Merrill Kelly Activated from IL, José Ruiz DFA'd

Kelly will return to the rotation after missing four weeks due to a blood clot in his right calf.

Merrill Kelly will officially make his return to the starting rotation after a four-week absence, as the 34-year-old right-hander was activated from the 15-day injured list. In order to make room on the active, the Diamondbacks have designated right-handed reliever José Ruiz for assignment.

Kelly was originally placed on the injured list with right calf inflammation on June 27th, which turned out to be the result of a blood clot. He was stretched out to 85 pitches in his most recent rehab appearance at the complex. He'll join a rotation that is desperate need of capable starters, as the team has had to resort to a bullpen game twice this month. He'll join a rotation that currently features Zac Gallen, Tommy Henry, Ryne Nelson, and Brandon Pfaadt. 

Ruiz was acquired by the Diamondbacks back in April after he was designated by the Chicago White Sox. Ruiz had pitched to a 3.55 ERA with 29 strikeouts in 33 innings over his first 28 games with Arizona, but had some troubling peripherals with a 4.65 FIP. In his last six appearances, he was scored on in four of them, allowing seven runs in 7 2/3 innings. He allowed three runs on a pair of home runs in his final appearance Sunday in Cincinnati. He'll end his tenure with Arizona with a 4.43 ERA in 34 appearances.

With Ruiz being designated, the D-backs return to an eight-man bullpen and an open spot on the 40-man roster spot. Arizona has seven days to trade, outright, or release him. As he was already outrighted before by the White Sox, he has the opportunity to reject an outright assignment in favor of free agency but must forfeit his remaining $925K salary.