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Boston Red Sox Prospects: Who will make their MLB debut in 2022?

By Hunter Noll

BOSTON, MA - JULY 28: Jarren Duran #40 of the Boston Red Sox follows watches a hit against the Toronto Blue Jays during the second inning of game two of a doubleheader at Fenway Park on July 28, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - JULY 28: Jarren Duran #40 of the Boston Red Sox follows watches a hit against the Toronto Blue Jays during the second inning of game two of a doubleheader at Fenway Park on July 28, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images) /
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BOSTON, MA – SEPTEMBER 6: A general view during a game between the Boston Red Sox and the Tampa Bay Rays on September 6, 2021 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) /

Red Sox relief pitching prospect Zack Kelly

Like I just stated, Boston doesn’t exactly have a star-studded bullpen. So even if they do give Feltman a chance, they’ll likely need more help. Enter Zack Kelly.

2021 was the first year Kelly was in Boston’s system, having spent 2019 with the Los Angeles Angels organization. However, it didn’t take long for the right-handed pitcher to prove just how good he is.

Kelly pitched in both Double-A and Triple-A in 2021. In 45 1/3 innings combined between the two levels, he posted a 2.18 ERA. It wasn’t just a low ERA though. Kelly managed a 1.08 WHIP and a ridiculous .194 BAA. He also struck out a staggering 69 batters in that time, posting a 4-1 record with 10 holds and six saves.

Kelly will enter the 2022 season as a 27 year old. He’s had a decent amount of experience in the minors (four seasons, 88 games, 13 starts, 196 1/3 innings pitched) as well. The Red Sox will be looking for cheap bullpen options. And he was toying with a call-up last season. It feels like if he was on the 40-man roster, that would’ve happened.

Now, Kelly isn’t on the 40-man roster at the moment either. However, Boston only has 39 players on it and that’s likely not going to remain the same. There are a few players I could see being taken off the list in exchange for others (although you could also argue there will be more free agent signings taking up spots). However, there will also be 60-day IL moves that free up spaces.

Kelly could even make it to the Majors through Spring Training. It seems likely that he’ll get a chance to win a spot this Spring. If that doesn’t happen though, it will happen before the end of the year. It feels sort of obvious.

Injuries happen. And at the moment there are very few pitchers that Boston would have in their minors that would be on the list ahead of the Newberry College product. A strong mix of solid pitches should work well in the Majors and this could be someone that once he makes it to the show, he’s there to stay.

Maybe not a 100% definite, but he’s pretty high up on the scale – getting a “hot” rating.

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