Shohei Ohtani’s legendary status in Major League Baseball continues to grow, and his recent gesture of appreciation to Ashley Kelly, the wife of teammate and relief pitcher Joe Kelly, is a testament to his gratitude.
During Ohtani’s free agency process, Ashley went above and beyond to help recruit him to the Los Angeles Dodgers. She offered clothing items adorned with the jersey number 17, which Ohtani wore during his time with the Los Angeles Angels, even though that number belonged to her husband, Joe Kelly. Kelly, who has worn the number 17 in both of his stints with the Dodgers, signed a one-year deal to remain with the team in 2024.
Ashley initiated the campaign with the hashtag #Ohtake17, as the Dodgers competed with other teams like the Toronto Blue Jays to secure the services of the coveted free agent. Joe Kelly fully supported the effort, and it ultimately paid off when Ohtani signed a 10-year deal with the other Los Angeles baseball team. In response, the Kelly family created a skit video in which Ashley playfully tossed the old No. 17 jerseys across their yard and replaced the number with a No. 99 on Joe’s back, symbolizing his new uniform number.
In a heartwarming show of appreciation, Shohei Ohtani gifted Ashley Kelly a Porsche. Her reaction to the surprise gift was priceless, and Joe Kelly revealed the thoughtful gesture’s source.
“It’s yours…from Shohei.”
Shohei gifted Joe Kelly’s wife Ashley with a new car for her Ohtake17 campaign. 🥹 pic.twitter.com/Vsb3PqMthF
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) December 24, 2023
Ohtani’s gesture serves as a wonderful way to express his gratitude to the Kellys for their willingness to part with his desired jersey number. While it’s not uncommon for athletes to make significant gestures to acquire their preferred numbers or to reward someone for relinquishing it, what makes Ohtani’s actions unique is that he did it for a teammate’s family member, rather than the teammate himself.
Although Shohei Ohtani and Joe Kelly won’t be able to take the field together this season due to Ohtani’s Tommy John surgery, they share a strong bond and are determined to lead the Dodgers to a World Series victory in 2024. The addition of Yoshinobu Yamamoto on a long-term deal further bolsters their pursuit of that goal.