Legend Joe Kelly lands new role after Dodgers retirement

Former Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Joe Kelly is beginning the next chapter of his baseball career by returning to where it all started. The 38-year-old has joined the coaching staff at Corona High School, his alma mater, where he will serve as an assistant coach with a primary focus on developing the Panthers’ pitching staff.

The announcement was made on Tuesday through the school’s baseball program, and it really feels like a homecoming for Kelly, who unofficially retired from professional baseball before the 2026 season. He revealed in December 2025 during the Baseball Isn’t Boring podcast that he was stepping away from playing after his comeback attempt with Los Angeles ended the previous year.

Kelly brings 13 seasons of Major League experience to one of California’s top high school baseball programs. Drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the third round of the 2009 MLB Draft after starring at Corona High and later at UC Riverside, he reached the majors in 2012. He was traded to the Boston Red Sox in 2014 and transitioned from a starting pitcher to a full-time reliever in 2016, a move that helped maximize his power fastball and sinker. Kelly also spent time with the Chicago White Sox before returning to the Dodgers during the 2023 season, finishing his playing career in Los Angeles after the 2024 campaign.

Across 485 MLB appearances, Kelly compiled a 54-38 record with a 3.98 ERA. He earned two World Series championships, winning with the Red Sox in 2018 and helping the Dodgers win the 2020 title to end the franchise’s 32-year championship drought. During his second run with Los Angeles, he made 46 bullpen appearances across the 2023 and 2024 seasons.

Corona head coach Andy Wise said Kelly has remained closely connected to the Panthers program since retiring, attending games, following the team through GameChanger and regularly offering advice. The opportunity to join the coaching staff came together after Wise and Kelly spoke with players during a trip to Northern California.

Kelly steps into a program that has enjoyed recent success. Corona finished the latest season with a 24-9 record and a No. 12 ranking in California. The Panthers also produced four selections in the 2025 MLB Draft, including Seth Hernandez (No. 6 overall, Pittsburgh Pirates), Billy Carlson (No. 10, White Sox), Brady Ebel (No. 32, Milwaukee Brewers) and Ethin Bingaman (No. 603, Arizona Diamondbacks). His major league experience is expected to provide valuable guidance for one of the state’s premier baseball programs.