The Red Sox optioned Kelly to Triple-A Worcester on Saturday, Julian McWilliams of The Boston Globe reports.
Kelly gave up three earned runs without recording an out during Friday's loss to the Yankees, inflating his ERA to 3.97 across 56.2 innings. He'll now head back to Triple-A, though there's still a possibility he makes another appearance in the majors before the season ends. He'll be joined in Worcester by Cam Booser while Bailey Horn and Zach Penrod come up from the minors to fill the open bullpen spots.
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Red Sox's Zack Kelly: Tosses three scoreless frames
Rotowire
Kelly did not factor in the decision Monday against Toronto after issuing two walks over three scoreless innings as the opener. He struck out four batters during the loss.
Kelly retired the first seven batters he faced before walking a pair in the third inning. He worked around the traffic before turning the ball over to Justin Slaten in the fourth inning. Kelly matched his longest MLB outing by recording nine outs and dropped his ERA to 2.58 across 52.1 innings. He's turned in 5.2 straight scoreless frames after yielding an earned run in each of his previous three appearances.
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Red Sox's Zack Kelly: Opening Monday's game
Rotowire
Kelly will serve as the Red Sox's opening pitcher for Monday's game against the Blue Jays, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports.
Over his 48 appearances between Boston and Triple-A Worcester this season, Kelly hasn't covered more than three innings on any occasion, and he hasn't recorded more than three outs in any outing since July 22. As such, Kelly shouldn't be expected to work more than once through the batting order before exiting the contest. Cooper Criswell is available on four days' rest and Brad Keller is available on two days' rest as potential bulk-relief options behind Kelly.
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Red Sox's Zack Kelly: Set to open Sunday's bullpen game
Rotowire
Kelly is scheduled to start Sunday's game against the White Sox in what's expected to be a bullpen day.
Unless they bring aboard another pitcher from Triple-A Worcester to serve as a bulk reliever, the Red Sox look set to lean on a number of arms for the series finale in Chicago once Kelly exits the game. Kelly recorded one out in Saturday's 6-1 loss and hasn't exceeded three innings in any of his 20 appearances this season between the majors and Triple-A, so he shouldn't be expected to work more than once through the batting order in his first big-league start. Brennan Bernardino, Justin Slaten and Cam Booser are all available on at least two days' rest and should all be capable of giving the Red Sox two or more innings out of the bullpen, if needed.
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Red Sox's Zack Kelly: Getting promoted
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The Red Sox plan to call up Kelly from Triple-A Worcester on Wednesday, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.
Boston optioned Kelly to the minors May 26, but he'll be eligible to rejoin the team in fewer than the minimum 15 days with Chris Martin (undisclosed) set to be placed on the 15-day injured list in a corresponding move. In 16.2 innings of relief with Boston, Kelly owns a 2.16 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP.
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Red Sox's Zack Kelly: Back in big leagues
Rotowire
The Red Sox recalled Kelly from Triple-A Worcester on Wednesday.
Kelly got a late start to the season at Worcester with an oblique injury, but he's since fired nine scoreless innings with a 10:8 K:BB. He'll work in middle relief for Boston.
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Red Sox's Zack Kelly: Healthy at Triple-A
Rotowire
Kelly (oblique) has made two relief appearances for Triple-A Worcester since the start of the International League season, tossing two scoreless innings while striking out one and allowing zero hits and two walks.
Before he was optioned to Triple-A at the conclusion of spring training, Kelly didn't make any Grapefruit League appearances for Boston after March 2 while he dealt with a sore left oblique. The issue wasn't significant enough to force Kelly to Worcester's 7-day IL to begin the season, so he'll look to string together some quality appearances for the Triple-A club with the hope of earning a call back to Boston.
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Red Sox's Zack Kelly: Optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Red Sox optioned Kelly (oblique) to Triple-A Worcester on Friday, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.
Kelly won't make the cut for Boston's bullpen after missing most of March due to a left oblique injury. The right-hander failed to pitch as scheduled in Friday's Grapefruit League game against Toronto, but he should be healthy to begin the minor-league season and could quickly rejoin the Red Sox if he starts the year hot.
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Red Sox's Zack Kelly: Dealing with oblique injury
Rotowire
Kelly is currently sidelined by a left oblique injury, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.
Kelly's last Grapefruit League appearance came on March 2, although it's not clear whether he was injured then or sometime after. It's possible he will require a stint on the injured list to begin the season, but more should be known in the coming days.
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Red Sox's Zack Kelly: Activated from IL
Rotowire
The Red Sox reinstated Kelly (elbow) from the 60-day injured list Sunday, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports.
Kelly has been out for most of the season while recovering from elbow surgery he underwent in April. He allowed eight runs over six innings during his rehab assignment and has been deemed ready to join Boston's bullpen for the final week-plus of the season. The Red Sox optioned Nick Robertson to Triple-A Worcester and designated Kyle Barraclough for assignment as corresponding moves.
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Red Sox's Zack Kelly: Shifts rehab to Double-A
Rotowire
Kelly (elbow) will move his rehab assignment from High-A Salem to Double-A Portland on Wednesday, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.
Kelly began the assignment with Salem on Sept. 1 and gave up three earned runs on three hits and five walks while striking out three over two innings across his three appearances. Though he needs more time to regain command coming off an elbow procedure that he underwent in April, Kelly showed enough during his time at Salem to get bumped up to Double-A. He'll eventually move his rehab assignment to Triple-A Worcester before likely making his return from Boston's 60-day injured list at some point later this month.
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Red Sox's Zack Kelly: Could face hitters next week
Rotowire
Kelly (elbow) could face hitters next week, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.
This is the first update on Kelly's status since he underwent an elbow procedure in early May, but he has apparently made good progress in his recovery and is on the verge of reaching a key step in the process.
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Red Sox's Zack Kelly: Undergoes nerve procedure
Rotowire
The Red Sox announced Tuesday that Kelly underwent a successful ulnar nerve transposition revision in his right elbow, Jen McCaffrey of The Athleticreports.
The procedure was performed by Dr. Jeffrey Dugas at The Andrews Institute in Birmingham, Alabama. Kelly has no timetable for a return at this point, but the right-hander told reporters near the end of April that his hope is to return in four months. If there are no setbacks, Kelly could be a late-innings option for the Boston bullpen near the start of September.
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Red Sox's Zack Kelly: Targeting September return
Rotowire
Kelly (elbow) said Thursday that he will be sidelined for four months, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.
Kelly is scheduled to undergo surgery to repair the ulnar nerve in his right elbow, and he will reportedly be a "full go" once four months have passed following the procedure. If the Red Sox are in a position to make the postseason by then, Kelly could make a return to the bullpen. Otherwise, the team could decide to shelve him for the season and give him more time to recover.
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Red Sox's Zack Kelly: Set for elbow surgery
Rotowire
Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Wednesday that Kelly is scheduled to undergo surgery to reattach the ulnar nerve in his right elbow, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.
Kelly, who previously underwent an internal bracing procedure on the elbow in 2020, will avoid Tommy John surgery, but the right-hander still appears to be headed for an extended absence. A timetable for Kelly's return isn't clear yet, as Cora merely said Wednesday that the 28-year-old is out "for a while." The 28-year-old was transferred to the 60-day injured list over the weekend.
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Red Sox's Zack Kelly: Shifts to 60-day IL
Rotowire
Kelly (elbow) was transferred to the 60-day injured list Sunday, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.
The 28-year-old is dealing with right elbow inflammation and recently had an MRI return negative for any structural damage, but he's still experiencing discomfort and will now be sidelined for at least the next two months. Kelly is likely to be shut down from throwing for a bit as he continues to be evaluated.
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Red Sox's Zack Kelly: Wins spot in bullpen
Rotowire
Red Sox manager Alex Cora informed Kelly on Sunday that he's secured a spot on the Opening Day roster, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.
Kelly was solid in his cup of coffee with Boston in 2023 with a 3.95 ERA over 13 appearances and 13.2 innings, and he's done a nice job this spring with a 3.38 ERA in his eight innings of work in Grapefruit League play. The 28-year-old right-hander will be a middle-innings option out of the bullpen to open the 2023 campaign.
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Red Sox's Zack Kelly: Trending up
Rotowire
Kelly's stuff has ticked up in recent seasons and is a contender to win a full-time role in Boston's bullpen this season, MLB Pipeline reports.
Kelly was a journeyman reliever earlier in his minor-league career. He gained fastball velocity during the off year in 2020 and came back racking up the strikeouts the past two years, culminating with him fanning 72 batters (34.4 percent) in 49.2 innings at Triple-A Worcester before earning his MLB debut last season. In addition to his mid-90s fastball, Kelly sports a plus changeup that has similar movement characteristics to Devin Williams' famous "airbender" changeup. Kelly probably won't get saves as a rookie, but he could offer value in leagues where relievers who post good ratios and strikeouts are useful.
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Red Sox's Zack Kelly: Back from paternity list
Rotowire
Kelly was reinstated from the paternity list Monday, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.
Kelly will return to Boston's bullpen ahead of Monday's series opener versus the Rays following a three-day absence while with his growing family. The right-hander has appeared in three games since getting called up Aug. 28, surrendering two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out four over three innings. Josh Winckowski was optioned to Triple-A Worcester in a corresponding move.
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Red Sox's Zack Kelly: Makes MLB debut
Rotowire
Kelly allowed one hit and struck out two over a scoreless inning in Monday's 4-2 loss to the Twins.
Kelly, who was part of a bullpen shakeup following a blowout loss Sunday, made his MLB debut Monday. The 27-year-old Kelly and Kaleb Ort were called up, while Austin Davis and Hirokazu Sawamura were DFA'd. The bullpen has been a mess all season, and general manager Chaim Bloom needs to address it during the offseason. For now, the Red Sox are hopeful Kelly, who had a 2.72 ERA for Triple-A Worcester, could become a discovery like John Schreiber, a 28-year-old with a 2.22 for Boston in 2022.
