Merrill Kelly Stats & Scouting Report — College Baseball, Mlb Draft, Prospects

Track Record: After two years at Yavapai (Ariz.) JC and one at Arizona State, Kelly climbed steadily through the Rays system, posting strong numbers for Triple-A Durham in 2014. Trouble was, he was buried in a pitching-rich organization. Believing his best bet would be to get out of the Rays' control, he headed to Korea, expecting to be there for one or two years before returning home. He stayed for four. After helping SK Wyverns win a Korea Baseball Organization championship in 2018, he signed a two-year, $5.5 million deal with the D-backs in December.

Scouting Report: Kelly, who twice ranked in the KBO's top 10 in ERA, has the makings of a No. 5 starter. He has a five-pitch mix, starting with a fastball that sits 92-93 mph and can touch 97. His velocity is up from his days with the Rays, when he sat 88-90 mph. Scouts see his hard, tight curveball as his best secondary pitch, followed by his changeup. He also throws a slider and a cutter. He has above-average control and average command.

The Future: Unlike most pitchers who leave for Asia, Kelly has never pitched in the majors. He'll get a chance to compete for a rotation spot with the Diamondbacks this spring.