Former Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Joe Kelly is eyeing an MLB comeback, and with a bullpen that is in need of reinforcements, a reunion in LA might prove to be the perfect fit.
The Dodgers brought in feared Minnesota Twins right-hander Brock Stewart at the trade deadline and have a few other names waiting in the wings of the injured list, but Kelly could provide valuable innings over the next few months.
Kelly was recently interviewed on the Baseball Isn’t Boring podcast and touched on what his potential return timeline is.
“I’ve been playing by myself, with my friends, my buddies,” Kelly said. “I still have to throw to them probably two more times. I was a little rusty in my last one.”
An MLB comeback is one thing, but host Rob Bradford asked if the Dodgers were specifically the team Kelly was going to throw for.
“That’s the ultimate plan, yeah,” Kelly said. “Time is on this side. My last bullpen yesterday was great. I finally got my breaking balls back. They’re spinning good, spinning hard. Two different shapes. That was the last thing besides ultimate command.”
After throwing off a mound wearing cleats for the first time in “nine months, maybe,” Kelly claimed his velocity was up to “94, maybe 95” mph.
“Velocity ticks up every time, that’s going to come,” Kelly said, “but the shapes and spins on my pitches were not where I wanted them to be, but now they are. It’s just the reps. The more I can throw, my shoulder will know. My body will know what to do.”
Above all, Kelly wants to prove that he is still the pitcher that tossed a 0.79 ERA for the Boston Red Sox on the way to the 2018 championship. Kelly wants to show that he is the same guy who allowed just one earned run across five appearances for the Dodgers during the 2020 postseason run.
“I just want to be good,” he said. “Velocity, yeah, I’ll come back throwing 99, 100. But I want it to be good. I don’t want it to be slop.”
Photo Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Have you joined our yet? Be a part of the ultimate Dodgers Nation community and get VIP Nation Access! Don’t miss out on real-time Dodgers talk, call-in access to Dodgers Dougout, behind-the-scenes content, exclusive interviews, giveaways, and more!