On Saturday, the two-way standout Shohei Ohtani agreed to a record-breaking deal for 10 years worth $700 million, as he will continue to shine with the Dodgers in the city of Los Angeles.
Joe Kelly has a thought 😂 pic.twitter.com/x3tBp7Uumz
— B/R Walk-Off (@BRWalkoff) December 10, 2023
Continuing in the city where he began his professional career money was not the only factor. According to USA Today Sports Dodgers veteran Joe Kelly’s willingness to give up his jersey number for Ohtani, is believed to have factored in.
Ohtani wears the No. 17 jersey, which he has worn since he originally signed with the Angels back in 2018. He has worn the jersey No. 17 during his MLB career, which now presents a small problem.
Ohtani is now expected to continue to wear No. 17 when he takes the field for the Dodgers for the first time. All thanks to Kelly, who wears No. 17 with the Dodgers after he signed a one-year deal worth $8 million to stay in L.A. last week.
Kelly pitched for the Dodgers from 2019-2021 and is back with the team for the second time and he wears jersey No. 17, but now this won’t be an issue for Ohtani.
The relief pitcher was reported by AM 570 LA that he said,
“we could make a jersey together. It could be Joehei.”
According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, the Dodgers recently made a phone call to their reliever Kelly to request for him to change his number for Ohtani and he agreed to do so.
