‘Tis the time of year when tenured MLB veterans decide that they either no longer want to play baseball or no longer have a market of teams that want them to play baseball. This marks the second time in as many days that a former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher has called it quits on their MLB career. Yesterday, it was Andrew Heaney, and today it’s Joe Kelly, who is a two-time World Series Champion.
Kelly did not pitch in 2025, and in his farewell message to baseball, he is clear that he isn’t “retiring”, as that term is “disrespectful” to those who retire from other professions.
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Joe Kelly’s Career is Finished
Joe Kelly has had a solid MLB career that has spanned 13 seasons. If this is truly it, which it seems to be, Kelly posted a career 3.98 ERA over 839 innings and 485 games pitched. He floated around as both a reliever and a starter.
Here is the message he sent while talking with WEEI.com’s Rob Bradford about his “retirement”:
GettyLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 07: Joe Kelly #99 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches in relief during the sixth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Dodger Stadium on August 07, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
âRetiring is like, something that my grandmother didâ¦.Iâm sorry all you people out there watching this that work a real job. You guys deserve to retire, athletes donât,â Kelly said. âWe just stop [expletive] playing, okay? Letâs cancel the word âretirement.â Itâs used for people who [expletive] served in the military, used for people who worked until 65â¦When athletes are done playing, just say âcongratulations, theyâre no longer playing.â â
Kelly played five seasons for both the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers over his career. He was never an All-Star, and injuries and too many walks certainly held him back a little, but Joe Kelly was a flamethrower, and that’s where he made his break and butter throughout his career.
He leaves the game of baseball with 767 career strikeouts.
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Kelly Debuted With St. Louis, and Transitioned to a Bullpen Role Later in His Career
Joe Kelly came up with the St. Louis Cardinals as a starting pitcher, where he made his debut in 2012 and racked up 38 starts with the Cardinals over 2 1/2 seasons before being moved to the Boston Red Sox. Boston used him as a starter for the first couple of seasons, but then realized Kelly held more value coming out of the bullpen.
The 36-year-old Kelly returned home in Southern California in 2019 when he signed with the Dodgers.
He became a fan-favorite with Dodgers fans because of his numerous taunts towards Astros hitters in the wake of their cheating scandal.
Kelly ended up spending five seasons with LA, and posted a 3.72 ERA over 147.2 innings with the club.
If this is truly it for Kelly, Heavy on Sports wishes him well in whatever ventures his post-playing days have in store.
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