Kelly has made several key appearances for the Dodgers over the years, although at age 37 he appears to be nearing the end of his career.
“I’m not playing,” Kelly told Rob Bradford the baseball isn’t boring podcast.
“There’s no such thing as retirement for athletes. Retiring is something my grandmother did. Let’s get rid of the word retirement, it’s used for people who served in the military, for people who worked until they were 65. You deserve to retire, athletes don’t.”
Kelly has played 161 games for the Dodgers since joining in 2019, pitching 147.2 innings and posting a 3.72 ERA.
He signed a three-year, $25 million deal with the Dodgers in the 2018-19 offseason as free agency, leaving the Boston Red Sox after helping them beat Los Angeles in the World Series.
While he helped defeat the Dodgers in the Fall Classic, he would ultimately help the Dodgers capture the 2020 World Series victory, pitching 3.2 innings and allowing one run.
Kelly ultimately left the Dodgers for the Chicago White Sox in 2022, signing a two-year contract with the organization before returning to the Dodgers via trade.
He struggled with injuries during the 2024 postseason run, limiting his availability and preventing him from making the postseason.
The reliever expressed interest in returning to the mound in 2025 for the postseason, although that never materialized.
“I played alone, with my friends, my buddies,” Kelly said. “I probably have to throw at them two more times. I was a little rusty on the last one.”
“Time is on this side. My last bullpen yesterday was great. I finally got my breaking balls back. They spin well, spin hard. Two different shapes. That was the last thing besides the ultimate command.”
Now Kelly is hanging up his cleats, although not completely closing the door on a comeback.
Photo credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images
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