Athletics RHP Michael Kelly reinstated after 1-year betting ban

The Athletics reinstated right-hander Michael Kelly from the suspended list after he completed a one-year ban for betting on baseball games.

BY FIELD LEVEL MEDIA

Jun 6, 2025, 7:03 AM

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OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - MAY 24: Michael Kelly #47 of the Oakland Athletics pitches against the Housto...

(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

The Athletics reinstated right-hander Michael Kelly from the suspended list on Thursday after he completed a one-year ban for betting on baseball games.

On June 4, 2024, Major League Baseball announced a lifetime ban for San Diego Padres infielder/outfielder Tucupita Marcano for betting on baseball games. Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Andrew Saalfrank, Michael Kelly, and two minor leaguers received one-year bans for violating the league’s sports betting rules and policies.

Kelly was a minor leaguer in the Houston Astros organization when, according to an MLB investigation, he made 10 bets in October 2021 for less than $100. He won five of the bets and collected a net win of about $28. Kelly didn’t bet on games involving his team, per the investigation.

It was exactly 1 year ago that MLB suspended four players for betting on baseball.

Andrew Saalfrank, Michael Kelly, Jay Groome and José Rodriguez.

Today, the sport officially welcomes them back. Their teams appear willing to do the same.

Read: https://t.co/PpeXgUqH8T pic.twitter.com/kC3qFA4hFF

— Sam Blum (@SamBlum3) June 5, 2025

More on A’s pitcher Michael Kelly

Michael Kelly, 32, is 4-2 with a 2.94 ERA, 20 walks and 42 strikeouts across 52 innings in 46 relief appearances over parts of the past three seasons.

He was 3-2 with a 2.59 ERA in 31 1/3 innings over 28 relief appearances last season when he received his suspension.

In other moves on Thursday, the Athletics activated veteran left-hander T.J. McFarland from the 15-day injured list after he dealt with a left groin injury, optioned rookie right-handers Elvis Alvarado and Justin Sterner to Triple-A Las Vegas, and designated infielder/outfielder CJ Alexander for assignment.

McFarland, who turns 36 on Sunday, last pitched on May 11. He is 0-0 this season with a 5.23 ERA, three walks and four strikeouts in 10 1/3 innings over 18 relief appearances.

For his career, McFarland is 26-20 with a 4.13 ERA, one save, 174 walks and 322 strikeouts in 541 innings over 451 regular-season games (three starts) for the Baltimore Orioles (2013-16), Arizona Diamondbacks (2017-19), St. Louis Cardinals (2021-22), New York Mets (2023) and Athletics (2020, 2024-present).

McFarland led the major leagues with 79 appearances last season.

Sterner, 28, was 1-3 with a 4.28 ERA, 14 walks and 30 strikeouts in 29 games (one start) this season.

Alvarado, 26, was 0-0 with a 7.50 ERA, three walks and eight strikeouts in six innings over four relief appearances in his rookie season.

Alexander, 28, batted .176 (3-for-17) in six games this season.

–Field Level Media