Kelly hits stride as a full-time Devil Ray

By RODNEY PAGE

© St. Petersburg Times, published June 7, 2000

For three seasons, Kenny Kelly had to wait for spring football and classes to end at the University of Miami before he was able to put on a Devil Rays minor-league uniform. He couldn't wait for the end of May, when he would switch from amateur football player to professional baseball player.

He loved baseball so much that he decided to give up playing quarterback for the Hurricanes to play baseball full time this season.

Kelly already has played in more games (58) for Double-A Orlando than he did with Class A St. Petersburg (51) in 1999. So far, being a full-time baseball player fits him just fine.

"I'm definitely not missing football at all," said Kelly, 21, a former Tampa Catholic standout who was selected in the second round of the 1997 June baseball draft. "Things are getting better every day for me here. I started off slowly, but that's just baseball."

After a slow April in which he hit in the low .200s, Kelly had improved his average to .288 through Monday's games. He is the Rays' everyday centerfielder.

"Kenny's shown a lot," manager Mike Ramsey said. "He's getting better at the plate. He's played well in centerfield. So far, he's having a good year for us."

Kelly signed a four-year contract in February believed to be worth $2.2-million. He's playing well at a competitive level. Most all, he says, he's having fun.

"I love playing ball day in and day out," Kelly said. "I'm still learning, but I'm having a lot of fun. I need to work on all of the aspects of baseball, my defense, my hitting, baserunning. I'm not a polished A-plus player yet. Hopefully, I can get there one day."

Kelly was no slouch as Miami's quarterback in the fall. He threw for 1,913 yards and 15 touchdowns in nine games. He missed the final three regular-season games with a sprained left knee but returned to lead the Hurricanes to a 28-13 win over Georgia Tech in the Gator Bowl, his last game with Miami.

Kelly said he still has a soft spot for the Miami football team. But he says he won't get antsy in August when preseason practice begins in Coral Gables.

"I still love (Miami), and I'll still watch them," Kelly said. "I've still got two years of eligibility left, but I'm not even thinking about that. Hopefully, I won't have to use them. I still love football, but the only thing I'm thinking about is baseball."

DURHAM: Shortstop Eddy de los Santos was promoted from Orlando.

ORLANDO: Shortstop Nestor Perez was promoted from St. Petersburg. Infielder Dan Fraraccio rejoined the Rays this week. This is the second time Fraraccio has been released and brought back to the Devil Rays system. He played in 82 games for Orlando last season and 15 for Durham.

Through Monday, the Rays were four games ahead of Greenville. Monday, Orlando and Greenville began a streak of nine games against one another.

ST. PETERSBURG: The Devil Rays had their first three-game winning streak of the season snapped Monday by Fort Myers. St. Petersburg still was in last place in the Florida State League's Western Division at 20-40 through Monday

CHARLESTON: Right-hander Neal Frendling pitched a complete-game five-hitter Saturday in a 3-2 win over Savannah. It was the first complete game by a Devil Rays minor-leaguer this season. Frendling hasn't given up an earned run in 13 innings.

Infielder Irwin Centeno and right-hander Barrett Wright were placed on the disabled list. Infielder Angel Volquez was moved to the RiverDogs from Hudson Valley, and infielder John Jacobs joined Charleston from Princeton.

© St. Petersburg Times. All rights reserved.

Headlines

Americans Lose in 1st Round of Davis Cup

---