(Photo: Matt York, AP)
After four seasons pitching in Korea, right-hander Merrill Kelly secured a multi-year contract with a major league team, a deal that gives him the opportunity to play in his hometown and be surrounded by friends and family. For a while, it was both everything he could have wanted and more than he could handle.
Kelly’s first two outings in spring training did not go well, but the Diamondbacks pitcher turned in an impressive performance on Sunday afternoon, tossing four scoreless, hitless innings against the Cincinnati Reds. He hopes it’s an indication of what’s to come.