Arizona Diamondbacks pitchers Merrill Kelly and Ryne Nelson each pitched two innings of shutout ball in their spring training debuts on Friday afternoon at Salt River Fields.

Kelly went two scoreless innings against the Kansas City Royals, allowing one hit, one walk with a pair of strikeouts.

Kelly’s first pitch of the game was a 93-mph fastball to second baseman Cavan Biggio. Kelly eventually struck him out on a 94-mph fastball that was foul tipped.

Merrill Kelly opens up his spring debut with a 93 mph fastball. He strikes out Biggio on four pitches #DBacks pic.twitter.com/QZojOR42eF

— Brandon Cadiz (@HiBranFlakes) February 28, 2025

“You know, the first game is always exciting, kind of the back-to-school feeling,” Kelly said. “But everything felt good … I was happy with the locations of everything, the shapes of everything. So, first step down was solid.”

Kelly and shortstop Jordan Lawlar connected on a successful pick-off attempt to get the second out in the first inning.

“That was designed, that was called from the dugout,” Kelly said. “I think they probably identified that he was getting a little too far off for their liking. … Really good timing, and I was able to put a really good throw on him.

Kelly’s afternoon was finished after 29 pitches with his fastest pitch, a 94.8-mph sinker, coming two pitches before he exited the game.

The veteran has been encouraged by how he’s thrown in spring from bullpens into his debut on Friday.

Ryne Nelson makes his spring debut

After Kelly took the mound, Nelson entered the game in the third inning.

Arizona has played seven games in spring before Nelson had the chance to showcase his stuff.

“I’ve been itching to get out there for a couple months now,” Nelson said. “So, it’s nice to finally get into that rhythm, now. Work every five days, you know. So it’s exciting, exciting to be back.”

Nelson was on the mound for two innings, allowing one hit and two walks with a strikeout.

In the fourth, Nelson struck out his first batter of the game thanks to right fielder MJ Melendez looking on an 81-mph curveball.

Nelson threw 40 total pitches with his fastball topping out at 97 mph. He induced five ground ball outs, out of the six outs the team recorded while he was on the mound.

“Yeah, it’s good to be out there again, getting to some live game action rhythm,” Nelson said. “I think there’s some things you just can’t replicate, throwing on the sides and in live at bats … game speed and everything. So, it’s nice to get that feel back. Kind of figure out my rhythm and my routines out there.”

Nelson is competing for a rotation spot this spring, a position he’s been in before.

“Same thing I try to do every year, and it’s just focus on myself,” Nelson said. “I think this year, I have more of a realization that a lot of this stuff is out of your control.”

Arizona’s pitching schedule

The Diamondbacks have their pitching rotation set for the weekend.

On Saturday, right-handed pitcher Zac Gallen will take the mound for the second time this spring versus the Colorado Rockies at 1:10 p.m. MST.

Left-handed pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez will make his spring debut on Sunday as Arizona takes on the Texas Rangers in Surprise at 1:05 p.m. MST.