Padres acquire RHP Ryan Kelly from Texas Rangers in exchange for C Luis Martinez

SAN DIEGO – The San Diego Padres today announced they have acquired right-handed pitcher Ryan Kelly from the Texas Rangers in exchange for catcher Luis Martinez.  Kelly will be assigned to the club’s Double-A affiliate, the San Antonio Missions.  Executive Vice President/General Manager Josh Byrnes made the announcements.

Kelly, 24, went 3-6 with nine saves, a 3.95 ERA (36 ER/82.0 IP), a .242 (74-for-306) opponents batting average and 64 strikeouts against 23 walks over 40 games, five starts, for Single-A Myrtle Beach last season.  The right-hander was acquired by the Rangers from the Oakland Athletics in January of 2011 in exchange for right-handed pitcher Guillermo Moscoso after the Athletics acquired him from the Pittsburgh Pirates the previous month. Originally selected by the Pirates in the 26^th-round of the 2006 First-Year Player Draft, he has gone 9-13 with 20 saves, a 4.50 ERA (133 ER/266.0 IP) and 235 strikeouts against 66 walks in 121 games, 16 starts, over parts of five minor league seasons in the Pirates (2007-10) and Rangers (2011) organizations. 

Martinez, 26, was designated for assignment on December 17 in order to make room on the 40-man roster after the five-player trade which sent right-handed pitcher Mat Latos to the Cincinnati Reds.  The catcher made his Major League debut for the Padres last season, hitting .203 (12-for-59) with one double, one triple, one home run, 10 RBI and seven runs scored in 22 games for San Diego in 2011.  He also hit .323 (64-for-198) with 17 doubles, one triple, one home run, 28 RBI and 24 runs scored in 58 games for Triple-A Tucson last year.  Originally signed by the Padres as a 12^th-round selection in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft, he has hit .272 (361-for-1326) with 75 doubles, three triples, 12 home runs, 136 RBI and 165 runs scored in 397 games played over parts of five minor league seasons (2007-11) in the Padres organization.