By: James Gravley | WV Sports Chat
Gavin Kelly has homered in three consecutive games that included two home runs in the 7-2 win for the No. 15 ranked Mountaineers over in-state rival Marshall.
You can relive the two home runs from Kelly and the home run from Matt Ineich here.
That 7-2 win also completed the series sweep over Marshall with a 3-0 win and a 12-2 win over the Herd.
With that, Kelly, according to Baseball America is rated as the fifth best collegiate prospect in the 2027 MLB Draft.
Kelly, a sophomore, leads the Mountaineers in batting average with .394, OPS average with 1.176, hits with 67, doubles with 16, home runs with 10, runs batted in with 43, total bases collected at 117, and slugging percentage at .668.
Although his primary position is catcher, he’s been a utility man his entire career for the Mountaineers which is also bolstering his 2027 Draft stock as well.
With Kelly being rated as top-5-to-top-10 2027 Draft eligible prospect, here is how that would project him landing if the 2027 Draft was today and he was a solidified first-rounder.
If the MLB Draft was today in 2027 that would mean he’d likely go between these teams if he was a first-round pick.
Boston (5)
Washington (6)
Minnesota (7)
Baltimore (8)
Miami (9)
San Francisco (10)
Those 5-10 teams will more than likely changed around by the time the seasons end as the MLB Draft order is based around how the teams finish the season prior.
Kelly had been the staple of the Mountaineers success this season. He has helped lead them to another postseason. Whether that’s hosting a regional or not is to be determined, but he’s definitely helped the club get a number two slot lock in a regional. Most recent projections have WVU heading to Starkville Regional playing the top-seeded Mississippi State and two other programs.
Photo: Shanna Rose | WV Sports Chat
