“I know he had some input and some positive influence working with them and understanding what it looks like up here,” Shildt said. “He alluded to the younger guys who have now graduated from Class AA to Class AAA that he’s helped shepherd when he was there and the enjoyment of what that looked like.”
Kelly, 24, entered spring training as the presumptive backup to Yadier Molina, and the Cardinals had been planning internally for Kelly to gradually increase his starts at catcher during the coming years, as Molina’s contract nears its end. Instead, Francisco Pena impressed throughout spring and, when Kelly struggled, seized the backup job.