June 5, 2008 at 4:58 PM
Sox select Casey Kelly in first
With the 30th and final pick in the first round the Red Sox have selected SS/RHP Casey Kelly out of Sarasota High School (FL). Ranted the 19th best prospect by Baseball America, Kelly at 6' 3" 194 lbs. is regarded as one of the best athletes in the 2008 draft (he is a football commit at QB to Tennessee) and is the son of former major leaguer Pat Kelly. He has the defensive tools to stick at short but may outgrow the position and has raw but projectable power in the batters box. On the mound, Kelly features a fastball that tops out in the mid-90s and a hammer curve and while he reportedly prefers to play short he is regarded by some as a better prospect as a pitcher. His college commitment and desire to remain at short have led some to consider him a potentially tough sign.