John Ely compiled a 27-5 career record at Flossmoor High School, including one perfect game. He earned all-conference and all-area honors as a junior, as a senior, was a first-team all-state selection. After High School he attended the Miami of Ohio.

The Chicago White Sox dratfed Ely in 2007 after he earned First-Team All-MAC honors. Starting at Great Falls of the Pioneer League, part of the Chicago White Sox farm system. The 21-year-old was impressive in 56 innings, going 6-1 while walking just six batters.

After Ely’s impressive 2007 season, Ely was promoted to Single-A at Winston-Salem. Here he stuggled much of the year, finishing 10-12 with a 4.71 earned run average. Despite the high earned run average and sub .500 record, he was still promoted to Double-A Birmingham.

In the middle of his best professional season at Double-A, Ely was dealt to the Los Angeles Dodgers along with Jon Link. The move sent Juan Pierre to the Chicago White Sox. Before being traded, Ely was 14-2 14-2 with a 2.82 ERA in 27 starts. He was named to the Southern League mid- and postseason All-Star Teams. He led the league in strikeouts with 125 and tied for the lead in victories.http://bleacherreport.com/articles/391275-meeting-the-dodgers-who-is-john-ely http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/mlb/fantasy/wsfb/news/index.jsp?action=locate&pid=518655 http://www.muredhawks.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/ely_john00.html

As of May 16th, Ely has made 3 starts in replace of the injured Vicente Padilla and Charlie Haeger. In Ely’s first start he was roughed up by the New York Mets, allowing 5 runs in 6 inning, getting the first lose of his Major League career. In his next two outings, he has surrendered just 3 runs in 12.2 innings while gaining his first major league against the Arizona Diamondbacks on May 11th. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/391275-meeting-the-dodgers-who-is-john-ely http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/mlb/fantasy/wsfb/news/index.jsp?action=locate&pid=518655

Throughout Ely's minor League career, he had a record of 17-15 with a 3.87 ERA and 67 saves over five Minor League seasons in the San Diego (2005-07) and White Sox (2007-09) organizations.http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/mlb/fantasy/wsfb/news/index.jsp?action=locate&pid=518655