Diamondbacks get bad news on Merrill Kelly amid back injury

The Arizona Diamondbacks were dealt some bad news at the start of Spring Training when Corbin Carroll was revealed to have a broken hamate bone.

Carroll will miss time, but he could be ready for Opening Day. Unfortunately, that's not the only issue for the Diamondbacks. Merrill Kelly is dealing with a back injury and was getting an MRI to determine the severity.

According to Steve Gilbert of MLB.com, the Diamondbacks pitcher revealed a terrible update, in which Kelly is not expected to be ready for Opening Day.

Diamondbacks get brutal Merrill Kelly injury news

"Merrill Kelly says he doesn't think he'll be ready for #dbacks opening day," Gilbert reports. "Still trying to determine exactly what is causing the discomfort in back."

This update on Kelly is a brutal one. The 37-year-old right-handed re-signed with the Diamondbacks this offseason on a two-year, $40 million contract.

After being traded mid-season to the Texas Rangers, Kelly returned to Arizona on a $20 million per-year deal. But now, he's going to miss some time.

More: Twins get devastating injury news on Pablo Lopez

The full extent of his absence isn't fully known as of yet, and he could still be ready for Opening Day if his recovery goes surprisingly well. But the Diamondbacks righty isn't likely to be ready by the beginning of the season, and he might miss a few starts in 2026.

The 3.77 ERA righty is a big piece of the Diamondbacks' rotation, and this update is some brutal news this spring. Zac Gallen is back, so it's not a complete disaster, but Kelly and Carroll's injuries are not what the Diamondbacks want before the season even begins.

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