Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports

2023 White Sox in Review: Joe Kelly

Originally posted on On Tap Sports Net | By Besnik Zekiri | Last updated Jan 18, 2024 2:50 PM ET

Joe Kelly endured another injury-plagued season with the Chicago White Sox in 2023 before a trade sent him to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Injuries marred the veteran's stint in Chicago as he showed only a few glimmers of the performance expected.

In roughly a year and a half with the White Sox, Kelly landed on the injured list four times and was removed from two outings in 2023. He and teammate Lance Lynn were traded at the deadline in exchange for two Dodgers pitching prospects.

Streaky

It didn't take long before Kelly landed on the IL in 2023. The veteran reliever suffered a groin strain while entering the field when the White Sox' and Pittsburgh Pirates' benches cleared on Easter Sunday.

The White Sox activated Kelly from the IL on April 24, and the righty showed off his best stuff. From April 30 to May 23, he tossed 10.2 innings, allowing no runs and two hits while striking out 15 and issuing no free passes.

The Flip Side

His dominant stretch ended, and what followed was abysmal. From May 27 to July 4, Kelly pitched 13.2 innings and allowed 14 hits, 11 earned runs, and nine walks, resulting in five blown saves. After Independence Day, Kelly landed on the IL again with shoulder inflammation and missed roughly three weeks.

Despite his rough performance close to the trade deadline, the White Sox extracted some value for the veteran. Kelly and Lynn suited up for the Dodgers for the remainder of the year, and both pitched better than they did with Chicago. The 34-year-old reliever posted a 1.74 ERA with Los Angeles.

Pitchers Nick Nastrini and Jordan Leasure came over from the Dodgers in the trade. MLB Pipeline ranks Nastrini as the 6th-best White Sox farmhand.

What's On Tap Next?

Overall, Joe Kelly disappointed during his time with the White Sox. He landed on the IL four times, and despite putting together stretches of shutdown relief, periods of vast underperformacne followed.

Luckily, the White Sox gained something in return for their oft-injured reliever. Kelly will remain in Los Angeles for the 2024 season after signing a one-year, $8 million deal with the Dodgers in the offseason.

This article first appeared on On Tap Sports Net and was syndicated with permission.

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