The Los Angeles Dodgers officially re-signed Joe Kelly, who appears likely to wear No. 99 for the team during the 2024 season. Kelly’s new jersey number is a result of allowing Shohei Ohtani to take No. 17 on the Dodgers roster.
Kelly is back with the Dodgers after receiving a $1 million buyout due to an $8.5 million team option for 2024 being declined. He was a free agent for roughly one month before agreeing to re-sign with the Dodgers on a one-year, $8 million deal.
The right-hander initially returned to the organization at the trade deadline this year as part of a deal with the Chicago White Sox that also brought Lance Lynn to the Dodgers. Lynn had his team option declined as well, received a buyout and went on to sign with the St. Louis Cardinals.
Kelly enjoyed better results after being traded to the Dodgers but was marred by a five-week stint on the 15-day injured list due to right elbow inflammation. He had previously missed time in April because of a right groin strain and 16 days in July with elbow trouble.
Kelly went 1-0 with a 1.74 ERA, 1.32 FIP, 0.87 WHIP and averaged 16.5 strikeouts per nine innings across 11 appearances for the Dodgers. In 42 games overall this past season, he finished with a combined 4.12 ERA and 2.72 FIP while striking out 35.7% of batters faced.
Joe Kelly might be wearing 99 after all.https://t.co/EkUgFzHldx pic.twitter.com/lbNJAji8Ft
— Matthew Moreno (@Matthew__Moreno) December 12, 2023
In light of Kelly agreeing to terms with the Dodgers before Ohtani’s free agency decision, the team reportedly asked the ever-popular relief pitcher if he would be open to wearing a new number.
It wasn’t going to be an issue for Kelly, who recently joked about the possibility on the “Baseball Isn’t Boring” podcast, but his wife Ashley also posted a campaign on social media to recruit and offer No. 17 to Ohtani.
Joe Kelly number history
Kelly wore No. 58 while with the Cardinals from 2012-2014. Kelly’s jersey number history added No. 56 with the Boston Red Sox from 2014-2018 before switching to 17, which most fans associate him with over multiple stints with the Dodgers and while a member of the White Sox.
Upon re-signing with the Dodgers, Kelly was originally listed on the roster as No. 99. Kelly’s profile page then changed to No. 58, but But Ashley Kelly posted a video that indicated he would indeed have 99 as a jersey number.
Recent Dodgers to wear 58 include Tyson Miller (2023), Gus Varland (2023), Chris Martin (2022) and James Sherfy (2021). The most prominent, however, was Chad Billingsley choosing 58 as his jersey number with the Dodgers from 2006-2013. Prior to Billingsley, it was donned by Edwin Jackson (2005), among others.
Kelly is on track to become first Dodgers player to wear No. 99 since Hyun-Jin Ryu (2013-2019). Manny Ramirez (2008-2010) also wore 99 with the Dodgers.
Although not worn by a player, Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior has been No. 99 for multiple seasons.
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