Photo by: Jeremy Fleming
Kelley Looking To Carry On His Family’s Record-Setting Legacy
5/14/2019 12:03:00 PM | Baseball
Junior outfielder looking to join his mother as career record holders.
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Basketball player Jody Beerman Kelley is a legend at Central Michigan University and in the state of Indiana. She starred in the 1980s, winning a state title, then was honored with Miss Basketball, before moving on to Mount Pleasant.
She set several records, still standing at CMU, and has been inducted into the university's Athletic Hall of Fame and the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame.
Now, her son, Michigan State baseball player Bryce Kelley, looks to carry on his mom's athletic legacy by making his own mark. Kelley, a junior outfielder, is on pace to re-write the MSU record book in stolen bases.
Bryce set the single-season stolen base record of 33 last season and is in pursuit of the career stolen base record. He has stolen 18 bases this year so far, which leads the Big Ten. The 18 this season, combined with last year's 33 plus 13 swipes his freshman season of 2017 give Kelley 64 stolen bases for his career, needing 15 more to tie the MSU career stolen base record.
"If it happens, it happens," Kelley said. "I'm trying to help us win games. That's what I'm trying to focus on. I'm not even really thinking about it at all."
His mom is proud of his efforts, and understands – more than most – what it is like to play at the college level.
"I value the opportunities that were provided for me from my years playing ball at CMU," she said. "I know how much those years shaped me as a person today, and I love that Bryce is getting valuable opportunities and experiences through athletics at MSU."
Kelley is the youngest of three brothers, and learned to have a competitive edge from his family.
"I think Bryce's competitiveness is innate," Jody said. "His father and I are both competitive when it comes to sports or playing games. It seemed he spent his childhood striving to be as good or better than the older boys."
Focusing on his game, rather than the record books, is a mental skill he picked up over time. Kelley goes to his mom for a lot of advice.
"Learning from her, not only sports-wise, but also the mental side of things," Kelley said. "She is the most humble person I have ever met, the most kind human being I've ever met. Just having her in my corner. She's obviously been there through sports and the records and everything, so she knows exactly what I'm going through."
His mother believes his love for sports is more of a product of how her family enjoyed their time together, rather than the result of her athletic career. Kelley became a silent competitor, just like his mom.
"He's an intense competitor," MSU baseball head coach Jake Boss Jr. said. "I don't think there's any doubt about that. He's a pretty cerebral kid. He's not as vocal as some other guys, but at the same time he takes his craft very seriously. He's an extremely hard worker, doesn't like to lose in anything."
Kelley works hard on the team and the record is just proof of the determination he holds. He is a very team-oriented player, willing to do whatever it takes to get a team-win.
Jody stays supportive throughout Kelley's college career, still adjusting to her role as a parent instead of a player sometimes.
"I have to admit that I get excited and a little anxious before Bryce's games," Jody said. "When I was playing, however, those nerves would disappear once the game started. Watching games as a parent seems more difficult as the outcomes are beyond our control."
Jody is proud to be his No. 1 supporter, seeing him do so well at MSU. She knows how hard the academic and physical load can be on a person and is happy to see Kelley excel.
"I am very proud of Bryce's athletic and academic accomplishments," Jody said. "I know he is working hard both on and off the field. Just like my parents took pride in watching me compete, I am now very proud and thankful to be able to watch Bryce play so competitively the sport he loves."
Kelley continues to quietly embody the skills and characteristics of his talented mother, while staying humble and kind.
"That's my mom," Kelley said. "The silent competitor."
Kelley will lead his Spartans into action in their final regular-season midweek game to his mom's old stomping grounds on Tuesday, May 14, heading to Mount Pleasant, Mich., to tangle with in-state foe Central Michigan in a 4:05 p.m. start time.
MSU will then wrap up regular-season play hosting Illinois in a three-game series, opening Thursday, May 16, under the lights at McLane Stadium at Kobs Field in a 5:30 p.m. first pitch, nationally televised on Big Ten Network. The second game of the series is set for Friday at 6:35 p.m., before Saturday's series finale at 1:05 p.m.
Fans can also follow Spartan baseball action through "Live Stats," "Listen Live" and "Watch Live" links found at MSUSpartans.com. The games will be video streamed on BTN2Go, and will also be carried on the Spartan Sports Network live audio stream. The broadcast will be available exclusively at SpartanSportsNetwork.com and on the network's 24/7 app for mobile devices (available on iTunes and Google Play). Broadcast veteran Scott Moore calls the action alongside former MSU manager/bullpen catcher David Greenberg in select games.
Any schedule updates due to weather will be announced on www.MSUSpartans.com and on twitter @statebaseball.
She set several records, still standing at CMU, and has been inducted into the university's Athletic Hall of Fame and the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame.
Now, her son, Michigan State baseball player Bryce Kelley, looks to carry on his mom's athletic legacy by making his own mark. Kelley, a junior outfielder, is on pace to re-write the MSU record book in stolen bases.
Bryce set the single-season stolen base record of 33 last season and is in pursuit of the career stolen base record. He has stolen 18 bases this year so far, which leads the Big Ten. The 18 this season, combined with last year's 33 plus 13 swipes his freshman season of 2017 give Kelley 64 stolen bases for his career, needing 15 more to tie the MSU career stolen base record.
"If it happens, it happens," Kelley said. "I'm trying to help us win games. That's what I'm trying to focus on. I'm not even really thinking about it at all."
His mom is proud of his efforts, and understands – more than most – what it is like to play at the college level.
"I value the opportunities that were provided for me from my years playing ball at CMU," she said. "I know how much those years shaped me as a person today, and I love that Bryce is getting valuable opportunities and experiences through athletics at MSU."
Kelley is the youngest of three brothers, and learned to have a competitive edge from his family.
"I think Bryce's competitiveness is innate," Jody said. "His father and I are both competitive when it comes to sports or playing games. It seemed he spent his childhood striving to be as good or better than the older boys."
Focusing on his game, rather than the record books, is a mental skill he picked up over time. Kelley goes to his mom for a lot of advice.
"Learning from her, not only sports-wise, but also the mental side of things," Kelley said. "She is the most humble person I have ever met, the most kind human being I've ever met. Just having her in my corner. She's obviously been there through sports and the records and everything, so she knows exactly what I'm going through."
His mother believes his love for sports is more of a product of how her family enjoyed their time together, rather than the result of her athletic career. Kelley became a silent competitor, just like his mom.
"He's an intense competitor," MSU baseball head coach Jake Boss Jr. said. "I don't think there's any doubt about that. He's a pretty cerebral kid. He's not as vocal as some other guys, but at the same time he takes his craft very seriously. He's an extremely hard worker, doesn't like to lose in anything."
Kelley works hard on the team and the record is just proof of the determination he holds. He is a very team-oriented player, willing to do whatever it takes to get a team-win.
Jody stays supportive throughout Kelley's college career, still adjusting to her role as a parent instead of a player sometimes.
"I have to admit that I get excited and a little anxious before Bryce's games," Jody said. "When I was playing, however, those nerves would disappear once the game started. Watching games as a parent seems more difficult as the outcomes are beyond our control."
Jody is proud to be his No. 1 supporter, seeing him do so well at MSU. She knows how hard the academic and physical load can be on a person and is happy to see Kelley excel.
"I am very proud of Bryce's athletic and academic accomplishments," Jody said. "I know he is working hard both on and off the field. Just like my parents took pride in watching me compete, I am now very proud and thankful to be able to watch Bryce play so competitively the sport he loves."
Kelley continues to quietly embody the skills and characteristics of his talented mother, while staying humble and kind.
"That's my mom," Kelley said. "The silent competitor."
Kelley will lead his Spartans into action in their final regular-season midweek game to his mom's old stomping grounds on Tuesday, May 14, heading to Mount Pleasant, Mich., to tangle with in-state foe Central Michigan in a 4:05 p.m. start time.
MSU will then wrap up regular-season play hosting Illinois in a three-game series, opening Thursday, May 16, under the lights at McLane Stadium at Kobs Field in a 5:30 p.m. first pitch, nationally televised on Big Ten Network. The second game of the series is set for Friday at 6:35 p.m., before Saturday's series finale at 1:05 p.m.
Fans can also follow Spartan baseball action through "Live Stats," "Listen Live" and "Watch Live" links found at MSUSpartans.com. The games will be video streamed on BTN2Go, and will also be carried on the Spartan Sports Network live audio stream. The broadcast will be available exclusively at SpartanSportsNetwork.com and on the network's 24/7 app for mobile devices (available on iTunes and Google Play). Broadcast veteran Scott Moore calls the action alongside former MSU manager/bullpen catcher David Greenberg in select games.
Any schedule updates due to weather will be announced on www.MSUSpartans.com and on twitter @statebaseball.
Players Mentioned
OF/LHP
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