Seth Keener
P | Bats/Throws: R/R | 6' 2" 195LBS | Age: 22
Draft: 2023 | Rd: 3, #84, Chicago White Sox | Wake Forest
MLB Pipeline Rank
W L ERA G GS SV IP SO WHIP
2024 0 1 12.60 2 2 0 5 7 2.40
Career Minors 5 5 4.08 23 21 0 81.2 96 1.29
G W-L ERA IP SO WHIP
2024 2 0-1 12.60 5 7 2.40
Career Minors 23 5-5 4.08 81.2 96 1.29

Standard Minor League Pitching Statistics

SeasonTmLGLWLERAGGSSVIPHRERHRBBSOWHIP
2023 2 Teams Minors 1 1 4.38 7 5 0 12.1 11 6 6 1 4 14 1.22
2023 ACL White Sox ACL ROK 1 0 1.50 4 2 0 6.0 2 1 1 0 2 7 0.67
2023 Kannapolis Cannon Ballers CAR A 0 1 7.11 3 3 0 6.1 9 5 5 1 2 7 1.74
2024 2 Teams Minors 4 4 4.02 16 16 0 69.1 54 31 31 1 36 82 1.30
2024 Kannapolis Cannon Ballers CAR A 4 3 3.36 14 14 0 64.1 46 24 24 1 32 75 1.21
2024 Winston-Salem Dash SAL A+ 0 1 12.60 2 2 0 5.0 8 7 7 0 4 7 2.40

Scouting Report

draft

Video scouting report »

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 55 | Overall: 45 

After posting a 6.31 ERA in his first two seasons at Wake Forest, Keener broke out with an all-star summer in the Cape Cod League. He has continued to excel this spring, permitting just three earned runs in his first 42 2/3 innings and ranking among the NCAA Division I leaders in WHIP (0.87, second) and opponent average (.167, third). Though he had more success as a slider-happy reliever on a loaded Demon Deacons staff, he's equipped to make it as a starter in pro ball. 

Keener's best weapon is a plus slider that parks in the mid-80s with two-plane depth, and he can land it for strikes or get chases out of the zone. While he doesn't use it as often, his 91-97 mph fastball with riding action has similar upside. He also has an effective fading changeup in the mid-80s that he employs to keep left-handers honest. 

Keener has a sound delivery and throws strikes, adding to the belief that he could pitch out of the rotation at the next level. To do so, he'll have to prove he can maintain his stuff and control deeper into games. If he remains in the bullpen, his slider gives him a chance to become a setup man. 


2024

Scouting grades: Fastball: 50 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 40

Keener logged a 6.31 ERA in his first two seasons at Wake Forest before earning all-star honors in the Cape Cod League. He allowed just three earned runs in his first 42 2/3 innings last spring and ranked second in NCAA Division I in WHIP (0.87) and third in opponent average (.167) while serving as a swingman on college baseball's best pitching staff. The White Sox signed him for $800,000 in the third round and definitely see him as a full-time starter on the pro level. 

The key to Keener's success is a mid-80s slider with two-plane depth that can be a wipeout pitch, and he has the aptitude to both throw it for strikes and get chases outside the zone. He used his slider more than his fastball at Wake, a pattern he'll need to reverse as a starter. He has a 91-95 mph heater that maxes out at 97 with riding action and uses a fading mid-80s changeup to keep left-handers in check. 

Keener has the sound delivery and strike-throwing ability to make it as a starter. To do so, he'll have to prove he can maintain his stuff and control deeper into games and over the course of 150 innings in a season. If Chicago changed course and deployed him as a reliever, he'd probably race through the Minors and could become a setup man. 


2023

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 55 | Overall: 45  

After posting a 6.31 ERA in his first two seasons at Wake Forest, Keener broke out with an all-star summer in the Cape Cod League. He continued to excel this spring as part of college baseball's best pitching staff, permitting just three earned runs in his first 42 2/3 innings and ranking among the NCAA Division I leaders in WHIP (0.87, second) and opponent average (.167, third). He signed with the White Sox for $800,000 as a third-round selection. 

Keener's best weapon is a plus slider that parks in the mid-80s with two-plane depth, and he can land it for strikes or get chases out of the zone. While he doesn't use it as often, his 91-97 mph fastball with riding action has similar upside. He also has an effective fading changeup in the mid-80s that he employs to keep left-handers honest.  

Though he had more success as a slider-happy reliever on a loaded Demon Deacons staff, Keener is equipped to make it as a starter in pro ball. He has a sound delivery and throws strikes, though he'll need to prove he can maintain his stuff and control deeper into games. If he remains in the bullpen, his slider gives him a chance to become a setup man. 



Awards




Transactions

Team Date Transaction
08/30/2024 RHP Seth Keener assigned to Winston-Salem Dash from Kannapolis Cannon Ballers.
07/12/2024 Kannapolis Cannon Ballers placed RHP Seth Keener on the 7-day injured list.
08/27/2023 RHP Seth Keener assigned to Kannapolis Cannon Ballers from White Sox Organization.
08/18/2023 RHP Seth Keener assigned to White Sox Organization from ACL White Sox.
08/17/2023 RHP Seth Keener assigned to ACL White Sox from White Sox Organization.
08/12/2023 RHP Seth Keener assigned to White Sox Organization from ACL White Sox.
08/11/2023 RHP Seth Keener assigned to ACL White Sox from White Sox Organization.
08/10/2023 RHP Seth Keener assigned to White Sox Organization from ACL White Sox.
08/05/2023 RHP Seth Keener assigned to ACL White Sox from White Sox Organization.
07/21/2023 RHP Seth Keener assigned to White Sox Organization.
07/16/2023 Chicago White Sox signed RHP Seth Keener.
05/26/2023 College Workout activated RHP Seth Keener.
05/24/2023 College Workout activated RHP Seth Keener.
05/20/2023 RHP Seth Keener assigned to Wake Forest Demon Deacons.
05/20/2023 Wake Forest Demon Deacons activated RHP Seth Keener.
05/02/2022 RHP Seth Keener and assigned to Wake Forest Demon Deacons.