Merrill Kelly’s cramping issue has D-backs taking every precaution, Hall says

It was the same time of year, same place and same temperature. Arizona Diamondbacks starter Merrill Kelly felt a pull in his hamstring and had to exit a start earlier than he wanted at Chase Field, which registered a first-pitch temperature of 78 degrees.

The good news is the D-backs have been down this road before. Kelly’s cramping issue crept up in an Arizona win against the Texas Rangers on Wednesday, and team leaders feel confident it won’t stop Kelly from making his next start.

“They had a good regimen last year and I’m sure they’ll get back to it,” CEO and president Derrick Hall told Arizona Sports’ Bickley & Marotta on Thursday. “Now that it’s back on the radar and it’s reared itself again, I’m sure they’ll take every precaution necessary before his next start. It was not an issue at the end of the season — it was one about the same time last year — and it’s one that we have to pay careful attention to.

“I would also say this: If it was the season on the line, postseason on the line, we would have found a way to keep him in there and he would have wanted to stay in there.”

Manager Torey Lovullo said after the 14-4 victory that it was his decision to pull Kelly off the mound. Lovullo expects Kelly will make his next start.

It was Sept. 7, 2023, when Kelly last dealt with cramping issues for the third time that season — all were at Chase Field. It was the same temperature recorded as Wednesday, but the D-backs have admitted the on-field temperature is higher.

A month ago,  fellow Diamondbacks starter Jordan Montgomery called the field level a “jungle” type of atmosphere.

Both that comment and Kelly’s latest cramp have resurfaced questions about Chase Field’s need for upgrades as the D-backs, Hall leading the charge, has spoken publicly about an avenue to find funding for a stadium renovation.

“It makes all of us question what the environment is like there. I would say yesterday it felt really good (elsewhere in Chase Field),” Hall said Thursday. “The field does get warm. It does get very hot because the air doesn’t hit the field. We’ve got to find a way to address that in the future.”

Now, it’s on Kelly and the D-backs training staff to hammer down a plan to avoid cramps in the future.

He will not pitch a three-game series against the Milwaukee Brewer but could line up to throw in a three-game series in Colorado against the Rockies from Monday-Wednesday.

Diamondbacks pitching probables for home series vs. Brewers

Friday – Eduardo Rodriguez

Saturday – Brandon Pfaadt

Sunday – Zac Gallen

Follow @AZSports