Kelly slowed by back injury at D-backs camp

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- It may not be anything serious, but you can forgive the Diamondbacks if they're a bit nervous these days whenever one of their pitchers has any kind of injury issue.

Right-hander Merrill Kelly, who was re-signed this winter to a two-year, $40 million contract, was scratched from a live batting-practice session on Saturday after experiencing left mid-back tightness.

Kelly, who is scheduled to start on Opening Day, had warmed up for the session before shutting it down.

“We've been kind of just treating something, I guess in the mid back you can call it,” Kelly said. “Kind of changes throughout the days -- different days feel differently. And then I went to go throw in the bullpen today, got to around pitch 10, started feeling little stuff and then the last two to three, the sensation was enough that I, being proactive, just felt like it was time to shut it down.”

Kelly is scheduled to have an MRI exam on Sunday, which should provide some more clarity on the extent of the injury.

“I don't have a concern level [yet],” Kelly said. “Because we don't know, at the end of the day, what it is. I mean, the last week and a half, I've been throwing, been doing everything normal, and it didn't kind of rear its head until today. So I'm going to take that as a good thing, the fact that I've felt it for that long but I've still been able to do everything.”

Kelly said he felt good throwing his second bullpen session of the spring but after he completed it and did his usual weight room routine, he began to feel a little something in the back area.

Pitching injuries have been an unfortunate trend for the Diamondbacks over the last 12 months. Five of Arizona's pitchers have had elbow injuries that either required Tommy John surgery or internal brace surgery.

The Diamondbacks will open the season without ace Corbin Burnes and co-closers A.J. Puk and Justin Martinez, who were a part of the group that had surgeries last year.

"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's anything wrong," manager Torey Lovullo said. "So, for right now, I'm just going to say that [the concern is] minimal."

Kelly was dealt by the Diamondbacks to the Rangers at last year’s Trade Deadline for a trio of promising pitching prospects. It was always his hope to return once he hit free agency, and the two sides were able to reach agreement on a deal in December.