Ole Miss Baseball Adds Saint Louis RHP Owen Kelly, Fourth Arm in Transfer Class

OXFORD, Miss. — The arms race continues in Oxford. Ole Miss baseball is stacking pitching depth like it’s Omaha or bust, and the latest addition from the portal fits that mold perfectly.

Right-hander Owen Kelly, a rising junior out of Saint Louis University, has officially shut down visits to Texas, Georgia, and North Carolina, choosing to bring his 95-mph heat to Ole Miss.

TRANSFER: St. Louis RHP Owen Kelly headed to Ole Miss. Can be a metric monster. Great mover. Sub-6′ launch who can, at times, hold vert on FB. Up to 96, sits 91-93. Low-to-mid 80s SL w/lat tilt. Some CH traits.

If you told me he goes in the second round in 2026, I’d believe you. pic.twitter.com/eNq2Um65HX

— Joe Doyle (@JoeDoyleMiLB) June 23, 2025

The Belleville, Illinois, native is currently making waves in the Cape Cod League with the Orleans Firebirds—boasting a 2.08 ERA through 8.2 innings with seven strikeouts and just one walk.

Kelly’s track record checks all the boxes. In 2024, he tossed 80 innings for the Billikens, compiling a 6-2 record with 78 strikeouts and a 4.61 ERA. His metrics also include:

• 50% ground ball rate

• 1.26 WHIP

• 8% walk rate

And he wasn’t just filling innings—he was dominating them. Kelly pitched at least five frames in each of his final 10 starts and allowed one earned run or fewer in eight of those appearances beginning in mid-April.

He’s a workhorse. He’s efficient. And he’s got swing-and-miss stuff. At 6-foot-3 with a fastball that brushes 95 and a slider that bites, Kelly has the makings of a weekend contributor right out of the gate—something the Rebels are going to need.

Riley Maddox and Mason Nichols are out of eligibility, and while ace Hunter Elliott hasn’t made anything public, he could decide to head to MLB. That leaves a major opportunity—and some pressure—for the next wave of Rebel arms.

Enter the transfer class. Kelly becomes the fourth pitcher to commit to Ole Miss this summer, joining:

• Grant Richardson (LHP, Grand Canyon)

• Wil Libbert (LHP, Missouri)

• Marko Sipila (RHP, San Diego State)

That’s a group loaded with potential rotation pieces and big-game experience. Both Richardson and Sipila are draft-eligible, but if they stick around, Ole Miss could roll out one of the more seasoned staffs in the SEC.

Kelly’s addition isn’t just a roster boost—it’s a statement. The Rebels aren’t just replacing arms; they’re reloading with purpose after a 43-win season and a return to regional hosting duties for the first time since 2021.

And let’s not forget the intangibles. Kelly was a high school teammate of former Rebel commit Zander Meuth, now with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Chemistry counts.

With six transfers locked in—including outfielders Tristan Bissetta (Clemson) and Daniel Pacella (Illinois State)—Ole Miss isn’t done. But they’re certainly making noise.

The staff is coming together, and the rotation is reloading.