Joe Kelly Ends 13-Year MLB Career Due to Injuries

Joe Kelly, the fiery right-handed reliever known for his postseason prowess and unfiltered personality, has ended his 13-year Major League Baseball career after failing to secure a return with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 37-year-old announced his decision on the Baseball Isn’t Boring podcast, hosted by Rob Bradford, emphasizing that he is simply stopping play rather than retiring in the traditional sense.

Kelly, who last pitched in 2024, expressed frustration with the term "retirement," calling it disrespectful to those in conventional professions. "Retiring is, like, something my grandmother did," he said. "I'm sorry to all you people out there watching this that work a real job. You guys deserve to retire. Athletes don't. We just stop [expletive] playing." He advocated for a simpler acknowledgment: "When athletes are done playing, just say, 'Congratulations. They're no longer playing.' No more retirement [expletive]."

Injuries played a pivotal role in Kelly's exit. After going unsigned for the 2025 season, he organized a private showcase for the Dodgers in July 2024, stating he would only pitch for that team if he returned at all. Persistent health issues, including a strain...