Ashley graduate Trevor Kelley makes Opening Day roster for Phillies

A familiar face to local baseball fans will soon be taking the mound at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.

Trevor Kelley, a 2011 graduate of Ashley High School, made the Opening Day 30-man roster for the Philadelphia Phillies. Kelley will be part of a revamped bullpen under the guidance of first-year manager Joe Girardi and first-year pitching coach Bryan Price.

“I think I came into camp in the best shape I’ve ever been in,” Kelley said. “I trained with Hudson Rose and at FUEL Baseball and everyone I worked out with this offseason is the reason why I made the Opening Day roster. It’s a dream come true, but I have so many people to thank and without everyone’s help and support it wouldn’t have happened.”

Kelley made his MLB debut last season as a member of the Boston Red Sox and pitched in a total of 10  games. The Phillies selected him off waivers in December and he had a terrific spring training to earn a spot on the roster. He pitched 6 1/3 shutout innings and allowed only two hits during the preseason.

“Last year, just making my debut was a dream come true, but it’s really special to make the Opening Day roster in the position I was in,” Kelley said. “I had to turn some heads and really be consistent, and that’s something fortunately I’ve always been pretty good at.” 

The Phillies open the regular season at home against the Miami Marlins on Friday night. Rosters will remain at 30 players for the first two weeks before going down to 28. Eventually, all rosters will be trimmed to 26.

“Look, they have to pare down the roster to 28 two weeks into the season, so I suspect he’s the 29th or 30th guy on the roster,” The Athletic Phillies beat writer Matt Gelb said in a chat Thursday afternoon. “They like that he comes at hitters from a different angle, but he lives in the high 80s with his fastball.”

If he pitches well during the first two weeks of the season, Kelley has a good shot at staying on the active roster. The only four locks to remain in the bullpen are closer Hector Neris and relievers Tommy Hunter, Jose Alvarez and Adam Morgan. 

Kelley has developed a solid relationship with Price, who previously served as the pitching coach of the Seattle Mariners, Arizona Diamondbacks and Cincinnati Reds as well as the manager of the Reds for four seasons.

“He’s so easy to talk to,” Kelley said. “He’s old school, but he also has a good feel for the analytics stuff. The main thing that I bring to the bullpen is a different look. The talks I’ve had with Price are about mentality and throwing each pitch with conviction.”

Price had good things to say about Kelley during an interview with Phillies beat writers on July 13.

“[He] has been unbelievably impressive since the beginning,” Price said.