Joe Kelly Announces Retirement, Ends MLB Playing Career

Joe Kelly’s long, winding journey through Major League Baseball has finally come to a close. After 13 seasons and a reputation as one of the game’s most intense competitors, the hard-throwing right-hander has decided he’s no longer playing.

Some would call this retirement. Kelly, though, prefers a different description—one that fits his unconventional career and bigger-than-life personality.

Joe Kelly Steps Away From the Mound

Kelly broke the news during a chat with WEEI’s Rob Bradford. He explained that he dislikes the word retirement.

In his mind, this isn’t some ceremonial ending. It’s just reality—his body can’t keep up with the grind of pitching in the majors anymore.

At 37, Kelly felt the accumulation of injuries had finally caught up with him. His last action came with the Dodgers in the 2024 season, when he logged 32 regular-season innings.

He didn’t sign with a club the following winter. But that wasn’t because his stuff had declined.

Even late in the process, Kelly could still light up radar guns during bullpen sessions. The fastball was still there.

Injuries, Not Velocity, Ended the Run

Kelly admitted that persistent health issues ultimately drove the decision. The arm strength was still present, but the recovery and consistency needed to pitch at the highest level had become too much to manage.

For a pitcher whose career was built on power and aggression, anything less than full throttle just wasn’t an option.

A Power Arm From Day One

Few pitchers showed up in the big leagues throwing as hard as Joe Kelly. Drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the third round of the 2009 MLB Draft, he made his debut in 2012 with a fastball that averaged 95 mph.

As his career went on, that velocity actually increased. Late in his time in the majors, he was averaging 98.2 mph.

Beyond raw speed, Kelly developed a heavy sinker that induced ground balls. He mixed in a sharp curveball that kept hitters guessing.

The result? A pitcher who could overpower lineups when he was locked in.

Early Years With the Cardinals

Kelly spent his first big-league stretch in St. Louis, logging 266 innings across parts of three seasons. In 2014, he was part of a pivotal trade that sent him to the Boston Red Sox.

That move set the stage for the most impactful chapter of his career.

Boston Breakthrough and Bullpen Brilliance

Kelly’s career took a dramatic turn in 2016 when Boston moved him to the bullpen full-time. The change unlocked his potential, letting his velocity and intensity play up in shorter outings.

He quickly became a trusted late-inning weapon.

That role paid off in historic fashion during the Red Sox’s 2018 championship run. Kelly established himself as a fearless postseason performer.

A Proven October Pitcher

Across 60 postseason innings, Kelly posted a 3.45 ERA. He put up a dominant 2.03 ERA over 13 1/3 World Series frames.

Few relievers thrived under pressure like Kelly did. He often seemed to feed off the chaos of October baseball.

Championships, Numbers, and a Colorful Legacy

Kelly later signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He picked up another championship ring during the wild, shortened 2020 season.

After a stint with the White Sox, he found himself back in Los Angeles in 2023. He earned his third World Series ring with the 2024 Dodgers, even though health issues kept trying to slow him down.

Over 13 seasons, Kelly put together a career worth talking about:

But honestly, the stats only tell part of the story. Kelly brought a fiery attitude and fierce competitiveness to every clubhouse he joined.

He racked up high-profile suspensions and delivered some unforgettable moments. Who could forget him handing over his No. 17 to Shohei Ohtani, then rocking No. 99 instead?

Joe Kelly’s legacy is all about intensity, talent, and a bit of pure baseball drama. Love him or not, he made sure people noticed.

 
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