Right-hander Merrill Kelly was scratched from a live batting practice session at Salt River Fields on Saturday, Feb. 21, due to mid-back tightness, Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said.
Kelly will undergo testing in the next 24 hours, Lovullo said.
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Kelly started to go through his pre-outing routine but never took the mound.
“He just felt like the smart thing to do, the responsible thing to do, would be to hit the pause button,” Lovullo said.
Lovullo added: “Anytime somebody comes off the mound like that the concern is legitimate, but Merrill knows himself so well and I just appreciate that he didn’t try to go full throttle and get to that next level if there is anything wrong.”
Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Merrill Kelly (29) during spring training workouts at Salt River Fields on Feb. 16, 2026, in Scottsdale.
The severity of the injury will determine whether Kelly’s scheduled Opening Day start is in jeopardy.
Kelly, 37, is coming off a strong season split between the Diamondbacks and Texas Rangers. He logged a 3.52 ERA in 32 starts. He signed back with the Diamondbacks in December on a two-year, $40 million deal.
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Arizona Diamondbacks kick off spring training vs. Colorado Rockies
Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte (4) high-fives his teammates during the spring training season opener against the Colorado Rockies at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Arizona Diamondbacks kick off spring training vs. Colorado Rockies
Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte (4) high-fives his teammates during the spring training season opener against the Colorado Rockies at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Arizona Diamondbacks kick off spring training vs. Colorado Rockies
Arizona Diamondbacks’ Nolan Arenado (28) crosses home plate after hitting a home run off Colorado Rockies pitcher Antonio Senzatela (49) in the second inning during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Arizona Diamondbacks kick off spring training vs. Colorado Rockies
D. Baxter the Bobcat, the Arizona Diamondbacks mascot, signs autographs during the spring training season opener against the Colorado Rockies at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Arizona Diamondbacks kick off spring training vs. Colorado Rockies
Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Andrew Hoffmann (56) throws to the Colorado Rockies in the second inning during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Arizona Diamondbacks kick off spring training vs. Colorado Rockies
Arizona Diamondbacks’ Jorge Barrosa (1) bats against the Colorado Rockies in the second inning during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Arizona Diamondbacks kick off spring training vs. Colorado Rockies
Arizona Diamondbacks’ Nolan Arenado (28) hits a home run off Colorado Rockies pitcher Antonio Senzatela (49) in the second inning during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Arizona Diamondbacks kick off spring training vs. Colorado Rockies
Arizona Diamondbacks’ Alek Thomas (5) runs to second base after hitting a double against the Colorado Rockies in the second inning during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Arizona Diamondbacks kick off spring training vs. Colorado Rockies
The Arizona Diamondbacks take the field against the Colorado Rockies during the spring training season opener at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Arizona Diamondbacks kick off spring training vs. Colorado Rockies
Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Tom Hatch (59) throws to the Colorado Rockies in the first inning during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Arizona Diamondbacks kick off spring training vs. Colorado Rockies
A fan and her dog cheer for the Arizona Diamondbacks during the spring training season opener against the Colorado Rockies at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Arizona Diamondbacks kick off spring training vs. Colorado Rockies
Arizona Diamondbacks’ Nolan Arenado (28) hits a home run over Colorado Rockies left fielder Zac Veen (13) in the second inning during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Arizona Diamondbacks kick off spring training vs. Colorado Rockies
Arizona Diamondbacks’ Nolan Arenado (28) hits a home run off Colorado Rockies pitcher Antonio Senzatela (49) in the second inning during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Arizona Diamondbacks kick off spring training vs. Colorado Rockies
Arizona Diamondbacks left fielder Ryan Waldschmidt (86) warms up to play the Colorado Rockies during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Arizona Diamondbacks kick off spring training vs. Colorado Rockies
Arizona Diamondbacks’ Nolan Arenado (28) reacts after hitting a home run off Colorado Rockies pitcher Antonio Senzatela (49) in the second inning during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Arizona Diamondbacks kick off spring training vs. Colorado Rockies
Arizona Diamondbacks center fielder Alek Thomas (5) catches a fly ball from Colorado Rockies’ Edouard Julien (6) in the second inning during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Arizona Diamondbacks kick off spring training vs. Colorado Rockies
Fans watch the action on the left field lawn as the Colorado Rockies host the Arizona Diamondbacks during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Arizona Diamondbacks kick off spring training vs. Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies pitcher Antonio Senzatela (49) throws to the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first inning during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Arizona Diamondbacks kick off spring training vs. Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies pitcher Juan Mejia (47) throws to the Arizona Diamondbacks in the third inning during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Arizona Diamondbacks kick off spring training vs. Colorado Rockies
Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Philip Abner (50) throws to the Colorado Rockies in the third inning during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Arizona Diamondbacks kick off spring training vs. Colorado Rockies
Arizona Diamondbacks’ Nolan Arenado (28) rounds the bases after hitting a home run off Colorado Rockies pitcher Antonio Senzatela (49) in the second inning during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Arizona Diamondbacks kick off spring training vs. Colorado Rockies
Arizona Diamondbacks center fielder Alek Thomas (5) signs autographs during the spring training season opener against the Colorado Rockies at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Arizona Diamondbacks kick off spring training vs. Colorado Rockies
Arizona Diamondbacks’ Nolan Arenado (28) hits a home run off Colorado Rockies pitcher Antonio Senzatela (49) in the second inning during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Arizona Diamondbacks kick off spring training vs. Colorado Rockies
Arizona Diamondbacks’ Nolan Arenado (28) reacts after hitting a home run off Colorado Rockies pitcher Antonio Senzatela (49) in the second inning during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Arizona Diamondbacks kick off spring training vs. Colorado Rockies
Arizona Diamondbacks’ Gabriel Moreno (14) bats against the Colorado Rockies in the fourth inning during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Arizona Diamondbacks kick off spring training vs. Colorado Rockies
Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Philip Abner (50) takes the mound against the Colorado Rockies in the third inning during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Arizona Diamondbacks kick off spring training vs. Colorado Rockies
Arizona Diamondbacks designated hitter Pavin Smith (26) hits a single, then reaches second base on an error by the Colorado Rockies in the first inning during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Arizona Diamondbacks kick off spring training vs. Colorado Rockies
The Salt River Pima – Maricopa Indian Community traditional dancers perform at the Arizona Diamondbacks spring training season opener at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Arizona Diamondbacks kick off spring training vs. Colorado Rockies
Arizona Diamondbacks’ Alek Thomas (5) reacts after reaching second base after hitting a double against the Colorado Rockies in the second inning during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
Pavin Smith, Jordan Lawlar in lineup vs. Rockies
After most of the Diamondbacks’ projected regulars started the Cactus League opener the day before, manager Torey Lovullo’s lineup for Day 2 on Saturday featured fewer household names.
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First baseman Pavin Smith, center fielder Jordan Lawlar and catcher James McCann were among those in the starting lineup for the game against the Colorado Rockies at Salt River Fields.
This will be Lawlar’s first game action in center field in a Diamondbacks uniform. He played there briefly during winter ball in the Dominican Republic. Smith is playing for the second day in a row after serving as the designated hitter in the opener.
Lefty Mitch Bratt, one of the pitchers acquired from the Texas Rangers in the Merrill Kelly trade, is getting the start. Right-handers Alfred Morillo and Hayden Durke, and lefties Spencer Giesting and Yu-Min Lin also are scheduled to pitch for the Diamondbacks.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: DBacks’ pitcher Merrill Kelly scratched. What to know