D-backs catcher Carson Kelly: Being consistent is name of the game
Feb 22, 2021, 9:32 AM | Updated: 10:34 am
Arizona Diamondbacks' Carson Kelly follows the flight of his solo home run off Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Chad Bettis in the sixth inning of a baseball game, Monday, Aug. 12, 2019, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Carson Kelly has had an up-and-down first two seasons in a D-backs uniform.
In his first year in the Valley, Kelly posted a slash line of .245/.348/.478 to go along with 18 home runs, 19 doubles and 47 RBI in 111 games (365 plate appearances).
Unfortunately for the catcher, 2020 saw a dip in production as Kelly only managed to slash .221/.264/.385. He also had five homers and 19 RBI in 129 plate appearances over 39 games in the COVID-19 pandemic-shortened season.
Now coming into the 2021 campaign, Kelly wants to be more consistent and trust his process instead of being on a roller coaster ride of peaks and valleys.
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“Riding the wave can be exhausting at times,” he told Arizona Sports’ Doug & Wolf on Monday. “I think finding a way to be the same guy and be consistent every single day is the name of the game.
“I’ve really found a good process that works for me right now and I’m just going to continue honing in on that right now.”
Kelly added that only playing 60 games in 2020 only heightened the pressure of not getting out to a hot start.
But hitting is only half the battle at the plate for the 26-year-old.
As a catcher, Kelly has 3-4 meetings on the first day of every series that can last up to 45 minutes as the Diamondbacks prepare for their upcoming opponent.
“We’re talking scouting reports, we’re talking just a ton of stuff, a ton of information,” he said. “Then hey, you still have to go play. And that happens every three days, so you’re getting overloaded with information.
“Being able to process that and eternalize it is something I’ve learned over the years and especially this offseason. Really just honing back, having a little bit of a different process and simplifying things I think is going to clear my mind and be able to go out and perform every day.”
Kelly is also really looking forward to having real audible fans back at the ballpark instead of cardboard cutouts and fake pumped-in crowd noise.
In fact, the Diamondbacks completely sold out all 14 of their home spring training games within 24 hours of going on sale this past weekend.
“That just shows that everyone is ready to get in activity and go outside and watch some baseball so I’m pumped for it,” Kelly said.
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