Aruba’s Antwone Kelly is heading back to the Major Leagues.
The Pittsburgh Pirates have recalled the 23-year-old right-handed pitcher, giving Kelly another opportunity with the big-league club as Pittsburgh enters the final stretch of the 2026 season.
It marks another call to the Majors for Kelly during what has been a breakthrough year for the young Aruban. Kelly made his MLB debut on June 12, becoming the seventh Aruba-born player to reach Major League Baseball.
Since then, Kelly has moved between Pittsburgh and Triple-A Indianapolis while continuing his development as one of the Pirates’ promising young arms.
In four Major League appearances this season, Kelly has pitched 8⅓ innings with five strikeouts and a 5.40 ERA. He has also shown flashes of the powerful arsenal that helped him climb quickly through the Pirates organization, including a fastball that can reach 100 MPH.
Kelly now rejoins a Pirates team playing meaningful baseball in September. Pittsburgh has climbed back to the .500 mark and remains in the National League Wild Card race, making every game increasingly important down the stretch.
For Kelly, another call to Pittsburgh represents another chance to establish himself at baseball’s highest level — and another proud moment for Aruba.
Baseball Aruba will continue following Antwone Kelly throughout his latest stint with the Pittsburgh Pirates.