Michael Kelly Bio
Michael Joseph Kelly (born September 6, 1992) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Oakland Athletics of Major League Baseball (MLB). A right-handed pitcher who came up through the San Diego Padres system, Kelly has also appeared in the major leagues for the Philadelphia Phillies and Cleveland Guardians. He has spent portions of his career in independent baseball and in the upper levels of the minor leagues.
Early Life and Background
Michael Joseph Kelly grew up in Boca Raton, Florida, where he attended West Boca Raton Community High School. He played for the school’s baseball team as a pitcher, working his way into a prominent spot on the staff during his prep years. Coming out of that Boca Raton high school program, he drew attention from professional scouts as a projectable arm.
Kelly was selected by the San Diego Padres in the first round of the 2011 MLB draft, going 48th overall. He signed with the organization and began his professional career in 2012, splitting that debut season between the rookie-level Arizona League Padres and the Single-A Fort Wayne TinCaps.
Path to Professional Baseball
Kelly’s progression through the Padres system was steady if unspectacular. He bounced between Fort Wayne and the Low-A Eugene Emeralds in 2013 and spent a full season back at Eugene in 2014, where he turned in a 7-5 record and 4.05 ERA across 15 appearances. He split 2015 between the High-A Lake Elsinore Storm and Eugene, posting a 5-9 record and 5.68 ERA over 19 appearances.
By 2016, Kelly had reached Double-A San Antonio and Triple-A El Paso, compiling a 9-8 record and 4.34 ERA with 115 strikeouts in 128⅔ innings across the three affiliates. He split 2017 between San Antonio and El Paso as well, going 10-4 with a 4.19 ERA and 128 strikeouts in 126⅔ innings.
Michael Kelly Career
Early Career (2011-2017)
Kelly spent six seasons in the Padres organization without ever appearing in the major leagues. During that span, he worked his way from rookie ball through Triple-A, refining his craft as a starting pitcher. He elected free agency on November 6, 2017, after his 2017 campaign with San Antonio and El Paso.
On December 14, 2017, Kelly signed a major league contract with the Baltimore Orioles. He was designated for assignment on March 29, 2018, and was outrighted to the Double-A Bowie Baysox after clearing waivers on April 5. Kelly split 2018 between Bowie and the Triple-A Norfolk Tides, going 1-6 with an 8.42 ERA and 62 strikeouts in 31 appearances. He elected free agency on November 2, 2018.
Independent Baseball and Return to Affiliated Ball (2019-2020)
On April 25, 2019, Kelly signed with the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, an independent league. He made 20 appearances, 17 of them starts, and went 3-8 with a 5.34 ERA and 83 strikeouts across 89⅓ innings. On May 11, 2021, Kelly signed a minor league contract with the Houston Astros organization, splitting the year between the Double-A Corpus Christi Hooks and the Triple-A Sugar Land Skeeters. He went 5-4 with a 2.70 ERA and 62 strikeouts in 41 relief outings over 50 innings. He elected free agency on November 7, 2021.
Philadelphia Phillies Era (2022)
On November 28, 2021, Kelly signed a minor league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies. He began 2022 with the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs. On June 13, 2022, Kelly was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time. He made four appearances for the Phillies, recording a 2.25 ERA with four strikeouts across four innings pitched.
On July 14, Kelly was removed from the 40-man roster and sent outright to Triple-A Lehigh. He elected free agency on October 14, 2022.
Cleveland Guardians Era (2023)
On January 4, 2023, Kelly signed a minor league contract with the Cleveland Guardians, with an invitation to major league spring training. He began the year with the Triple-A Columbus Clippers, going 1.61 ERA with 36 strikeouts and 2 saves in 18 appearances spanning 22⅓ innings. On June 3, he was selected to the major league roster to fill the spot vacated by Hunter Gaddis. In 14 games for Cleveland, he posted a 3.78 ERA with 16 strikeouts over 16⅔ innings. The Guardians designated Kelly for assignment on November 14, 2023.
Oakland Athletics Era (2024-Present)
On November 17, 2023, the Oakland Athletics claimed Kelly off waivers. In 28 games for Oakland, he recorded a 2.59 ERA with 22 strikeouts across 31⅓ innings. On June 4, 2024, MLB suspended Kelly for one year for violating the league’s gambling policies. He was activated from the restricted list on June 5, 2025.
Notable Events and Milestones
Kelly’s MLB debut with the Phillies on June 13, 2022, marked his first appearance in the major leagues after six seasons in the minors. He later made his Athletics debut in 2024 and was part of an Oakland bullpen that produced a strong 2.59 ERA across 28 appearances. His one-year suspension for violating MLB’s gambling policies was a significant off-field event in his career.
Michael Kelly Career Wins
Across his time in the Padres system and in independent ball, Kelly accumulated several wins at the minor league and independent levels. His 2017 season between Double-A San Antonio and Triple-A El Paso produced a 10-4 record, and his 2016 campaign across three affiliates yielded a 9-8 mark. In the major leagues, Kelly has appeared for the Philadelphia Phillies, Cleveland Guardians, and Oakland Athletics in relief roles.
Minor League and Independent Highlights
Kelly’s 2017 season was among his strongest in the minors, with a 10-4 record and 4.19 ERA in 28 games between San Antonio and El Paso. His 2016 campaign featured a 9-8 record and 4.34 ERA in 25 starts across three affiliates. With the Houston Astros organization in 2021, he went 5-4 with a 2.70 ERA across 41 relief appearances.
Other Wins and Performances
Kelly’s independent stint with the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs in 2019 produced a 3-8 record and 5.34 ERA in 20 appearances. In the major leagues, his 2024 season with Oakland produced a 2.59 ERA across 28 games, a standout mark following a journeyman path through affiliated and independent baseball.
Michael Kelly Family
Personal Life
Michael Joseph Kelly grew up in Boca Raton, Florida, and attended West Boca Raton Community High School. Details about his parents, spouse, and children are not publicly documented in available sources.
2025 Season Performance
Michael Joseph Kelly was activated from the restricted list by the Oakland Athletics on June 5, 2025, ending a one-year suspension. The activation returned the right-handed reliever to Oakland’s bullpen, where he had posted a 2.59 ERA across 28 appearances the prior season.
Kelly’s return gives the Athletics an experienced arm out of the bullpen as they navigate the 2025 season. His 2024 performance suggested a pitcher capable of producing strong ERA numbers in a relief role, and the front office’s decision to retain him on the roster signals continued trust in his work.
Heading into the remainder of 2025, Kelly’s role figures to be that of a middle reliever, providing length and reliability for the Oakland bullpen. His prior success with the club sets a reasonable baseline for the kind of contribution the team expects in his first full active season since 2024.