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Don Kelly, a Mt. Lebanon grad, Is a first base coach with the Houston Astros.
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Mt. Lebanon grad Don Kelly still a fan favorite in MLB

Associated Press

Mt. Lebanon grad Don Kelly still a fan favorite in MLB

In mid-May, a healthy sized media scrum formed at Comerica Park in Detroit. And if one didn’t know better, the assumption might have been that former Tigers ace Justin Verlander was arriving to discuss his return to Motown, as a member of the Houston Astros.

That, however, was not the case. The object of the press’ attention was Astros first base coach Don Kelly, who spent six years in Detroit as a player (2009-14) and two more as a scout (2017-18).

Known then as Donnie Kelly Baby, a name bestowed on him by Tigers radio voice Jim Price, Kelly was his typical humble self, a trait developed during his formative years in Mt. Lebanon, as he reflected on a Tigers career that saw him emerge as a fan favorite.

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“We had some great times,” said Kelly, who later discussed his nickname. “That was really cool, and it still is. Being a hard-nosed, blue-collar-type guy resonated with the city, and they appreciated it.”

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From leading Mt. Lebanon to a PIAA title in 1998 to starring at Point Park University to being drafted in the eighth round by the Tigers to marrying his Pittsburgh sweetheart Carrie Walker (sister of former Pirates first-round pick Neil Walker) to playing every position, including pitcher, in nine major-league seasons to making his debut with the hometown Pirates in ‘07, Kelly’s treasure chest is full of memories.

Baseball has been very good to him.

And he’s been very good to baseball.

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“We had some great times,” he said.

Taken in snapshots, Kelly’s journey is worth revisiting. To wit:

• Teamed with friend Josh Wilson (an eight-year big leaguer who succeeded Kelly as a Tigers scout) on Mt. Lebanon’s state championship team.

• Went 2 for 3 in that state final win against Coatesville.

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• Hit a walkoff sacrifice fly in Game 2 of the 2013 ALDS to defeat the Oakland A’s.

• Homered in Game 5 of the 2011 ALDS in Yankee Stadium.

• Played for his mentor Jim Leyland in Detroit.

• Participated in two World Series games and 24 playoff games with the Tigers.

• Teamed with MLB legends such as Verlander, Miguel Cabrera and Max Scherzer.

• Played 25 games with Pirates (after being released by Detroit) as an MLB rookie. He would become a free agent at season’s end.

The list is voluminous ... and who knows what lies ahead? Perhaps a job as an MLB manager?

“We’re just taking it one year at a time,” Kelly said.

A 39-year-old father of three, Kelly has been described as a baseball savant who meshes well with his players. His personal-professional persona made him a must-have utility player and clubhouse presence for nearly a decade. And despite his light hitting numbers — .230 average/28 homers/98 RBIs in 584 games — teams valued the left-handed hitter for his versatility, adaptability and humility.

Verlander, for one, holds him in high regard.

“He’s so nice it’s contagious,” Verlander told reporters about his former teammate and current first base coach. “I think it’s kind of like Jose [Altuve of the Astros]. He didn’t put up Jose’s stats, but you can tell he’s having fun. People just loved him. He played every single role, did whatever was asked of him and it was all for the betterment of the team. Can’t put a finger on it, but he’s just one of those guys people fall in love with.”

High praise from a Cy Young winner and future Hall of Famer. Similarly, manager A.J. Hinch, who led the Astros to a World Series title in 2017, sees great value in having Kelly in the Houston organization.

The two first got to know each other in 2007 when Kelly signed a minor-league free-agent deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks, where Hinch was serving as minor-league director. Twelve years later, Hinch jumped at the opportunity to add Kelly to his coaching staff.

“Just got to know him, his baseball IQ and how much he loves the game and how much he loves the players,” Hinch said. “For Donnie, I wanted somebody that was player-friendly that was very relatable to the players. I wanted somebody that would invest time and energy into the smaller parts of the games, intricacies of base-running and leads, secondary leads, primary leads.

“He wanted to start his coaching career, and I knew that.”

Kelly’s playing career led him to Detroit, Pittsburgh, Arizona, Detroit (again) and, finally, to Miami. He retired in 2016, but hardly had his fill of the sport. He was scouting a year later.

Now, he’s the first base coach for a team that owns the third-best record in MLB and is a legit World Series contender. His objective is to acquire as much knowledge as possible, just as he did in his playing days.

“Any time you go to a game, you’re always learning,” he said. “You can never know everything about baseball.”

Leyland, the longtime Pirates manager and one of Kelly’s go-to advisers, offered advice on forging solid player-coach relationships.

“He just said when you go look at these players, do you want them playing for you or do you want them playing against you,” Kelly said. “He’s given me so much advice over the years, and playing for him, I was blessed.”

First Published: July 10, 2019, 11:15 a.m.

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Don Kelly, a Mt. Lebanon grad, Is a first base coach with the Houston Astros.  (Associated Press)
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