Dodgers' Joe Kelly & wife Ashley set to make grand return to alma mater for game night ft. exclusive giveaways

On Wednesday, University of California, Riverside took to Instagram to post a video featuring Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Joe Kelly and his wife, Ashley Nicole, welcoming the couple back to the campus for alumni appreciation night. The University also went on to announce that the first 300 fans would each be receiving a special Joe Kelly UCR shirt.

"Joe Kelly Fight Club activate! 👊✅⚾ We’re so excited to welcome back to campus #UCRiverside alumni & 3x World Series Champions Joe & Ashley Kelly! 💙 We hope our whole #UCR community will come help us celebrate the Kelly’s & all of our amazing alumni!" The Instagram post was captioned

The Alumni Appreciation Night is set for January 18 as UC Riverside takes on UC San Diego.

Before going on to make a name for himself in the big leagues, Kelly represented the Highlanders' baseball team. The 36-year-old has gone on to enjoy plenty of success at the top level of baseball, winning three World Series titles. He won his first with the Boston Red Sox in 2018, and the others with the Dodgers in 2020 and most recently in 2024.

His wife, Ashley Nicole, was also a student-athlete just like Joe, and played for UCR's women's soccer team, which played at D1 level.

Per reports, the two also first began dating as college students, before going on to tie the knot in 2013. They currently have four children together, a daughter named Crue and sons named Knox, Blake and Kai.

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Retirement may be on the cards for Joe Kelly

Having won everything there is to win with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2024, Joe Kelly entered free agency following the end of the season. Though he enjoyed the ultimate team success, it was a frustrating season for the 36-year-old on a personal level, as a shoulder injury caused him to miss the entirety of the postseason.

With the 2025 season inching ever closer, it is not yet clear if the Dodgers will offer Kelly another deal given his age and ongoing injury issues.

Speaking to Alysha Del Valle of 'Bleed Los Angeles' on January 8, Kelly said that retirement is a realistic option that the he is considering if the Dodgers eventually decide against bringing him back.

"I would blame it on the shoulder. If I had to play anywhere else, I wouldn’t play" Kelly said.

If this is the end for Kelly, 2024 would have been the perfect final act of what has been a hugely succesful story, as the veteran ended the season by winning the third ring of his career.