D-backs’ Merrill Kelly suffers through ‘excitement’ of 1st game back in U.S.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Merrill Kelly certainly would’ve liked his spring debut to last more than an out into the game.

But as one of the more unique MLB-return stories this year, Kelly will take his first outing for the Arizona Diamondbacks as a positive mini-step.

The starting pitcher threw 27 pitches Thursday at Salt River Fields, allowing three runs off three hits, including two doubles. His fastball clocked in around 91-93 mph, but that, a changeup and a cutter weren’t fooling Indians batters.

“At first it was really fun. I was just trying to take in everything. It was my first game back in the states in a long time, so that was exciting,” Kelly said.

“The first-pitch double off the wall probably would have changed things a little bit. It’s first game of spring, lots of anxiousness, lots of excitement for being back out there. Just getting my feet wet, but moving forward I expect to be a lot better than I was today.”

The D-backs this offseason signed the free agent Kelly after a four-year professional career in South Korea’s Korean Baseball Organization.

The ASU product, who went to Desert Mountain High School in Scottsdale, entered his pro career as a prospect with the Tampa Bay Rays, but his eagerness to remain a starting pitcher led him to sign in Korea with the SK Wyverns in 2015.

It’s in Korea where he transformed his pitching repertoire. He went away from a two-seam changeup and more toward curveballs.

His four-seam fastball and cutter combination led him to a 4.09 ERA and 1.26 WHIP last season in 158.1 innings — the numbers look inflated next to MLB expectations considering the Koreans’ propensity to swing hard at anything in the strike zone, Kelly said.

“The cutter the last couple of years has been more of a weapon than I’m used to using,” he said. “It’s usually been more fastball-changeup. Right now, I’m probably more focused on getting the changeup where I want it to be than the cutter.”

That cutter developed as he searched for a way to attack lefties inside.

His stuff was good enough to impress the D-backs, who aggressively pursued Kelly as they searched for alternative ways to fill a starting role after losing Patrick Corbin to the Nationals. Arizona was also looking for depth awaiting Taijuan Walker’s eventual return from Tommy John surgery and after losing veteran Clay Buchholz, who has reportedly agreed to a deal with the Blue Jays.

Kelly’s contract is through the 2020 season and has club options for 2021 and 2022.

“The Diamondbacks … they kind of took the choice away, in a way,” he said. “They were definitely the most aggressive and they were definitely the ones who seemed like they were interested the most.”

The competition for the final starting pitching spot is by no means Kelly’s at this point.

“I think that it’s hard to say,” manager Torey Lovullo said when asked whether the fifth spot in the rotation is an open competition. “We feel like we have a group of guys competing to make this team, whether it be out of the bullpen or the starting rotation. There are spots that are open.”

Rule 5 draft pick Nick Green went 3.0 innings in his second spring outing Thursday, earning the win in a 10-7 decision over Cleveland. He threw 34 pitches and struck out two with a hit, a walk and no runs allowed.

Green must make the regular season roster or the D-backs will be required to offer him back to his old team, the New York Yankees, for $50,000. A potential starter, he could also be kept as a long reliever.

“We know the circumstances with Nick and his particular case being a Rule 5 guy,” Lovullo said. “We have to make some real tough, key decisions, but we like what we see out of him a bit.”

Matt Koch, who made spot starts for Arizona last year, also pitched well, throwing a clean frame with a strikeout.

As for Kelly, he isn’t yet sure of how the MLB game will feel differently compared to his previous career in the United States from 2010-14, or the KBO. All he could compare on Thursday was the crowd — better than preseason games in South Korea but far from the KBO regular season outings filled with boisterous fans singing the songs individually to each batter as they stand in the box.

“I think the biggest positive today, honestly, is just getting back out there,” Kelly said. “Getting used to the crowd again, the different noises, the different ball.”

WALKER KEEPS TORRID PACE

With the bases loaded, first baseman Christian Walker clubbed a ball off the right-field fence to clear the bases in the first inning with Arizona trailing 3-0. That was his ninth time walking to the batter’s box this spring.

What had he accomplished in those few plate appearances? Oh, just six more hits with two doubles and a home run. He also had been walked twice and in total has recorded eight RBI.

“Anytime we have guys that are driving balls middle-oppo with men in scoring position, that to me is telling me he’s got a really good plan, really good approach,” Lovullo said. “Seems to be in a very, very good spot.”

Walker is in the mix to earn looks at first with former third baseman Jake Lamb the leading incumbent to replace the departed Paul Goldschmidt.

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