Breaking : Welcome back, Diamondbacks pitcher Merrill Kelly has returned from..

Merrill Kelly had an impressive 2.19 ERA over his first four starts of the season before a teres major strain in his throwing shoulder landed him on the Diamondbacks’ injured list on April 20. Kelly was later transferred from the 15-day IL to the 60-day IL.

Now that the 60-day period has ended, it will be some time before the right-hander returns to the mound.

During a Q&A event with fans and media, including Jake Oliver of Inside

The Diamondbacks, Kelly mentioned that he hopes to join the team on their nine-game road trip to Tampa, Miami, and

Boston, which starts on August 16. “In my mind, I’m hoping I’m on that Tampa, Miami, Boston trip,” he said, noting that

it seems like the right time for his return, though he acknowledged that the timeline could change.

There is still a lot of uncertainty in Kelly’s rehab plan, and the significant delay in

his estimated return date isn’t encouraging. Initially, Kelly and the team hoped he could return around the All-

Star break, but with mid-August now being an optimistic target, any setbacks could jeopardize his season. Kelly has a

long way to go in his recovery, as he has only just begun a throwing program with games of catch.

The Diamondbacks have a 38-40 record in defense of their National League pennant.

Despite this, the NL’s parity has kept Arizona within two games of the last wild card spot.

Given that they have been without Kelly for most of the season, Eduardo Rodriguez for the entire

season, and Zac Gallen for over three weeks, a 38-40 record is quite reasonable for a team missing its three top starters.

Gallen might return next week, and Rodriguez has also begun his throwing progression after a long layoff, possibly

sharing a similar timeline to Kelly. If Arizona can stay competitive in the playoff race until mid-August, having

Kelly and Rodriguez back in the rotation would be a significant boost for the stretch run.

Kelly also spoke about his long-term career plans during the Q&A, expressing a desire to remain with the

Diamondbacks for his entire career, especially since he is an Arizona native. He mentioned having discussions with

the team about a possible contract extension, saying, “I keep trying to sign and keep trying to talk them into signing

me some more,” but did not provide details on the status of those talks or whether the Diamondbacks had shown any interest.

It would be understandable if the Diamondbacks wanted to see how Kelly

recovers from his injury before considering a new contract, especially

since he is already under team control for the 2025 season via a $7 million club option. Given the $1 million buyout

attached to that option, the $6 million decision seems like an easy one for the Diamondbacks to make, despite Kelly’s

shoulder issues, considering his strong performance over his six seasons in Arizona.

Kelly did not make his MLB debut until he was 30, having started his pro career in the Rays’ farm system before pitching in South Korea for four seasons.

Impressed by his performance in the KBO League, the Diamondbacks signed him to a two-year, $5.5 million free agent

deal in December 2018, a move that has proven to be one of GM Mike Hazen’s shrewdest. Kelly has already signed one

extension with the Diamondbacks, agreeing to his current two-year, $18 million contract in April 2022.

 

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