Former Sun Devil shines in first World Series start

Former Sun Devil Merrill Kelly was the king of the Valley last night.

“How about Merrill Kelly and the Diamondbacks,” Arizona State football head coach Kenny Dillingham opened his press conference with. Dillingham had just won his first Pac-12 game in his head coaching career, yet the first thing he wanted to do was praise Kelly, who is quickly turning into a hometown hero.

Former Sun Devil Merrill Kelly leads Diamondbacks to a Game 2 World Series win

Last night while Dillingham was coaching the Sun Devils to their first Pac-12 win of the season, Kelly was leading the Diamondbacks to their first win in the 2023 World Series.

Kelly was absolutely dominant on the mound. He was practically unhittable.

He pitched seven full innings (the most he’s gone this entire postseason) and only gave up three hits. The 35-year-old only gave up one run, and it was a home run in the fifth inning.

The Diamondbacks dominated on the road, winning 9-1. The series is now tied 1-1, and coming back to Phoenix. A place that Kelly is all too familiar with.

Merrill Kelly’s history in the Valley

Kelly is a graduate of Desert Mountain High School in Scottsdale, Ariz. After he graduated he went north, to Prescott, Ariz. There he spent two years at Yavapai Community College. While there Kelly went 15-1 in his two-year career.

Next for Kelly was a return (even) closer to home. He spent his junior season with the Arizona State Sun Devils in 2010.

In his lone season with ASU, Kelly held a 3.23 ERA and pitched 100 innings. He also had the honor of pitching for the Sun Devils in the College World Series. Fast forward over 10 years and now he’s pitching for the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2023 World Series.

Kelly’s postseason success

One of Kelly’s favorite athletes of all time is pitcher Tim Lincecum. Lincecum is most known for his elite postseason play. The Giants pitcher played in the postseason in three separate seasons. In all three of those seasons (2010, 2012, 2014) he walked away with a World Series ring.

Lincecum was lights out in October. In his 13 postseason games, he had a record of 5-2 and boasted a 2.40 ERA. There are countless pitchers who are known for being elite in the regular season but crumble under the bright lights in the postseason.

That wasn’t the case for Lincecum, he flourished.

Right now it seems like Merrill Kelly is on the same track.

The 2023 postseason has been Kelly’s first taste of October baseball in the majors, but he’s been pretty good. Through four appearances Kelly is 3-1 with a 2.25 ERA and 28 strikeouts.

Yeah, pretty good.

The former Sun Devil pitched his best stuff on the biggest stage of his career and is doing it all for his hometown team.

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