirates’ clubhouse. “This is a dream come true. It feels really good.”
Ranked as the organization’s seventh-best prospect, Kelly has primarily worked as a starting pitcher in his career, but the Pirates will use him as a reliever during his first stint with the team.
“Elite arm, throws the ball really well, and excited to see him up,” manager Don Kelly said. “We’ve gotten him into different roles in the minor leagues the last few weeks to get him to come out of the ‘pen, and he’ll be in the bullpen for us.”
Kelly made 13 appearances/10 starts with Indianapolis this season, where he went 3-4 with 4.50 ERA. The right-hander brushed off a slow start to the season and has pitched to a 3.00 ERA in seven appearances since the start of May, the last two of which came out of the bullpen.
When Kelly jogs in from the bullpen for his debut with the Pirates, it won’t feel much different than if he was starting the game.
“I think you just gotta have the same mentality,” he explained. “It’s baseball at the end of the day. So, starter, reliever, whatever they want. I’ll be ready.”
Whenever Kelly does take the mound for the first time, expect to see plenty of velocity. Despite being listed as only 5-foot-10, he possesses a fastball that touches triples digits, and he’s been working this season to round-out his arsenal.
“It’s an interesting mix, where he’s able to mix it up with the split change and the cutter,” said Don Kelly. “I think the spin has been developing and doing better this year.”
The newest addition to the Pirates will try and solve some bullpen woes that have plagued the team all season. Entering Friday’s game, Pittsburgh’s bullpen ranks 20th with a 4.44 ERA.
Kelly said whatever the situation, he’ll be ready when his name is called. And he’ll put a smile on the faces of many back home in his island country by becoming one of only four pitchers to do so.
“Just come here and give it my all. Try to win,” he said. “Whatever they tell me. Wherever they want me to throw, I’ll be happy to do it.”
The post ‘It Means Everything,’ Antwone Kelly Set to Be 4th Aruban Pitcher MLB History appeared first on Pittsburgh Baseball Now.
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