What if pickles can solve the pickle that Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly continually finds himself in?

Kelly has searched for answers as to why cramps have ended a handful of starts dating back a few years now. Five days before his latest appearance on Wednesday, the righty had extinguished 12 of 13 batters before being pulled after 60 pitches because he felt something in his hamstring during a warm-up pitch.

Desperate for answers and admittedly feeling like he’s a liability for reasons he seemingly can’t control, Kelly has received input from many sources, including fans.

One briny suggestion? Fans are sending him jars of pickles, according to manager Torey Lovullo.

“It’s a rush of information, and I mean, fans are sending pickles to him,” the skipper said Wednesday before Kelly started at Chase Field against the New York Mets. “They’re actually pretty good. I’ve been eating the heck out of them.”

Torey Lovullo said fans have been sending Merrill Kelly pickles in an attempt to help him with his cramping issues.

“They’re actually pretty good, I’ve been eating the heck out of them.” pic.twitter.com/jEDObu3Sw2

— Alex D’Agostino (@AlexDagAZ) May 7, 2025

 

Lovullo said Kelly at one point received something like six mason jars of pickles and peppers.

That’s not the only advice he’s taken.

Kelly has taken his issue very seriously, the manager said, talking with handfuls of doctors and clinics in the past few years while trying to solve the mystery about why he comes up cramping in the heart of games.

“He is tired of feeling this way. He wants to get better for himself, his family and his team. … He’s making major investments,” Lovullo said.

Kelly isn’t making any drastic diet adjustments but is trying subtle new routines between inning breaks.

“We have to sift through it,” the manager added about the information the D-backs are receiving, not the pickle jars. “There are some unbelievable recommendations. (First base coach) Dave McKay, who is very fitness-oriented and health-conscious, and he’s 70-whatever (years old) and looks like he’s 35, he comes into my office and says something, I pay attention to it.

“We are working really hard with Merrill.”