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St. Louis Cardinals Promote Carson Kelly to Triple-A Memphis

By Patrick Karraker

Mar 13, 2016; Melbourne, FL, USA; St. Louis Cardinals catcher Carson Kelly (82) runs the bases in the second inning against the Washington Nationals at Space Coast Stadium. The Washington Nationals and the St. Louis Cardinals tied 4-4. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 13, 2016; Melbourne, FL, USA; St. Louis Cardinals catcher Carson Kelly (82) runs the bases in the second inning against the Washington Nationals at Space Coast Stadium. The Washington Nationals and the St. Louis Cardinals tied 4-4. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports /
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After participating in Sunday’s Futures Game, Carson Kelly was given a major vote of confidence by the Cardinals’ front office.

A day after he participated in the annual MLB Futures game, going 0-for-2 with a near-homer in relief of starting catcher Chance Sisco, St. Louis Cardinals catching prospect Carson Kelly has been promoted to Triple-A Memphis. After coming into the 2016 season as a .239 career hitter, Kelly has been so impressive this year that he’s managed to reach the minors’ highest level before his 22nd birthday.

Kelly, who was drafted as a third baseman in the second round of the 2012 draft, has quickly become one of the most highly-regarded defensive catchers in the minor leagues, and he won a minor-league Gold Glove at the conclusion of last season. His defense is what’s allowed him to skyrocket through the minors despite his relative lack of offensive production. Still, though, he’s helped himself out a lot at the plate through the first half of 2016, as he’s hit .287/.338/.403 with six homers, 46 strikeouts, and 14 walks in 236 plate appearances.

Kelly replaced Jesse Jenner–a 2015 draftee who had been serving as a stand-in since the Cardinals raided Memphis’s cupboard of catching depth last week–on the Triple-A roster.

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For now, he’ll team with Mike Ohlman, who he also split time with at Springfield earlier this year after Ohlman was temporarily demoted from Memphis.

The Cardinals will eventually have to send one or both of Alberto Rosario and Michael McKenry, the two backup catchers on their roster right now, back to Memphis eventually. Presumably, one will go down when Brandon Moss or Matt Carpenter is activated from the DL, and the other could go if Brayan Peña returns to the active roster within the next month-and-a-half. At that point, it will be interesting to see how much time Kelly gets behind the plate in comparison to the player who needs to be kept ready for possible big-league duty. McKenry does not have minor-league options remaining and can elect free agency if the Cardinals designate him for assignment, so he could end up being a non-factor in the situation.

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If Kelly puts together good results at Memphis, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him get called up to the majors when rosters expand in September. After all, he’ll need to be added to the 40-man roster this winter to be protected from the Rule 5 Draft, so the Cardinals could just get that maneuver done and over with in advance.

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