Wednesday, January 4, 2017

Joe Kelly Will Likely Be 'Sliding' Into The 2017 Season

(UPI Photo)
In an interview with WEEI.com's Rob Bradford, Red Sox reliever Joe Kelly revealed that his success in the all-to-brief 2016 ALDS was due to a new pitch he 'invented' just before Game One in Cleveland. His new slider—which allowed him to retire all 11 batters he faced in the series—was a revelation. Said Kelly, "I didn’t want to throw it that much but I kind of fell in love with it because it was generating so many swings and misses and so many foul balls and weak contact. It was something I learned probably 10 minutes before Game 1. I was like, ‘You know what, why not?’" As he enters 2017, Kelly will now mix in his new slider with his already potent 100-MPH fastball and curve. The righty—who has the personality of a lefty—could be a huge contributor in the Red Sox bullpen this season.