Dodgers Fan Favorite Pitcher Considering Retirement Ahead of 2025 Season
Joe Kelly’s name has not been mentioned much when it comes to the Hot Stove and there appears to be some suspicion as to why.
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The Los Angeles Dodgers reliever became a fan favorite instantly when he made his famous pouty face against the Houston Astros during the 2020 season. He struck out Carlos Correa and let out an emotion that Dodgers fans had been waiting to let out.
However, his time with the team hasn’t been smooth sailing. Kelly has endured several injuries and the most recent one ended his 2024 season prematurely. A lingering shoulder issue could be why his name hasn’t been popular on the free-agent market.
The shoulder is also leading some to believe that Kelly could retire this offseason instead of recover and return to the bullpen in 2025.
The right-hander was recently asked about his future plans at a fan event in an interview with Dodgers Beat. He hinted that there is only one team he would consider returning to if he was offered a contract.
“Oh yeah, of course,” Kelly replied when asked if he wanted to stay in L.A. “I would blame it on my shoulder if I had to play anywhere else so I wouldn’t play.”
“I am content all around. We have a good relationship. Like I said, once I am healthy, it’s kinda like Clayton (Kershaw’s) deal — there is only one spot we will come back to,” Kelly added.
“It’s either that or, you know, if my body doesn’t heal as well as it wants to, then you never know. So we’ll see.”
After giving up his number to help recruit Shohei Ohtani, Kelly’s 2024 season was derailed by shoulder issues, limiting him to just 35 appearances. A right shoulder strain in May landed him on the 60-day injured list, forcing him to miss 61 games before making a midseason return.
Later in the year, Kelly dealt with shoulder inflammation that sidelined him for another 16 games. He managed four outings during the season’s final two weeks but tweaked his shoulder again before the NLDS, keeping him out of the postseason entirely.
Over his 13-year career with the St. Louis Cardinals, Boston Red Sox, Dodgers, and Chicago White Sox, Kelly has logged 839 innings, posted a 3.98 ERA, and won three World Series titles, two with the Dodgers and one with the Red Sox.
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Photo Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
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