Joe Kelly is a former professional baseball player who played as a pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB) for several teams. He was born on June 9, 1988, in Anaheim, California, and attended the University of California, Riverside, where he played college baseball.
Kelly began his professional career in 2009 when he was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the third round of the MLB draft. He made his MLB debut with the Cardinals in 2012 and played for them until 2014. During his time with the Cardinals, Kelly was primarily used as a starting pitcher and had a record of 22-21 with a 3.25 ERA.
In 2014, Kelly was traded to the Boston Red Sox, where he played until 2018. During his time with the Red Sox, Kelly was used as both a starting pitcher and a relief pitcher. He was a member of the Red Sox team that won the World Series in 2018, and he played a key role in the team's postseason success. In the 2018 World Series, Kelly appeared in six games and did not allow a run, helping the Red Sox win their fourth championship in 15 years.
After the 2018 season, Kelly became a free agent and signed a three-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He played for the Dodgers from 2019 to 2021 and was primarily used as a relief pitcher. During his time with the Dodgers, Kelly had a record of 4-4 with a 3.33 ERA.
Throughout his career, Kelly was known for his fiery personality and his willingness to stand up for his teammates. He was involved in several high-profile incidents, including a brawl with the New York Yankees in 2018 and a confrontation with the Houston Astros in 2020. Despite his reputation as a tough competitor, Kelly was also known for his sense of humor and his ability to keep his teammates loose in the clubhouse.
In May 2021, Kelly was placed on the injured list with a shoulder injury, and he did not pitch for the rest of the season. In November 2021, he became a free agent and announced his retirement from baseball. Over the course of his career, Kelly had a record of 54-47 with a 3.87 ERA and 10 saves. He appeared in 292 games, including 128 starts, and struck out 776 batters in 838 innings pitched.
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