Merrill Kelly (35, Arizona Diamondbacks), who is writing the ‘KBO League reverse export legend,’ was selected as the starting pitcher for Game 2 of the World Series (WS).
ESPN announced on the 27th (Korean time), “Kelly is scheduled to appear as the starting pitcher in Arizona’s WS Game 2. Rookie pitcher Brandon Pott is scheduled to start in Game 3 at home.”
The second game of the WS in which Kelly will pitch will be held at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas at 9:03 a.m. on the 29th.
It’s been five years since Kelly appeared in the final postseason series in his professional career. Kelly, who played in the KBO League from 2015 to 2018 with 48 wins, 32 losses, and an average ERA of 3.86, pitched in two games (12⅓ innings) in Games 3 and 6 of the Korean Series in 2018, his final year, and won 1 game and had an ERA of 2.19 for SK. Contributed to the Wyverns (now SSG Landers) victory.굿모닝토토 주소
Kelly, who entered the major league using his performance in the KBO league as a stepping stone, recorded 13 wins (14 losses) and an earned run average of 4.42 in 2019, his first year in the big league, and wrote the legend of returning from the KBO league. Following last year’s performance of 13 wins (8 losses) and an ERA of 3.37, Kelly has become a reliable starting player for Arizona with 12 wins (8 losses) and an ERA of 3.29 this season, and is also doing his part in fall baseball, which is his first experience since his big league debut. They are doing enough.
In Game 1 of the division series against the LA Dodgers, Kelly shook off his weakness against the Dodgers and earned his first win in his fall baseball debut with 6 ⅓ innings, 3 hits, 2 walks, 5 strikeouts, and no runs. In the championship series against the Philadelphia Phillies, the team unfortunately lost in Game 2 (5⅔ innings, 3 hits, 3 home runs, 3 walks, 6 strikeouts, and 4 runs), but in Game 6, the team was on the verge of elimination due to a good pitch in 5 innings, 3 hits, 3 walks, 8 strikeouts, and 1 run. saved. Arizona, which succeeded in turning the atmosphere around thanks to Kelly’s performance, won Game 7 and succeeded in advancing to the WS.
Kelly, who won the championship ring in Korea five years ago, is set on collecting another championship ring on a bigger stage. Arizona is attempting to win the WS for the first time in 22 years since 2001, when ‘BK’ Byeong-hyeon Kim played.