Joe Kelly Announces Retirement After 13 Seasons in MLB

In a heartfelt announcement made on the Baseball Isn't Boring podcast, former MLB reliever Joe Kelly declared his retirement from professional baseball after an impressive 13-year career. Kelly shared his thoughts on retirement, stating, "Retiring is like, something that my grandmother did. I’m sorry all you people out there watching this that work a real job. You guys deserve to retire, athletes don’t. We just stop playing... Let’s cancel the word 'retirement.'"

Career Highlights in the MLB

Drafted in the third round of the 2009 MLB draft, Kelly made a memorable debut for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2012. Initially starting his career as a starter, he was traded to the Boston Red Sox in 2014, where he began to carve out a niche for himself as a reliable reliever. Notably, during the Red Sox’s 2018 World Series run, Kelly made nine postseason appearances, boasting an impressive 0.79 ERA with a 2-1 record and was the winning pitcher in Game 4 against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

After securing a championship with the Red Sox, Kelly signed with the Dodgers in 2019 and contributed to their World Series victory in 2020. He spent three successful years in Los Angeles before joining the Chicago White Sox in 2022 and later returning to the Dodgers during the 2023 season.

Final Season and Future Prospects

In his last active season in 2024, Kelly made 35 appearances, recording a 4.78 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP; however, he did not participate in the Dodgers’ 2024 World Series run. After expressing interest in returning to the Dodgers, he ultimately went unsigned and did not pitch in the 2025 season.

As he wraps up his journey in Major League Baseball, Joe Kelly leaves behind a legacy marked by resilience, adaptability, and contributions to championship teams.