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| (UPI Photo) |
In an interview with
WEEI.com's
Rob Bradford, Red Sox reliever
Joe Kelly revealed that his success in the all-to-brief 2016 ALDS was due to a new pitch he 'invented' just before Game One in Cleveland. His new slider—which allowed him to retire all 11 batters he faced in the series—was a revelation. Said Kelly,
"I didn’t want to throw it that much but I kind of fell in love with it because it was generating so many swings and misses and so many foul balls and weak contact. It was something I learned probably 10 minutes before Game 1. I was like, ‘You know what, why not?’" As he enters 2017, Kelly will now mix in his new slider with his already potent 100-MPH fastball and curve. The righty—who has the
personality of a lefty—could be a
huge contributor in the Red Sox bullpen this season.
