Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Merrill Kelly is showing everyone around baseball that he belongs—and after Saturday’s victory against the San Diego Padres, he is defying all the odds.
Has Been Consistent
With the Diamondbacks starting staff struggling early on, Kelly has been the consistent starter. You can’t speak enough about the job he has done so far for this team. All of his pitches seem to be working. His command has been consistent and controlled. He has given this team a chance to win every time he’s taken the ball, and that’s all you can ask of him. He is one of only 10 pitchers in baseball who has pitched 6 or more innings in all of their starts this year (min 3 starts).
Answered the Call
Kelly certainly answered the call in his first start of 2020. He watched his starting rotation teammates stumble out of the gate to start the season and seemed to take it to heart. In his first start, a 4-1 win over the Texas Rangers, he didn’t allow a hit until one out in the seventh inning, turning in 7 2/3 innings of one-run baseball. Kelly got ahead on 16 of the 27 batters he faced. He challenged the Rangers hitters in the zone with his four-seam fastballs and his reliable cutter.
Next two Starts
In a loss in his second start a week ago, Kelly faced off against Clayton Kershaw and scattered nine hits over six innings. His only miscues were a two-run home run to Cody Bellinger and a solo homerun to Mookie Betts. The Diamondbacks offense provided no run support for him, only getting four hits.
This past Saturday against the San Diego Padres, Kelly was magnificent. Though he gave up a solo homerun to Fernando Tatis Jr at the start of the game, he settled in and took control of the game. He was very effective and landed his changeup pitch, keeping the Padre hitters off-balance. He worked out of a couple of jams with runners on by getting Manny Machado to hit into inning-ending double plays.
Not Considered a Starter in 2020
Depending on whom you ask, Kelly looked to be the odd man out for a starting rotation spot entering spring training in February. Madison Bumgarner, Robbie Ray, Zac Gallen, Luke Weaver and Mike Leake, looked to be the starting five. Kelly would be the long reliever and occasional “spot” starter.
Mike Leake opts out
Even an early injury to Leake in spring training still did not prove Kelly would get a starting spot. Leake’s decision to opt out of the 2020 season later on didn’t guarantee Kelly anything either. Once MLB decided on an abbreviated season and summer camp started Kelly was battling once again for a starting spot, this time with left-hander Alex Young.
Saturday before the Regular Season
Kelly was named the fifth starter on the Saturday before the regular season started. Manager Torey Lovullo made it clear that Young didn’t lose that battle as much as Kelly won it. It also appeared that Kelly would have a “short-leash” and if he struggled Young could easily take over.
His MLB Beginning
Kelly signed with the Diamondbacks prior to the 2019 season after spending the previous four years in Korea. (Merrill Kelly Had an Interesting Journey to the Arizona Diamondbacks.)
He had a solid beginning to his MLB career with a 3.77 ERA through his first 20 starts in 2019. However, over the next seven, he could not find the strike zone and his ERA went up to 8.91. He was in danger of losing his spot in the rotation if he didn’t pitch better.
Answered the Call
He settled down in September, recording three seven-inning shutouts over five starts and won in three of his last four starts. He finished the season with 13 wins and 183 innings pitched, the most on the team.
Confidence
He did admit that last season he lost confidence and said he got caught up in the moment trying to be a better pitcher. Since then, he has been a different pitcher. With each successful outing, his confidence continues to grow.
This year there is no doubt in Kelly’s mind that he belongs in the MLB. Now the rest of baseball is learning it too.
Main Photo
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