Merrill Kelly
Merrill Kelly (born October 14, 1988) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Texas Rangers of Major League Baseball (MLB). A right-handed starter known for his command and changeup, Kelly has had a unique career trajectory that includes stints in the minor leagues and the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) before establishing himself in MLB.[1][2] Born in Houston, Texas, Kelly attended Arizona State University, where he played college baseball for the Sun Devils from 2007 to 2010.[1] He was selected by the Tampa Bay Rays in the eighth round, 251st overall, of the 2010 MLB Draft and spent four seasons in their minor league system, reaching Triple-A in 2013 but failing to break into the majors.[1] Seeking greater opportunity, Kelly signed with the SK Wyverns of the KBO in 2014, debuting in 2015 and pitching there through 2018; over four seasons, he compiled a 48-32 record with a 3.86 ERA and 641 strikeouts, leading the league with 189 strikeouts in 2017 and contributing to the team's 2018 Korean Series championship with a 12-7 regular-season mark and two starts in the finals.[1][3] Kelly returned to the United States and signed a two-year, $5.5 million contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks ahead of the 2019 season, making his MLB debut on April 1 of that year.[1] In his first MLB campaign, he posted a 13-14 record with a 4.42 ERA over 32 starts, and he has since become a reliable rotation mainstay, highlighted by a career-best 12-8 mark and 3.29 ERA in 2023 that propelled the Diamondbacks to the World Series.[1] That postseason, Kelly excelled with a 3-1 record and 2.25 ERA across four starts, including a standout Game 2 World Series performance where he pitched seven innings, allowing one run on three hits while striking out nine Texas Rangers batters in a 9-1 Diamondbacks victory.[4] On July 31, 2025, midway through a strong season in which he went 12-9 with a 3.52 ERA and 167 strikeouts over 184 innings, Kelly was traded from the Diamondbacks to the Rangers in exchange for prospects Kohl Drake, Mitch Bratt, and David Hagaman.[5][6]Early life and education
Early life
Kenneth Merrill Kelly was born on October 14, 1988, in Houston, Texas.[1] He is the son of Tom Kelly and Cheryl Kelly.[7] Born in Houston, Texas, Kelly's family relocated to the Philadelphia area, where he spent his early years before moving to Scottsdale, Arizona, where he spent much of his childhood.[8] During his time in the Philadelphia region, Kelly developed a passion for baseball as a young fan, cheering for the Philadelphia Phillies and attending the 1996 MLB All-Star Game at Veterans Stadium.[9]High school
Kelly attended Desert Mountain High School in Scottsdale, Arizona, where he developed his skills as a right-handed pitcher on the varsity baseball team.[10] During his senior year in 2007, he served as team captain, demonstrating leadership on the field.[11] Kelly earned All-Region honors and participated in the Senior All-Star Game that year, highlighting his standout performance among local peers.[12] His talent attracted scouting attention, as the Baltimore Orioles selected him in the 37th round (1,112th overall) of the 2007 MLB Draft.[10] Despite the opportunity, Kelly opted to pursue college baseball, forgoing an immediate professional contract to further his education and development at Yavapai College.[13] He graduated from Desert Mountain High School in 2007.[11]College
Kelly began his collegiate baseball career at Yavapai College in Prescott, Arizona, where he pitched for the Roughriders from 2008 to 2009.[7] During these two seasons, he contributed to back-to-back Arizona Community College Athletic Conference (ACCAC) titles and earned First Team All-ACCAC and All-Region honors in 2009.[7] Overall, Kelly posted a 15-1 record over 167.1 innings pitched, showcasing his rapid improvement as a right-handed pitcher.[14] In his freshman year of 2008, he went 5-0 with a 5.53 ERA in 70 innings, striking out 55 batters while issuing 17 walks.[14] His sophomore campaign in 2009 marked a breakout, as he achieved a 10-1 mark with a 1.48 ERA over 97.1 innings, fanning 88 batters.[14] Following his success at the junior college level, Kelly transferred to Arizona State University (ASU) in Tempe for his junior year in 2010, where he continued to develop into a reliable starting pitcher for the Sun Devils.[11] In 18 starts, he recorded a 10-3 record with a 4.23 ERA across 100 innings, striking out 78 while walking just 37 and holding hitters to a .258 average.[11] Kelly earned Honorable Mention All-Pac-10 honors and was named to the All-Tempe Regional Team for his contributions.[11] His performances were instrumental in helping ASU advance to the College World Series that season.[1] Kelly's strong junior year at ASU positioned him for professional baseball, as the Tampa Bay Rays selected him in the eighth round (251st overall) of the 2010 MLB Draft.[1]Professional career
Tampa Bay Rays
Merrill Kelly was selected by the Tampa Bay Rays in the eighth round, 251st overall, of the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft out of Arizona State University.[1] Following the draft, the Rays signed Kelly to a professional contract and assigned him to their Short-Season A affiliate, the Hudson Valley Renegades, where he made his professional debut.[15] In 2010, Kelly split time between the Renegades and the full-season Single-A Bowling Green Hot Rods, appearing in 12 games (three starts) and posting a combined 1-2 record with a 4.30 ERA over 37.2 innings, striking out 29 batters while walking 17.[16] His performance in Hudson Valley was particularly strong, yielding a 1.42 ERA in seven relief outings, highlighting his early potential as a right-handed starter transitioning to professional ball.[17] Kelly's development continued steadily through the Rays' system, advancing roughly one level per season. In 2011, he joined the High-A Charlotte Stone Crabs of the Florida State League, where he established himself as a reliable starter, going 8-7 with a 3.28 ERA in 25 starts and leading the team with 129 innings pitched while recording 92 strikeouts.[1] This performance ranked him sixth in the league in ERA and second on the Stone Crabs in innings, demonstrating improved command and endurance.[18] By 2012, Kelly moved up to Double-A with the Montgomery Biscuits of the Southern League, primarily working out of the bullpen before transitioning to spot starts; he finished 8-3 with a 3.57 ERA across 32 appearances (nine starts), logging 88.1 innings and 61 strikeouts.[1] In 2013, Kelly split the season between Montgomery and the Triple-A Durham Bulls, earning a midseason promotion to the International League after posting a 5-5 record and 4.20 ERA in Double-A. At Durham, he posted 14 starts, achieving an 8-5 mark with a 3.01 ERA over 84 2/3 innings and 70 strikeouts, contributing to a combined 13-10 record and 3.64 ERA across 28 appearances (26 starts) that year.[1][16] Kelly returned to Durham full-time in 2014, embracing a swingman role with 28 outings (15 starts) and delivering one of his strongest minor league seasons: a 9-4 record, 2.76 ERA, and 114 innings pitched, with 89 strikeouts and a .236 opponent batting average.[18] His versatility and consistency in Triple-A underscored his growth, though he remained without a major league call-up. After five seasons in the Rays organization, Kelly was released by the Durham Bulls on December 17, 2014, concluding his affiliation with Tampa Bay without reaching the majors.[19] Over his minor league tenure with the Rays, Kelly compiled a 39-26 record with a 3.51 ERA in 142 appearances (78 starts), totaling 527.1 innings and 382 strikeouts, reflecting a solid but unremarkable path through the system.[16][20]SK Wyverns
Following his release from the Tampa Bay Rays organization after the 2014 season, Merrill Kelly signed a one-year contract with the SK Wyverns of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) on December 18, 2014, for a salary of $250,000 plus a $100,000 signing bonus.[21][22] This move came as an alternative to continuing in minor league baseball, where his earnings would have been lower, and marked his introduction to professional baseball abroad. Kelly initially faced challenges adapting to the KBO's unique style, including faster-paced games, different mound dimensions, and cultural adjustments in South Korea; his first season in 2015 was uneven, with the Wyverns finishing fourth in the league at 69-74.[23] Over time, he renegotiated his contract annually, with salaries rising to $850,000 in 2016 and approximately $1.4 million by 2017, reflecting his growing value to the team.[24][25] Kelly's performance in the KBO improved steadily across his four seasons, establishing him as a reliable starter for the Wyverns. He focused on refining his command, reducing his walk rate from 3.5 BB/9 in his minor league career to 2.54 BB/9 overall in Korea, which enhanced his four-seam fastball, slider, and changeup arsenal.[26] The table below summarizes his key yearly statistics:| Year | Record | ERA | Starts | Innings Pitched | Strikeouts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 11-10 | 4.13 | 29 | 181.0 | 139 |
| 2016 | 9-8 | 3.68 | 31 | 200.1 | 152 |
| 2017 | 16-7 | 3.60 | 30 | 190.0 | 189 |
| 2018 | 12-7 | 4.09 | 28 | 158.1 | 161 |