Owen Kellington still interesting name after not pitching in 2024
Former Vermont prep standout last pitched in Bradenton during 2023 season
While the Pirates had the first overall pick in the 2021 draft, what they did in the later rounds will be remembered more.
With Henry Davis taking an under-slot deal, the Pirates were able to draft and sign several prep players, including Bubba Chandler and Anthony Solometo, over-slot.
Another player who flew under the radar was right-handed pitcher Owen Kellington.
Little information was available after getting drafted, except he put up video game strikeout numbers at a Vermont high school. In 49 innings pitched, Kellington punched out 133 batters.
He didn’t pitch after being drafted, making his professional debut in the Florida Complex League in 2022. Kellington pitched six times, totaling 10 innings, allowing 13 earned runs in that span. He threw sparingly, only twice per month during June, July, and August.
Despite the limited innings and struggles, Kellington made the jump to Bradenton in 2023. He struck out 90 batters in 80 innings but also walked 50.
He missed the entire 2024 season and will enter 2025, nearly four years after getting drafted, with 90 official innings under his belt while also turning 22 before Opening Day.
Kellington was an intriguing prospect during the 2023 season. His fastball averaged 90 mph but finished with a whiff rate right at 30% with it. The change-up emerged as a strong pitch, getting a whiff rate of 45% and opponents hitting .176 against it.
He also held hitters to an average under .200 with the slider and curveball.
This is an example of the risks when investing in pitching. Injuries happen, and a lot of times, they are inevitable.
For every pitcher that can stay healthy, there’s more that just can’t.
Kellington has some traits to like and was a sleeper of mine heading into 2024. Beginning in Bradenton wouldn’t be the worst thing, as it’d let him ease back in, but you would certainly like to see him in Greensboro, maybe even Altoona, by the end of the 2025 season.
Another arm to watch returning from injury
Andres Silvera put together a couple of strong seasons in the DSL before turning Stateside in 2023. He struggled but flashed a mid-90s fastball with what looked like a cutter/slider that played well off it.
He missed the entire 2024 season and pitched late 2023, so it’s unsure what his timetable is, but he’s someone who caught my attention either during the end of the FCL season or Instructionals.
In two years in the DSL, Silvera posted a 2.21 ERA while showing good control (5.1 BB%) and striking out 74 batters in 77.1 innings pitched.
The walks inflated while in the FCL in 2023, walking 12 in 18.1 innings pitched.
Nothing big, more of a lottery ticket arm that caught my attention once or twice before he missed time. He was super young when he first came up, being 18 when the FCL season started. He’ll turn 21 by the end of the 2025 season.
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I have an observation that leads to a question that hopefully some of you can try to answer.
This article, and virtually every article about prospects, discusses the age of the player, with the disclaimer they are either young or old for their level.
I realize most of us want this information and appreciate the inclusion of it in the article. However, my question is, How much does it matter to GM’s?”
We just saw the Pirates pay a pricely sum for Horowitz, even though he is “old” for his experience level.
I can certainly understand how age is a big factor in making long-term FA offers, but I’m wondering if years of control is much more important than age when making trades?
What say you?
This is my guy here. Used to be a fella that posted on a site I frequented years past. Bucs fan in Vermont. Or something of the like. He most certainly is an intriguing name