Roberto Kelly was a professional baseball player who played in the Major Leagues for 14 seasons. He was born on October 1, 1964, in Panama City, Panama. Kelly began his professional career in 1982 when he was signed by the New York Yankees as an amateur free agent. He spent several years in the minor leagues before making his Major League debut in 1987.
Kelly played for several teams during his career, including the Yankees, the Cincinnati Reds, the Atlanta Braves, the Montreal Expos, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Texas Rangers. He was primarily an outfielder, but he also played some infield positions during his career.
Kelly was known for his speed and his ability to steal bases. He stole a total of 235 bases during his career, and he was successful on 75% of his stolen base attempts. He was also a solid defensive player, winning a Gold Glove award in 1992 for his play in center field.
Kelly had some productive seasons during his career, including 1992 when he hit .272 with 15 home runs and 66 RBI for the Yankees. He also had a strong season in 1994 with the Reds, hitting .274 with 20 stolen bases in just 97 games before the season was cut short due to a players' strike.
Kelly played in the postseason several times during his career, including with the Yankees in 1995 and the Braves in 1996. He had some memorable moments in the postseason, including hitting a home run in Game 3 of the 1995 American League Division Series against the Seattle Mariners.
Kelly retired from baseball after the 2000 season. He finished his career with a .290 batting average, 124 home runs, and 585 RBI. He also had 1,370 hits and 235 stolen bases.
After his playing career, Kelly became a coach and manager in the minor leagues. He also served as a coach for several Major League teams, including the San Francisco Giants, the Pittsburgh Pirates, and the Detroit Tigers. In 2017, he was named the first base coach for the Giants.
Overall, Roberto Kelly had a solid career as a Major League baseball player. He was known for his speed and his defensive abilities, and he had some productive seasons at the plate. He also had success in the postseason and has continued to be involved in baseball as a coach and manager.
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