Joe Kelly Announces Retirement After 13 Major League Seasons
After an impressive 13-year career in Major League Baseball, reliever Joe Kelly has decided to retire. In a recent episode of the Baseball Isn’t Boring podcast, Kelly, 37, humorously addressed his retirement, expressing his discontent with the term itself.
“Retirement is something my grandmother did… I’m sorry for those of you with real jobs. You all deserve to retire; athletes don’t. We just stop playing, okay? Let’s cancel the word ‘retirement.’” Kelly remarked. He emphasized that retirement should refer to those who have dedicated years to the workforce, not athletes.
Kelly last pitched during the 2024 season, throwing 32 innings for the Dodgers. He did not sign a contract last offseason and had expressed intentions to showcase his skills exclusively to the Dodgers. However, ongoing injury issues ultimately led him to step away from the game. “I can throw 98 [mph] with ease… but after straining myself again, I thought, ‘nah, I’m done.’” he shared.
Throughout his career, Kelly was known for his exceptional velocity, debuting with a 95mph fastball with the Cardinals in 2012. Transitioning to the bullpen allowed his velocity to increase, averaging 98.2mph over his final eight seasons. Although his fastball gained recognition, his effective sinker and curveball often proved essential in clinching outs after setting batters up.
Drafted in the third round by the Cardinals in 2009, Kelly made his major league debut in 2012. Notably, he was part of a trade in 2014 that saw him and Allen Craig move to the Red Sox in exchange for John Lackey, a move that, while criticized at the time, later became more accepted as Kelly emerged as a key player in Boston’s bullpen.
After a successful postseason in 2018, where he posted a stellar 0.79 ERA, Kelly transitioned to the Dodgers on a three-year, $25MM contract. Despite initial struggles, he was instrumental in the Dodgers’ 2020 World Series win, contributing to the championship run with a 1.74 ERA in later seasons. Kelly culminated his career with a third ring despite health issues limiting his performance in his final season.
In total, Kelly played 485 games and accumulated 839 innings in the majors, maintaining a 3.98 ERA and a solid postseason ERA of 3.45. Known for his competitive edge and eccentric personality, he earned a reputation that drew comparisons to “Wild Thing” Rick Vaughn, even donning #99 with the Dodgers. As he embarks on his post-playing career, we at MLBTR extend our congratulations to Kelly for a remarkable journey in baseball.
