What are the White Sox getting in Joe Kelly? A fiery competitor with a big personality. Rick Hahn could not have picked a better fit for the White Sox bullpen.
Joe Kelly is coming off his best full season with the Dodgers. The hard-throwing right-hander posted a 2.86 ERA and a 0.98 WHIP, which is a new career-best. Kelly also owned his third-highest strikeouts per nine innings with a 10.2 mark. In 2019 struck out hitters at a 10.9 per nine innings but owned a 4.56 ERA.
His career ERA is a respectable 3.83, but there is reason to believe that the 33-year old has found the best version of himself in 2021. He underwent shoulder surgery to remove a cyst during the 2021 season. When he returned his velocity increased. His average four-seam fastball velocity improved to 98.1 mph.
The uptick in velocity helped him unlock his changeup, which was the key to his success. Kelly threw his changeup 115 times, the most since he joined the Dodgers in 2019. As a result, he struck out 27.5 percent of the batters he faced, picked up a pair of saves, and had 13 holds.
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In the past two seasons, Kelly has only thrown a combined 54 innings. His arm should be fresh heading into the 2022 season.
Colorful Personality
His colorful personality should also mesh well with the cast of characters that already occupy the White Sox bullpen.
The White Sox bullpen featured the “ponytail gang” and a lego “Infinity Gauntlet”, which was awarded to the best pitcher each week. Kelly has rocked a mullet in the past and now sports a gnarly mustache.
Kelly once traded a trumpet player at Dodger stadium a jersey for a mariachi jacket. He later wore that jacket during the Dodger’s visit to the White House. Like Liam Hendriks, Kelly is also not afraid to express himself on the mound. He looks primed to add to the culture.
Post Season Experience
Being a ten-year veteran, Kelly has a wealth of postseason experience he can share with the clubhouse. Rick Hahn has shown he values battle-tested postseason veterans when targeting free agents. Kelly is no different.
He has pitched in some big games, earning two World Series rings. In 40 postseason games, Kelly has a respectable 3.55 ERA. During the 2018 World Series, he went 1-0 and had a perfect 0.00 ERA for the Boston Red Sox.
In 2020 he had a 1.80 ERA during the regular season for the Dodgers before helping them win the World Series. He will serve as a guide for some of the White Sox younger arms come October.
Hates The Astros
The Chicago White Sox and Kelly share a mutual hatred for the Houston Astros. The White Sox were knocked out by the Astros last season in the ALDS. It’s no secret that they represent a roadblock in the White Sox quest to reach the World Series.
It’s also no secret that Joe Kelly does not like the Houston Astros. He ignited a benches-clearing incident after he fired a fastball dangerously close to the head of Astros third baseman Alex Bregman. Soon after he struck out Carlos Correa and taunted him as he walked off the mound causing the dugouts to empty.
He later spoke about his disdain for the Astros on an episode of the “Big Swing” podcast.
“They cheated. Everybody knows they’re cheaters. They know they’re cheaters. It’s over. That’s been there done that. But now they mess it up by ruining other people’s lives, so they fucked it up twice.”
Kelly was referring to Alex Cora, AJ Hinch, and Carlos Beltran who were all fired in the fallout of the scandal while none of the Astros players were suspended.
“When you taint someone’s name to save your own name, this is one of the worst things that you could probably do. … That really friggin’ bugs me. I think I’ll be irritated forever.”
Kelly also added that he refuses to talk to any Astros players because they are “not respectable men”.
The White Sox and Astros clashed a few times during the ALDS. Ryan Tepera irked some Astros players after he hinted that they were cheating once again. Dusty Baker and Tony La Russa exchanged words after Jose Abreu was plunked by a fastball in Game 4. It’s clear the White Sox and Astros do not like each other.
Joe Kelly has no problem being tossed into the mix.
Bullpen Depth
Most importantly Joe Kelly gives Tony La Russa a plethora of late-inning options. According to David Vassegh, Tony La Russa was the driving force behind acquiring Kelly.
Unlike Craig Kimbrel, he is comfortable in a setup man role. With Garrett Crochet, Aaron Bummer, Kelly, and newly acquired Kendall Graveman, the White Sox boast a lethal bridge to Liam Hendriks in the ninth inning
Kelly, Graveman, and Hendriks figure to handle the bulk of late-inning responsibilities. Even though Craig Kimbrel figures to be traded before the start of the season, the addition of Kelly gives the White Sox one of the deepest bullpens in the American League.
