The Toronto Blue Jays claimed utility player Ty Kelly off of waivers from the St. Louis Cardinals Wednesday, but he won’t be asked to help at the MLB level just yet. The Blue Jays assigned the 27-year-old to triple-A Buffalo.
Kelly has spent the entire 2015 season with triple-A Memphis, where he has a .203/.317/.286 batting line in 79 games. While those numbers are unimpressive, the switch-hitting Stockton, Calif. native has a career on-base percentage of .381 in seven minor league seasons. He typically hits for a high average (.276 career mark) without much power (41 home runs in 3,352 plate appearances).
Initially selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the 13th round of the 2009 draft, Kelly has yet to make his MLB debut. He offers versatility, having played second base, third base and all three outfield positions at triple-A this year.