At the same time of year, in the same location, and with the same temperature, Arizona Diamondbacks starter felt a pull in his hamstring and was forced to exit his start at Chase Field, where the first-pitch temperature was recorded at 78 degrees.
The good news is the D-backs have encountered this situation before. His cramping issue emerged during Arizona’s win against the Texas Rangers on Wednesday, but team leaders remain optimistic that it won’t prevent him from making his next start.
“They had a good regimen last year, and I’m sure they’ll get back to it,” CEO and president Derrick Hall told Arizona Sports’ Bickley & Marotta on Thursday. “Now that it’s on the radar again, I’m confident they’ll take every necessary precaution before his next start. This wasn’t an issue at the end of last season, but it’s something we need to be mindful of.”
“I would also add this: If the season or postseason were on the line, we would have found a way to keep him in, and he would have wanted to stay.”
Manager Torey Lovullo explained after the 14-4 victory that pulling He was his decision, and he expects Kelly to make his next start.
On September 7, 2023, His last dealt with cramping issues, marking the third time that season, all at Chase Field. The temperature was the same as on Wednesday, although the D-backs acknowledged that the field’s on-field temperature tends to be higher.
A month ago, fellow starter Jordan Montgomery described the field level as having a “jungle” atmosphere.
Both Montgomery’s comments and His recent cramping have renewed discussions about Chase Field’s need for upgrades, with Hall leading efforts to explore funding options for renovations.
“It makes all of us question what the environment is like there. Yesterday, it felt really good elsewhere in Chase Field,” Hall said Thursday. “The field itself does get very hot because the air doesn’t circulate well. We need to find a way to address that moving forward.”
Now, it’s up to Him and the D-backs’ training staff to develop a plan to prevent future cramps.
He will not pitch in the upcoming three-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers but could be available for the series against the Rockies in Colorado from Monday to Wednesday.
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