'A last hurrah': OKC Dodgers infielder Ty Kelly sets sights on MLB return after playing in Tokyo Olympics
Ty Kelly decided his professional baseball career was over after the 2019 season.
Although Kelly had played in the big leagues, he was spending his time in the minors at this point. The daily grind and all the traveling had simply taken its toll, and Kelly was ready to move on to something else.
But there was still one thing he wanted to do before never taking the field again.
Kelly, who has Jewish ancestry, obtained Israeli citizenship and set his sights on playing for the country on the international stage. It wasn’t long after that until he and his new teammates were competing in the Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
“I was in Salt Lake City with the Angels (organization) and basically was just kind of done with baseball and was going out to play in the Olympic qualifiers as kind of a last hurrah,” Kelly told The Oklahoman recently.
“No one really expected us to make it, most of us included, because we were going to have to beat good teams like the Netherlands and Italy and Spain. Things really fell into place.”
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Kelly’s passion for baseball returned with that experience. Now, the utility player is with the Oklahoma City Dodgers. The Triple-A season has been underway for a few weeks, and Kelly’s main goal this year is simple.
“Get back to the major leagues,” he said. “Taking all of 2020 off was really important for me I think just mentally. I played baseball for so long, and it sort of devolved into kind of a burden on my life. I was just sort of in the minors not doing too much. The chances of me getting back to the big leagues at that point I think were very slim.”
Born in Dallas, Kelly grew up in Northern California. He played at the University of California-Davis and was drafted by the Orioles in 2009.
He made his MLB debut in 2016 with the Mets. Overall, the 33-year-old has played in 118 MLB games with the Mets and Phillies and last appeared in the big leagues in 2018.
Kelly has always been proud of his Jewish heritage.
As Jewish-American players started getting Israeli citizenship and representing the country, Kelly decided to join them.
“Everyone in the Olympics has citizenship in their country,” Kelly said. “A lot of our team is from the States. They got citizenship in Israel because of the heritage law, the right of return — that if you have Jewish heritage, you can become a citizen of Israel.
“It kind of started in the World Baseball Classic in 2017. A lot of guys started to get on board with playing for Israel and then sort of made it more official by going out to Israel and getting citizenship and being able to play in the Olympic qualifying events.”
Israel was one of just six teams that made it to the Summer Olympics. Israel struggled and finished fifth in the standings, but Kelly had an experience he’ll never forget.
“It was really cool,” he said. “It was also very strange to not have fans, to be playing in an empty stadium and to realize what the stakes are while no one is there in person watching. Feels like spring training but on the highest level.
“But it was a great experience seeing all the other athletes from around the world. Just getting a look at what their lives are like as far as what they’re doing in the gym, what they’re eating and things like that.”
Kelly signed with the Dodgers in March and is the oldest player on Oklahoma City’s roster.
After a 15-10 win against the Sugar Land Space Cowboys on Sunday, Kelly is hitting just .167 in 18 at-bats for the OKC Dodgers (15-9)
He’s seen a lot during his career and his love for the game is as high as it’s ever been.
“I’ve sort of experienced everything that you could from the lowest levels to being in the big leagues and getting traded and designated and claimed and just a little bit of everything,” he said.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC Dodgers: Ty Kelly eyes MLB return after Olympics with Israel
