Former Dodgers pitcher Joe Kelly further ignites beef with Yankees in response to Aaron Boone

Jul 28, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Joe Kelly (99) reactss after delivering a pitch against the Houston Astros during the eighth inning at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images
Jul 28, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Joe Kelly (99) reactss after delivering a pitch against the Houston Astros during the eighth inning at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images | Erik Williams-Imagn Images

Former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Joe Kelly's playing days may be over, but his trolling days are certainly not.

A three-time World Series champion (once with the Boston Red Sox and twice with the Dodgers, though he didn't pitch in the postseason for Los Angeles in 2024), Kelly has let no opportunity go to waste when it comes to making fun of the New York Yankees' infamous fifth inning collapse in Game 5 of the World Series.

Kelly's latest opportunity came on the "Baseball Isn't Boring" podcast, when he berated the Yankees and pitcher Gerrit Cole for failing to cover first base on a routine ground ball that ultimately allowed the Dodgers to score a run in what would end up being their World Series-clinching victory.

“I wonder how ground balls are going. PFPs (pitcher’s fielding practice), ground balls, the little things,” Kelly said, discussing Yankees spring training. “I got (my son) Knox’s nine-year-old travel team, first move after a ground ball to the right side, all of them are breaking. Every single one of them. Kids that pitch once a week know to get over. They’re nine! Not one of them forgets to get over. I promise you. I know who does forget to get over, and it’s not the nine-year-olds.”

Former Dodgers pitcher Joe Kelly further ignites beef with Yankees in response to Aaron Boone

Kelly also took a shot at Yankees manager Aaron Boone, who called out the Dodgers for their continued trash talk following their World Series win – a good deal of which has come from Kelly himself.

“(Boone’s) just so hurt," Kelly said. "It’s so sad. When your fearless leader has fear, it’s a little tough to see. Feelings are hurt.”

Kelly missed time early in the 2024 season with a right shoulder injury. Upon returning, he went on to finish his regular season with a 4.78 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 35 strikeouts over 32 innings.

The veteran right-hander is now a free agent after missing the entirety of the playoffs when he re-injured his shoulder in September and recently hinted that he would retire from baseball unless a return to the Dodgers was on the table.

More Dodgers content from Dodgers Way

Schedule