The Arizona Diamondbacks are looking to turn the page after a frustrating 80-82 finish in 2025, and they’re doing it with a familiar face front and center. When the D-backs take the field to open the 2026 season, it’ll be Merrill Kelly - the veteran right-hander and longtime Arizona staple - getting the ball for his first-ever Opening Day start.
Yes, you read that right. At 37 years old, Kelly is finally getting the nod on Opening Day, a milestone moment in a career that’s been anything but conventional.
A Full-Circle Moment for Merrill Kelly
There’s a bit of poetic symmetry to this decision. Just last July, Kelly was traded away from Arizona to the Texas Rangers in a deadline deal that netted the D-backs three minor league prospects.
At the time, it looked like a classic win-now move for Texas and a reset for Arizona. But baseball has a funny way of bringing things full circle.
This offseason, Kelly returned to the desert, signing a two-year, $40 million deal that reunites him with the club where he’s made his biggest impact. And now, he’ll be the one leading the charge when the Diamondbacks open their season on March 26 in Los Angeles against the reigning back-to-back World Series champion Dodgers.
A Veteran Presence with Something Still to Prove
Kelly’s 2025 season was one of his best - and that’s saying something for a guy who’s been a steady presence in the rotation since 2019. Before the trade, he was dealing for Arizona: 9-6 with a 3.22 ERA in 22 starts.
Things got a little bumpier in Texas, where he posted a 4.23 ERA across 10 appearances, but the full-season numbers still paint the picture of a pitcher who knows how to get outs. He finished the year 12-9 with a 3.52 ERA and 167 strikeouts over 184 innings.
Those are the kind of numbers that earn you trust - and that’s exactly what D-backs manager Torey Lovullo is banking on.
Lovullo: “He Deserves This Opportunity”
Lovullo didn’t hesitate when it came to naming his Opening Day starter, and he made it clear that this was more than just a baseball decision - it was a recognition of everything Kelly has meant to the franchise.
“It was the right thing to do,” Lovullo told reporters. “He was an easy candidate. He has been a very dedicated Arizona Diamondback - besides his time in Texas, and we know why that happened.”
Lovullo praised Kelly’s work ethic, leadership, and consistency, adding, “He is hard working, very successful, and he has been setting the tone for us. I feel like he deserves this opportunity.”
A Tough Test Right Out of the Gate
Kelly’s first Opening Day start won’t be a soft landing. The Diamondbacks are opening the 2026 campaign on the road against a powerhouse Dodgers team that’s coming off back-to-back World Series titles.
First pitch from Dodger Stadium is set for 8:30 p.m. ET on March 26.
But if there’s one thing we’ve learned about Merrill Kelly, it’s that he doesn’t shy away from a challenge. Whether it was his unconventional path to the majors, his steady rise in Arizona, or his decision to come back and lead this rotation again, Kelly has always found a way to rise to the moment.
Now, he gets his shot on Opening Day - a long-overdue honor for one of the most dependable arms in the game.