Dodgers’ Joe Kelly Had Perfect Quote About Shohei Ohtani Taking His Jersey Number

The veteran relief pitcher also fielded questions about what the superstar was giving him in exchange for No. 17.

For parts of four glorious seasons, Dodgers pitcher Joe Kelly was his team’s one and only No. 17. The reliever proudly donned a number that had in the past graced pitchers from franchise luminary Carl Erskine to Hall of Famer Jim Bunning, who spent one season with the club.

However, Kelly was overshadowed by the other No. 17 in Los Angeles—quite the feat considering how rarely his team is outshone. That arrangement is no longer, as Kelly has ceded his old number to designated hitter and pitcher Shohei Ohtani.

Kelly—a two-time World Series champion but never an All-Star—was realistic about the switch when he spoke to reporters at a holiday event Wednesday.

Joe Kelly is amazing 😂 pic.twitter.com/i8WtGBFP3d

— B/R Walk-Off (@BRWalkoff) December 14, 2023

“I wasn’t going to give it up to just anybody,” Kelly said. “If Shohei keeps performing, he’ll be a future Hall of Famer, and I’ll be able to have my number retired. That’s the closest I’ll get to the Hall of Fame.”

Kelly instead will wear No. 99 as Ohtani takes the No. 17 he wore with the Angels, with whom he won the AL MVP award in 2021 and ’23. The two-way superstar formally signed a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers on Monday.

“Oh, there’s a list, but no comment,” Kelly said when asked what Ohtani was giving him in return for the number.