June 10, 2009
LOS ANGELES - Penn State senior Scott Kelley (Arlington Heights, Ill.) was selected by the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday with the 692nd pick in the 23rd round of the 2009 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft.
Incoming freshman Renny Parthemore (New Cumberland, Pa.), who signed a National Letter of Intent to play with the Nittany Lions, was taken by the Boston Red Sox in the 18th round with the 558th selection.
Kelley owned a 5.43 ERA with a 4-5 record this season with the Nittany Lions. After spending most of his first three seasons at Penn State as an outfielder, Kelley was moved to a full-time pitcher, where he struck out 42 batters in 59 2/3 innings of work. He dazzled scouts with a fastball that reached 93-94 mph during the season.
Kelley showed the ability to get out of jams as he also worked from the bullpen during Big Ten play. Against an Indiana team that produced three top 100 draft picks, the righthander entered the game with bases loaded and no outs, only to leave the Hoosiers scoreless for the inning. Kelley tossed three innings of hitless relief and struck out three.
Kansas City picked up its first Nittany Lion in 19 years. The last Penn State player to go on to play for the Royals organization was John Schrener, who was taken in the 32nd round of the 1990 draft. Kelley is also the first pitcher/position player since Schrener to be drafted.
A Penn State pitcher has been selected in the last 11 MLB drafts. In the past five years, 10 hurlers have been selected by major league teams, including last year's fourth-round pick Drew O'Neil.
Parthemore went 5-2 with 72 strikeouts during his junior year at Cedar Cliff High School, where he once played under current assistant coach Will Hoover. Parthemore is well-regarded for his size and a fastball that clocks into the low-90s. MLB draftees hold the option to remain in school and remain eligible for upcoming drafts.
The final 20 rounds of the 2009 MLB Amateur Draft continue tomorrow on the MLB Network and at mlb.com.