Former Sun Devil advances to NLCS for first time in career

PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks completed a sweep over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday night, advancing them and a former Sun Devil to the NLCS. Only one starting pitcher in the series for either team didn’t give up a run in their outing. That starter was Merrill Kelly, former Arizona State player and Scottsdale native.

Now Kelly is going to the NLCS for the first time in his career.

Former Sun Devil Merrill Kelly advances to the NLCS

Kelly made his playoff debut in Game 2 of the NLDS, and he flourished. The righty dealt 6.1 innings of three-hit ball and didn’t give up a single run. He struck out five and only walked two, and picked up the win. Not bad for his first playoff start ever.

But Kelly’s journey to this stage was anything but normal.

Kelly in college

The Scottsdale native began his college career at Yavapai College in Prescott, Ariz. He led them to back-to-back ACCAC Conference titles and earned First Team All-ACCAC and All-Region honors in 2009. Overall Kelly finished his time at Yavapai boasting a 15-1 record.

After graduating from Yavapai, Kelly returned to the Valley. This time he’d be playing at Phoenix Municipal Stadium for Arizona State, located just 20 miles from his former high school, Desert Mountain.

Kelly flourished in the traditionally rich program. He finished his junior season 10-3 with a 4.23 ERA. He earned Honorable-Mention-All-Pac-10 honors and was named to the All-Tempe Regional Team. His play was good enough for the Tampa Bay Rays to select him in the eighth round of the 2010 MLB Draft.

The path to the majors

Despite his successful college career and being drafted, Kelly still had a ways to go before his first big league start. He spent 2010-2014 in the minors. In 2014 he was shoving in AAA action. Kelly started 15 games and held a 2.76 ERA. He also struck out 108 batters in 114.0 innings pitched.

It certainly looked like he was ready to take the next step and that we should expect to see the 25-year-old in the majors very soon.

Except the former Sun Devil would spend his next four seasons in the Korea Baseball Organization. This was certainly a puzzling move, as it seemed like he was primed to get a big-league shot. Nonetheless, Kelly took his talents overseas.

In his four seasons in the KBO, he finished with 48 wins, a 3.86 ERA, and a 1.31 WHIP. Then he decided it was finally time for his major league debut, and who better to have it with than his home state’s Arizona Diamondbacks.

Former Sun Devil sees success in MLB

Kelly is now in his fifth season with the Diamondbacks and is having maybe his best one yet. He’s made 30 starts this year and holds an ERA of 3.29 and an ERA+ of 132 (100 is average). His K/9 is at an MLB career high, 9.5. To top it all off, the Diamondbacks are having one of the most incredible runs in recent memory.

In 2021 the Diamondbacks lost 110 games. Just two seasons later they’re in the NLCS after sweeping a 100-win Dodger team.

The last time they made the playoffs was in 2017. The last time they won a playoff game was in 2011. And finally the last time they made the NLCS was 2007, and they got swept 4-0.

Merrill Kelly and the Diamondbacks have a chance to win their first NLCS game since 2001 when the Diamondbacks won the World Series.

Kelly is expected to pitch on Tuesday, Oct. 17 in Philadelphia as the Diamondbacks face the red-hot Phillies.

Can the Scottsdale native and former Sun Devil continue his elite playoff play and continue Arizona’s remarkable run?

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