Cleveland announced Monday it has secured left‑hander Antoine Kelly on a minor‑league deal and granted him a spot in major‑league spring training. The Bledsoe Agency client logged his MLB debut with the Cubs last season.
Kelly, not to be mixed up with Pirates prospect Antwone Kelly, tossed 1 1/3 innings in his sole big‑league outing, shutting out the Yankees. The 26‑year‑old (turning 27 in December) spent the rest of 2026 in Triple‑A for Chicago and Los Angeles, compiling 50 2/3 innings with a 4.62 ERA, a 23.7% strikeout rate and a lofty 16.7% walk rate.
Across parts of four Triple‑A seasons he posted a 5.82 ERA over 120 2/3 innings. While a 23.5% strikeout rate is respectable, his 16.6% walk percentage reveals chronic control issues.
For my money, his former second‑round pedigree (No. 65 overall to Milwaukee in 2019) and once‑dominant fastball/slider combo hint at elite reliever upside—if he can lift his command from abysmal to at least average.
Kelly has bounced through five clubs; Cleveland will be his sixth. Milwaukee, Texas, Colorado, L.A. and Chicago never fully tapped the 6‑foot‑5 southpaw’s upside. Yet the Guardians have a solid record developing flawed arms, and Kelly still carries a minor‑league option, meaning he could shuttle between Cleveland and Columbus for another season before a permanent roster spot is required.