Merrill Kelly Debuts in Spring Training Amid Back Concerns

Merrill Kelly made his 2026 Spring Training debut, throwing 36 pitches over 1.2 innings against the Royals. While he showed promise with three whiffs on his changeup, he allowed two runs on six hits while dealing with lingering back soreness that has hampered him since camp began. Kelly utilized a fastball-heavy approach (36%) as he continues to ramp up his workload. His status will be monitored closely to see how his back responds to the increased activity in the coming days.