Former SF Giants hurler returns to majors with Reds after half-decade hiatus

Here is a name that you probably did not expect to see in the news in 2024. Former SF Giants hurler Casey Kelly has returned to the majors after his contract was selected by the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday.

Former SF Giants hurler returns to majors with Reds after half-decade hiatus

Kelly is not the first Giants player to reappear in the majors this season after an extended absence. Albert Suárez has put together a solid season with the Baltimore Orioles after last appearing in the majors with the Giants in 2017. The veteran hurler has posted a 3.18 ERA in 25 appearances for Baltimore.

Kelly has had a fascinating career arc as a pro and continues to find opportunities to pitch. He was a first-round pick by the Boston Red Sox in the 2008 draft out of Sarasota High School. The veteran hurler was considered one of the best prospects in baseball, ranking as high as No. 45 to Baseball America before the 2013 season.

This made him an attractive target in trade as well. The Red Sox shipped him along with Anthony Rizzo and Ray Fuentes to the San Diego Padres in a deal that sent Adrián González to Boston in 2010. Kelly and Rizzo were both considered the centerpieces of the trade from San Diego's standpoint.

Similar to Suárez, Kelly is looking for a late-career resurgence. The right-handed hurler pitched briefly for the Giants at the end of the 2018 season. He registered a 3.04 ERA with 16 strikeouts and five walks in 23.2 frames for San Francisco. The coaching staff liked how he attacked the zone and they had hoped that he would remain with the club. However, he was offered a chance to pitch overseas and took it.

This turned out to be a career-changing move for Kelly. He carved out a strong career with the LG Twins of the Korean Baseball Organization (KBO). In six seasons with the Twins, he recorded a 3.25 ERA while making at least 25 starts in every season. He was both effective and durable.

Kelly returned stateside earlier this month after signing a minor league deal with the Reds. He posted a 4.50 ERA in two appearances in Triple-A. Overall, the 34-year-old has tallied a 5.46 ERA in parts of four seasons in the majors with his best stint coming in a Giants uniform. A player's career can take a lot of twists and turns, but after an extended absence, Kelly is back in the majors.