Dodgers’ Joe Kelly Wins Appeal, Suspension Reduced After Astros Incident

Major League Baseball wanted to set a precedent with Joe Kelly’s suspension after the Los Angeles Dodgers reliever’s recent incident with the Houston Astros.

The right-hander received an eight-game suspension for his antics, which in the abbreviated 2020 season, is equivalent to a massive 22-game punishment. But looks like that suspension has been reduced to five games upon appeal, however, as first reported by Jared Carrabis of Barstool Sports. ESPN’s Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel of ESPN confirmed the report.

Kelly made headlines after throwing a 96 mph fastball close to the head of Astros third baseman Alex Bregman and later came close to hitting his teammate, Carlos Correa, later that inning. Kelly talked a lot of trash and made pouty faces at Correa as he exited the mound, becoming an instant internet meme.

While throwing fastballs at a player’s head never can be condoned, perhaps the league considered the accuracy trouble Kelly has had in the past.

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