Merrill Kelly: Being back in Valley, at WM Phoenix Open Pro-Am ‘means everything’

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Merrill Kelly is one of the many celebrities participating in the WM Phoenix Open Annexus Pro-Am on Wednesday.

“I’m very honored to be here for the third time,” Kelly told Arizona Sports during the Pro-Am. “Obviously, this means a lot to the city, a lot to the Valley, a lot to the community.”

Kelly, now a two-time Pro-Am participant, is working on his golf swing in just a couple of weeks before spring training gets underway for the Diamondbacks.

After Arizona traded the veteran pitcher last season to the Texas Rangers, Kelly signed with the D-backs to return to the Valley this offseason, where he’d spent the first six years of his career.

“It means everything.”

D-backs pitcher Merrill Kelly reflects on signing back with Arizona this offseason. pic.twitter.com/xZJ6UoC8GR

— Arizona Sports (@AZSports) February 4, 2026

“It means everything,” Kelly said on being back with the D-backs. “Obviously, they’re the organization that gave me the opportunity to play in the big leagues in general and have as long of a career as I’ve been fortunate enough to have.

“To be able to come back to them, come back to the Valley and bring my family home means a lot.”

The veteran pitcher posted a 3.52 ERA across 184 innings last season, with a 1.114 WHIP. The D-backs traded Kelly because he was a pending free agent and got three pitching prospects in return, before reaching a two-year, $40 million deal with Kelly this offseason.

Merrill Kelly at the WM Phoenix Open Pro-Am

Kelly was paired with 2023 Open Championship winner Brian Harman and one-time PGA Tour winner Tom Hoge, along with San Tan Ford’s Tim Hovik, former 16-year MLB veteran Tom Candiotti and Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride.

The D-backs pitcher said he enjoys being at the Open, playing golf and the nerves are fine at the start. But when he gets into the coliseum-like par-3 16th hole, it’ll hit him.

“There’s so many good things that go on in between the golf and everything that goes on,” Kelly said. “I think it kind of gets overshadowed by the party stuff, but obviously, the amount of charity stuff and the amount of dollars that are being raised for obviously good causes other than just drinking alcohol is always a good thing.”

Kelly played alongside Olympic legend Michael Phelps in the Pro-Am last year.

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