KBO reverse-export myth Merrill Kelly (Arizona Diamondbacks) is pitching on a dream stage. He’s been named to start Game 2.

ESPN said on Oct. 27 (KST), “Kelly will start Game 2 of the World Series. Brandon Potts will start Game 3.”

Game 2 of the World Series will begin at 9:03 a.m. ET on April 29.

Kelly played for the SK Wyverns (now the SSG Landers) in the KBO from 2015 to 2018, compiling a career record of 48-32 with a 3.86 ERA. That performance earned him another shot at the major leagues. 

In 2019, Kelly made his major league debut in an Arizona uniform and established himself as a starting pitcher, cementing the KBO’s reverse export myth.

And this year, he’s even playing fall ball. Kelida is on a roll.

On April 8, Kelly started Game 1 of the National League Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers and pitched 6⅓ innings of three-hit ball with two walks and five strikeouts to help his team win. In Game 2 of the National League Championship Series (NLCS) against the Philadelphia Phillies on April 18, he allowed four runs on five hits and three walks in 5⅔ innings. All three of his hits were home runs. He took the loss. 스포츠토토

He bounced back in Game 6 on April 24 with five innings of three-hit ball, three walks, eight strikeouts and one run. Kelly’s performance pushed the game to Game 7, and Arizona advanced to the World Series.

It was the first time in 22 years that Arizona had advanced to the World Series since 2001, when South Korean major leaguer Byung-hyun Kim played.

It will be interesting to see if Kelly can continue his dominance on the dream stage.