Cubs call up Maine East grad Kelly; Hollowell to injured list

Maine East High School has produced plenty of famous artists during it's long history, from actors Harrison Ford and Karen Black to “Go Cubs Go” composer Steve Goodman to local television legend Rich Koz.

The list of pro athletes from the school is a little thin, so left-handed pitcher Antoine Kelly getting called up by the Cubs on Friday was a rare event.

“It's pretty cool,” Kelly said before the game against the Yankees. “I mean, high school was so long ago, I don't even think about it. When I do think about it, it's pretty neat.”

Kelly pitched 1⅓ innings Friday in his major-league debut. He came on with two out and two on in the eighth to strike out the Yankees’ Ben Rice, then retired the side in the top of the ninth with a walk.

Kelly is a 2018 Maine East grad who grew up in Des Plaines. He was drafted out of high school by the Padres, chose to attend a downstate junior college, Wabash Valley, and was a second-round pick of the Brewers a year later, so Cubs manager Craig Counsell is familiar.

“Antoine's a talented arm,” Counsell said. “Throwing strikes has always been the key for Antoine. Some guys, it just takes a while for that to click. It's gotten better in Iowa since we acquired him from the Dodgers.

“It's improved to the point where he's made himself a candidate. So happy for a kid that's had a pretty good journey in the minor leagues, Chicago kid, happy to be able to make his debut here.”

Kelly was called up to replace reliever Gavin Hollowell, who went on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation. Friday was the first time Kelly has been on a major-league roster.

“I've had flashes of being really close,” he said. “It's been a journey, I'll tell you that. It's just now starting to click. I'm 26, not the end of the world.”

His minor-league journey has spanned five organizations, from the Brewers, Rangers, Rockies, Dodgers and now the Cubs. He was traded from the Dodgers in a cash deal on June 7 and posted a 2.79 ERA at Iowa, with 10.2 strikeouts per nine innings.

In his most recent outing for the Iowa Cubs, Kelly averaged 96.2 mph with his four-seam fastball and 95.2 on the sinker. His most frequent pitch was a slider.

Kelly was a one-sport athlete growing up and his favorite team was the Brewers, for reasons he can't explain.

“I get asked that question all the time. I could not tell you,” he said. “I went to Cubs, White Sox and Brewers games growing up.

“I tried basketball, I got cut in a heartbeat. Football, I was too skinny. Everything else, I just got tangled up in my legs.”

For the record, the one pro athlete listed among Maine East alumni by Wikipedia is Steve Smith, a lineman who played for the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IV, and the father of former Barrington star Brady Smith, who spent 10 years in the NFL.

Hollowell was becoming a reliable piece to the Cubs bullpen and Counsell doesn't think the right-hander will be out long.

“Gavin's been dealing with some things,” Counsell said. “We talked after the first St. Louis outing, he had two days off. Then he threw 13 pitches (Thursday) and there was some talk about him going back out there, and he just didn't feel great.

“It's a pretty clear sign we needed to press pause for a little bit. I don't think we have a serious injury here. I think he needs rest and he should be fine.”

Counsell said Daniel Palencia (right flexor strain) is scheduled to throw live batting practice Saturday and if all goes well, he'll likely head out for a rehab assignment.

Justin Steele was also throwing at Wrigley on Friday. Counsell said he's just starting to throw off the mound, but everything is going well in his return from elbow surgery.