Zack Kelly’s run with the Red Sox is over, and the right-hander made sure to say goodbye on his own terms.
After Boston designated him for assignment to open the offseason, Kelly cleared waivers and was officially released by the club on Nov. 6. That moved him into free agency, and on Sunday he posted a message to Red Sox fans reflecting on his time in the organization.
"What a ride! I’m grateful to have been a part of such a historic organization the last 6 years," Kelly wrote.
"Playing at Fenway Park was incredible and something I never took for granted. Thank you to the organization, my teammates, and the fans for being behind us every single night.
Looking forward to the next chapter."
Kelly’s path to Boston was anything but conventional. He entered pro ball in 2017 after going undrafted and signing with the Athletics’ organization. Along the way, he also spent time in the Los Angeles Angels’ organization before reaching the Red Sox, the only major league team he ever pitched for.
In five seasons with Boston, Kelly put together a 4.04 ERA across 115 big league appearances. His strongest year came in 2024, when he posted a 3.97 ERA in a career-high 49 appearances. He followed that with 28 appearances in 2025 and 17 more in 2026 before his season was cut short.
The end came with injury. Kelly was placed on the 60-day Injured List in July because of right elbow inflammation, and his final outing of the year came on July 3 against the Triple-A Syracuse Mets.
He also earned a decent payday in his final season with the club, making just over $800K in 2026. But with free agency now here, the next deal likely won’t be a big one. A minor league contract with an invite to big league Spring Training looks like the most realistic path, especially with the uncertainty surrounding his health.
Still, Kelly turned a minor league deal he signed with Boston in 2021 into a real major league run. That’s no small thing. He outperformed the original bargain, became a useful arm for the Red Sox, and now gets another shot somewhere else.
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