Former Dodgers right-hander Joe Kelly is one of those guys that you either really really liked or you really really did not. When the 2021 season ended, so, too, did the colorful 33-year-old’s three-season tenure with the Dodgers. But even though the (very) hard-throwing Anaheim, CA native and third-round draft pick in 2009 by the St. Louis Cardinals out of UC Riverside may no longer be a Dodger, his (thus far) 10-year MLB career continues. On Saturday afternoon, the sometimes eccentric, sometimes fan-favorite signed a two-year / $17 million contract with the Chicago White Sox.

In his three seasons with the Dodgers, Kelly posted a 7-4 record and 3.59 ERA – not great, but not bad either. For good measure, he also started (opened) a game in Dodger Blue on September 23, 2020, against the Oakland Athletics. He lasted one inning in that eventual 6-4 loss, having allowed three runs on two hits to the six A’s batters he faced that day.

But without question, the single greatest (if you can call it that) memory of Joe Kelly’s three seasons in Los Angeles came on July 28, 2020, when he struck out much-hated (by Dodgers fans) Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa (after nearly intentionally hitting him) to end the sixth inning in the Dodgers eventual 5-2 win over the Astros at Minute Maid Park. As he was walking off the field, Kelly looked back at Correa and made his now Mount Rushmore-worthy pouty face at the confirmed cheater. Shortly thereafter, benches cleared, but no punches were thrown.

“I was (expletive) mad,” Kelly later said of his now-infamous facial expression. “That’s what happens when I’m mad. You’re acting like a baby, I’m gonna do what you look like. I was pissed.”

During the 2021 season, his last as a Dodger, Kelly went 2-0 with a very impressive 2.86 ERA over his 44.0 innings pitched. He allowed only 16 runs on 28 hits, of which three were home runs. He struck out 50 while walking 15 for a 3.33 K/BB ratio. He also hit four batters, although apparently none were intentional.

Say what you will about Joe Kelly, I, for one, will miss him in Dodger Blue.

Play Ball!

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