MLB pitcher gained fame for pouty expression. Now there’s a mural memorializing it
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Joe Kelly most likely will forever be known for his wild ways and playful demeanor, especially when it was showcased this season after facing off against the Houston Astros’ Carlos Correa. The reliever threw out a furious pout after striking out Correa. Words were exchanged and benches cleared, but what we’re left with during this 2020 MLB season is a protruding lip.
First came the pout. Then the pout turned into a viral meme. The meme then became merchandise. And now, that childish facial expression has been immortalized on a Silver Lake, California, wall.
Fans can gaze upon Kelly’s mug on the back of Floyd’s 99 Barbershop on Sunset Boulevard, ABC 7 reported. Kelly was suspended for eight games for throwing near the heads of Houston hitters, including Correa, during that late-July game.
While everyone knew that tensions would run high with any team that faced the Astros thanks to the controversy revolving around their sign-stealing allegations in 2017, it probably wasn’t on fans’ “Houston Bingo Card” that a simple facial expression aimed at the team would be a crowning retaliation.
The mural was created by Jonas Never, a popular Los Angeles artist who has been known to create his art on L.A. landmarks, LifeHacker.com says.
One of Never’s most-famous murals is of Kobe Bryant grabbing his Lakers jersey on the 1300 block of Lebanon Street across from the L.A. Convention Center in downtown.
“Each project is a battle against time,” Never told LifeHacker in 2019 when asked about what challenges he faces working outside and on location. “Deadlines are often tight. And in addition to painting, I also have to prepare imagery, sort supplies and set up equipment. Maximizing time is critical, especially when the days are shorter.”
Never’s iridescent artwork and stunning style is nothing to pout at, and Kelly would probably agree.
This story was originally published September 9, 2020 at 3:56 PM with the headline "MLB pitcher gained fame for pouty expression. Now there’s a mural memorializing it."