Kelly, 22, is hitting .326/.405/.548 with seven home runs and 22 RBI through 37 games for Triple-A Memphis.

EDGE Analysis

Kelly has nearly surpassed his previous career high in home runs already, and he has almost as many walks (16) as strikeouts (20) thus far in 2017. Yadier Molina is not going anywhere, though, so either the Cardinals will have to find use for Kelly elsewhere on the diamond, or he may end up being trade bait.

Kelly is slashing .259/.375/.630 over his first 32 plate appearances with Triple-A Memphis, including three home runs.

EDGE Analysis

Kelly has been bounced back from a rough spring with an impressive power stroke against Triple-A pitching. His trio of round-trippers over a modest sample size are somewhat of an outlier, considering the 22-year-old backstop has never hit more than nine homers in any minor-league stop. Kelly failed to go deep over 126 plate appearances at Memphis last season and likewise came up empty in 16 spring games during March. It remains to be seen if he'll be able to maintain his impressive pace as the season unfolds, but the early returns in his second go-around against Triple-A arms have been encouraging.

Kelly's path to the majors is expected to be somewhat modified with the signing of Yadier Molina to a three-year extension Sunday, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. "I think that's fair - that he won't have the robust role of an everyday catcher, especially in those first couple of years," general manager John Mozeliak said. "That doesn't mean he can't continue to develop. I do feel like for Carson this is a great opportunity to have one of the greatest catchers ever to play now be able to help mentor. We're not forced with having to push him faster than we have to."

EDGE Analysis

Kelly struggled with a .176 average over 40 plate appearances this spring, but he remains a highly-regarded prospect who's considered the heir apparent to Molina. The 22-year-old will remain the everyday starter at Triple-A Memphis in the coming season, and Molina's signing through 2020 likely equates to a gradual integration of Kelly at the big-league level as opposed to an immediate starting role. Veteran Eric Fryer was also acquired this past winter with the express purpose of serving as a serviceable backup to Molina, thereby allowing Kelly to continue to gain seasoning at the Triple-A level instead of languishing on the bench with the Cardinals. Another solid year at Memphis could certainly set the table for a possible late season call-up and the primary reserve catcher role for Kelly in 2018.

Kelly was optioned to Triple-A Memphis on Monday, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

EDGE Analysis

Kelly has made a great case in his young minor league career to become Yadier Molina's successor in St. Louis. He hit .292/.352/.381 for Memphis over 32 games last season, a particularly impressive mark considering he was 5.4 years younger than the average Triple-A player. Eric Fryer will back up Molina for now, but Kelly has a chance to play his way onto the roster in the second half of 2017.

Kelly, the Cardinals' top catching prospect, is a non-roster invitee to spring training but likely to return to Triple-A Memphis to start the season, Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The 22-year-old will join veteran incumbent Yadier Molina and fellow non-roster invitee Eric Fryer at the position in spring training, but the team has already expressed a desire to have him start his 2017 campaign at the minor league level so he can continue to benefit from regular playing time. Kelly finished the 2016 season at Triple-A Memphis, where he slashed .292/.352/.381 with 10 doubles and 14 RBI over 113 at-bats. The 34-year-old Molina is signed through the 2018 season and showed no sign of slowing down in the 2016 campaign, but with Fryer viewed as just a veteran stop-gap, Kelly figures to be a presence on the major league club at some point in the coming season. In the interim, the Cardinals will give him some valuable reps during the exhibition slate, followed by additional seasoning against the top level of minor league competition.

Kelly's contract was purchased from Triple-A Memphis on Sunday.

EDGE Analysis

Kelly earned a late-July promotion to Memphis, where he posted a .733 OPS for the Redbirds. He'll be one of three backup catchers currently on the active roster competing for reps behind starter Yadier Molina.

Kelly, 22, is hitting .303/.351/.455 in nine games since being promoted to Triple-A Memphis.

EDGE Analysis

It's rare that a player who projects to stick behind the dish reaches Triple-A as a 22-year-old, and Kelly is a young 22, as his birthday is July 14. The big concern with Kelly was always whether or not he'd hit enough to be useful in fantasy, and the bat has really taken a big step forward this year. He posted a .740 OPS with six homers in the Texas League prior to his promotion. It will likely be a batting average centered fantasy profile, but that will still play, given the lack of useful options at the position. Unfortunately, in this organization, he is unlikely to take over the everyday duties anytime soon, as Yadier Molina is signed through 2017 with a team option for 2018.

Kelly is hitting .400 over his last 10 games at Double-A, including two home runs. The converted catcher is hitting .294 on the season for Springfield.

EDGE Analysis

Kelly was drafted in by the Cardinals as third baseman in 2012. He made the transition to catcher prior to the 2014 season, making this his third full season. Kelly struggled most of 2014 and 2015, but has found his stride this season. He looks more comfortable behind the plate, which is allowing him to focus more on his offense this season. The 21-year-old still has a long way to go if he wants to become a big-league catcher, but his play this season at Double-A is a sign of hope.

Kelly continues to struggle for High-A Palm Beach, hitting just .181/.230/.266 through 177 at-bats. The Cardinals were hoping that Kelly could develop into their catcher of the future after transitioning from third base but at this point the bat has to be at least a little more of a concern than his development behind the plate. He'll be 21 in July and in his fourth season in the system he's hitting .237/.299/.354 for his minor league career.