When the Los Angeles Dodgers signed Joe Kelly before the 2019 season, they knew they were getting a relief pitcher with great stuff at the cost of a lot of walks.
Kelly has walked 3.7 batters per nine innings in his career. Last season, he walked seven hitters in his 10 innings pitched, which gave him a career-worst 6.3 walks per nine.
This season, Kelly is using his strike-throwing, mustache-growing alter ego known as “Joseph.” So far, the result is “Joseph” has cut his walks per nine to 2.2 in 16.2 innings and has turned into an elite reliever.