Shohei Ohtani gives Porsche to Joe Kelly’s wife for No. 17 with Dodgers

Ashley Kelly, the wife of Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Joe Kelly, has good reason to be in the holiday spirit after giving away her husband's number 17 to new acquisition Shohei Ohtani via a campaign on social networks.

His gift to Ohtani was returned on Saturday, with Ohtani delivering a new silver Porsche to a stunned Ashley Kelly in return.

A video that the Dodgers posted on social media Saturday evening, Ashley opened the front door to see the new car parked on the sidewalk.

“It's yours. From Shohei,” the delivery man told him. “He wanted to give you a Porsche.”

Ashley Kelly publicly lobbied for Ohtani to sign with the Dodgers with her social media campaign #Ohtake17. She reached out to Ohtani comically, showing him all the #17 clothes in the family's closets that could be converted for use by him and his family. She even suggested renaming the couple's baby, Kai, to ShoKai.

After Ohtani signed a record $700 million, 10-year contract with the Dodgers earlier this month, Kelly posted a video on Instagram of her throwing her entire Kelly No. 17 outfit on her lawn , then drawing a “Kelly 99” on the back. of her husband's shirt with a Sharpie.

Joe Kelly, who has worn number 17 since 2019, officially ceded the number to Ohtani, who wore the number during his six seasons with the Los Angeles Angels.

The veteran reliever will now wear number 99 for the Dodgers.

Field Level Media contributed to this report.