Merrill Kelly (37, Arizona Diamondbacks), regarded as the best among KBO league reverse export players, is poised to have a career-high season. The 37-year-old is making impressive pitches as he heads towards a significant free agency payday.

On the 10th (Korea time), Kelly started in a home game against the Seattle Mariners at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona, in the 2025 Major League season, pitching 6 innings with 4 hits allowed, 2 walks, and no runs scored.

Although he was ahead 2-0 when removed from the game, achieving his 7th win of the season and his 60th career win requirement, the bullpen blew the victory. The batting lineup added 2 runs in the 7th inning to lead 4-0, but gave up 4 runs in the 9th. Arizona secured an 8-4 victory thanks to a walk-off grand slam home run by Josh Naylor in the 11th inning.

Though he missed the win, Kelly's pitching was impeccable. There was a crisis in the 2nd inning with no outs and runners on 1st and 2nd, but he induced Rowdy Tellez into a double play, and in the 6th inning with no outs and runners on 1st and 2nd, he struck out Julio Rodriguez with a swinging strikeout, successfully completing a scoreless outing by retiring 3 batters.

With a total pitch count of 92, he threw 6 types of pitches: cutters (26), four-seam fastballs (22), changeups (20), sinkers (13), curves (8), and sliders (3). His top speed was a 94.5 mph (152.1 km) sinker with an average four-seam fastball speed of 92.2 mph (148.4 km).

As of this day, Kelly's season performance stands at 14 games (82 innings), with a record of 6 wins and 2 losses, an earned run average (ERA) of 3.18, 79 strikeouts, a WHIP of 0.99, and a batting average against of .199. Excluding the shortened 2020 season after just 5 games, he is experiencing career highs in ERA, WHIP, and batting average against. He ranks 3rd in innings pitched and 4th in WHIP in the National League (NL), 5th in batting average against, and tied for 5th in wins, while he is 15th in ERA.

When he faced 3 home runs and collapsed with 9 runs in just 3⅔ innings against the New York Yankees on April 4, which was his second start of the season, it seemed like it would be a tough season. However, he quickly rebounded with a record of 5 wins and 1 loss and an ERA of 2.34 over the next 12 games (73 innings).

Considering that Kelly was born in 1988 and will turn 37 in October, his performance is impressive. While the average speed of his four-seam fastball has slightly decreased each year, his command in throwing various pitches such as changeups, cutters, sinkers, and curves to desired locations is remarkably excellent.

Kelly will become a free agent at the end of this season. Despite his age, he has been consistently performing well, making it reasonable to expect a multi-year contract. He is not a pitcher relying purely on speed, and he is a type capable of a long career. If he continues this momentum, a significant free agency contract at age 37 is not just a dream.

Kelly is the best reverse export player in KBO league history. After spending 4 years with the SK Wyverns (now SSG Landers) from 2015 to 2018, he was scouted to the Major Leagues. Although he stayed only in the minor leagues before coming to Korea, he earned recognition for his performance in the KBO league over those 4 years and signed a free agency deal with Arizona in December 2018 for a maximum of $14.5 million over 2+2 years.

Kelly quickly established himself in his debut year in Major League Baseball in 2019, recording 13 wins, leading Arizona to exercise a +2-year team option. In April 2022, Arizona gave Kelly a 2+1 year extension contract worth up to $24 million, continuing their partnership. They have executed the +1 year team option again, extending their relationship into the 7th year this year.

According to 'Spottrack', Kelly's cumulative earnings amount to $36,611,111, equivalent to about 50 billion won. This is nearly 10 times more than the $3.7 million he earned over 4 years in Korea. He has already achieved significant financial success, and at 37, he is elevating expectations for a lucrative free agency payday while enjoying a career-high season.

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