Kelley's success is slow but sure By y JOHN ROMANO Times Staff Writer TAMPA - The New York Yankees system is brimming with talented second men, according to player development George Bradley. Dean Kelley i is proud to be included in group of budding major leaguers. He just it wasn't such a crowded group. Kelley, the former University of star, had a successful run with the Class AA team in Albany last summer. because New York acquired another BASEBALL league second baseman in the off-season, Kelley found himself back in Class A ball at Fort Lauderdale this summer. "I was pretty upset at the time. I didn't feel like I was out of my league at all in Albany," Kelley said. "I talked to George Bradley and he said I was a prospect and he thought it would be better for me to play in Single-A instead of sitting the bench at Double-A." So Kelley took a step backward with the thought of taking two steps forward in the future. Kelley said he can make the jump next year from Class A to Triple-A and Bradley agrees. "He's considered a pretty strong second baseman," Bradley said. "The system is pretty full right now but that will correct itself in time. Both he and (Albany's) Andy Stankiewicz will have a shot at moving up to Triple-A next year." Kelley, who was drafted by the Yankees in the 10th round in 1987, had his first stint in Class A baseball at Prince William, Va., of the Carolina League last season. He hit .274 and began to feel more comfortable at second base. Kelley was an outfielder at UT but was moved to second base in his first pro season at Oneonta of the New York-Penn League. When Stankiewicz was promoted from Albany to Triple-A Columbus last summer, Kelley moved up to Albany, where he continued to hit .274. "They put me on the spot in Double-A and I answered the challenge," Kelley said. "I think I did pretty well." Kelley has had a couple of other challenges at Fort Lauderdale this season. He started the season in a terrible slump and then ended up on the disabled list for three weeks after jamming his shoulder when he dove into a base. The injured shoulder did not affect Kelley's swing so he was able to work on his hitting while recuperating. Since he's come back from the injury in the past three weeks, Kelley has been farm basedirector that wishes Tampa Yankees But, minor File photo Dean Kelley celebrated a home run while playing for the University of Tampa. He now plays second base for the Yankees in Fort
