D-backs Move Merrill Kelly to 60-Day IL

After initially being placed on the 15-day injured list (IL), the Diamondbacks have transferred Merrill Kelly to the 60-day IL due to a right shoulder strain.

The Diamondbacks currently have six pitchers on the IL. Others include Eduardo Rodriguez, Miguel Castro, Kyle Nelson, Ryne Nelson, and Paul Sewald.

The team has not yet been able to field their full starting rotation this season.

Before his stint on the IL, Kelly was arguably the strongest pitcher in the Diamondbacks’ rotation, boasting a 2.19 ERA across four starts. He struck out 21 batters over 24.2 innings and allowed two runs or fewer in each appearance.

To fill Kelly’s spot on the 40-man roster, the Diamondbacks acquired right-handed pitcher Matt Bowman from the Minnesota Twins in exchange for cash considerations.

In his four relief appearances for the Twins this season, Bowman has allowed two earned runs over 7.2 innings. The former 13th round pick from Princeton in the 2012 draft has been with five different teams in the last five years.

In other roster news, the Diamondbacks have optioned Blake Walston back to Triple-A Reno. Walston, who made his major league debut on Wednesday, initially sailed through the first two innings before struggling with control, walking four and allowing two earned runs.

The Diamondbacks will return to action tomorrow against the San Diego Padres.