Jackson Kelley Promoted to Frisco RoughRiders

MACON – Jackson Kelley, an All-SoCon and All-Region performer for the Bears from 2019-22, has been promoted to the Frisco RoughRiders, the Double-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers, the organization announced Wednesday.

Kelley made an immediate impact in Frisco, earning the win yesterday in his first game with the team. The sidewinder pitched two shutout innings with a strikeout, allowing just one baserunner.

Kelley earned the promotion by putting together an outstanding 2024 campaign for the High-A Hickory Crawdads. In 45 innings of work, the reliever held a 3.00 ERA with a minuscule 0.956 WHIP. He allowed just 24 hits during his time in High-A, good for a .154 batting average against.

The 2023 season was Kelley's first in professional baseball after being taken in the 12^th round of the 2022 MLB Draft by Texas. Kelley spent time with the Low-A Down East Wood Ducks before being promoted to Hickory, posting a 4.13 ERA in 52-1/3 innings with a .214 batting average against across the two levels.

Kelley, a native of Marietta, Georgia, is one of the most accomplished arms in Mercer program history, accumulating a host of accolades during his time in Macon. He burst onto the scene as a freshman in 2019, earning All-Tournament Team honors by helping the Bears to the SoCon Tournament title. His performance on May 25, 2019 lives in Mercer lore, as the freshman earned a two-out save in an elimination game against ETSU before throwing six innings of one-run ball in his first career start against Samford later that day in another elimination game. The next day, Mercer would defeat Wofford twice to take the championship and earn a berth in the NCAA Tournament.

In the COVID-shortened season of 2020, Kelley started four games, allowing just two earned runs in 25-2/3 innings for a 0.70 ERA. The following year, the right-hander made 25 appearances (14 starts) for the Bears, holding a 3.67 ERA in 68 2-3 innings pitched, striking out 73.

Perhaps Kelley's finest season in middle Georgia came as a senior in 2022. Serving as the team's closer, Kelley posted a 1.35 ERA in 60 innings, striking out 82 and allowing a .158 batting average against. For his efforts, Kelley was named a First Team All-SoCon selection by both the coaches and media, secured a spot on the ABCA/Rawlings Southeast All-Region Second Team, and was a NCBWA Stopper of the Year finalist.

Mercer University Athletics

Jackson Kelley Promoted to Frisco RoughRiders

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