Dodgers Team News

Dodgers News: Joe Kelly Still in Need of Time to Be Game Ready

The Dodgers are in the full swing of Spring Training games. Just over a week into the action, most of their regulars are getting into games in preparation for the season. Of course, there are a few exceptions to that. 

David Price has been playing it slowly in terms of his progression but should debut this coming week. Brusdar Graterol and Joe Kelly are two relievers that have yet to make appearances. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts gave an update on both of them on Sunday. 



Graterol was a little behind due to not being able to throw as much during the offseason. Joe Kelly came into camp with some minor injuries that were not specified, which slowed down his start. He was further set back by an illness that kept him out of camp for a few days. 

For the moment, Graterol is ahead of Kelly in his preparation. Roberts said that he expects Brusdar to get into a game soon but could not provide a timeline for Kelly. The good news is that they are both one inning guys for the Dodgers, and will not require much ramp-up. 

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Kelly had an interesting year in 2020. Aside from his fracas with the Astros, he didn’t have much of a noteworthy year. Kelly pitched just 10 innings due to injuries and the suspension from that night in Houston. He had the highest walk rate of his career and threw his breaking ball twice as much as the year prior.

The Dodgers could use him in the later innings, but the excess of arms likely gives him time to get to 100 percent. 

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3 Comments

  1. Indeed, he played, “hero,” against Houstin, but IMO, he is trade-bait, I wouldn’t miss him.

    1. I agree. Kelly has filthy stuff but has done nothing noteworthy since we signed him. Mystery aches and pains, occasional wildness, etc. Hoping he looks good this spring and some other team will take him. Then we lower our payroll and make room for Nelson or Morrow or whoever shines this spring.

  2. and if we don’t trade him, then a team as stacked as the Dodgers can afford to keep him under wraps and not let him join a competitor for the stretch run and playoffs. Just a few years back, the Dodgers could never hit him!

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