Scouting grades: Fastball: 65 | Curveball: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 55
• 6/19: Keller optioned to Triple-A
Hailing from the Iowa high school ranks, Keller was a projectable right-hander who jumped onto the radar in 2014 thanks to a velocity spike. The Pirates saw enough to give him seven figures to walk away from his commitment to the University of North Carolina. Injuries hampered him early in his pro career, but he still made it to Triple-A at age 22 and started the All-Star Futures Game in 2018, earning a spot on the 40-man roster in the offseason.
The velocity jump that Keller showed in his senior year of high school has largely stayed with him. He touched 99 mph in his one-inning Futures Game start and often touches 97-98 mph, while sitting in the 93-96 mph range. Thrown with excellent sink, Keller gets a lot of groundball outs, but also elicits swings and misses with both his fastball and his plus 11-to-5 downer curveball. He's worked hard to improve his changeup, and while it's still not as good as his two plus offerings, it gives him a third Major League average offering.
While Keller's walk rate went up in 2018, some of that came with him trying to do too much when he first got to Triple-A, a stretch where his velocity dipped and he lost some feel for his stuff and delivery. He bounced back to finish strongly, with signs pointing in the right direction as a potential frontline starter with plus stuff and command. Statcast - Pitching Season Pitches Batted Balls Barrels Barrel % Exit Velocity Launch Angle XBA XSLG WOBA XWOBA XWOBACON Hard Hit % K % BB % 2019 932 145 11 7.6 87.2 10.5 .265 .411 .392 .314 .412 35.3 28.6 7.0 ALL 932 145 11 7.6 87.2 10.5 .265 .411 .392 .314 .412 35.3 28.6 7.0 MLB 40553 6.3 87.5 11.2 .251 .412 .317 .318 .371 34.5 21.7 8.3 Transactions Team Date Transaction 08/12/2019 Pittsburgh Pirates recalled RHP Mitch Keller from Indianapolis Indians. 06/19/2019 Pittsburgh Pirates optioned RHP Mitch Keller to Indianapolis Indians. 06/12/2019 Pittsburgh Pirates recalled Mitch Keller from Indianapolis Indians. 05/28/2019 Pittsburgh Pirates optioned RHP Mitch Keller to Indianapolis Indians. 05/27/2019 Pittsburgh Pirates recalled Mitch Keller from Indianapolis Indians. 03/09/2019 Pittsburgh Pirates optioned RHP Mitch Keller to Indianapolis Indians. 11/20/2018 Pittsburgh Pirates selected the contract of Mitch Keller from Indianapolis Indians. 07/18/2018 Indianapolis Indians activated RHP Mitch Keller from the temporarily inactive list. 07/14/2018 Indianapolis Indians placed RHP Mitch Keller on the temporarily inactive list. 07/11/2018 RHP Mitch Keller assigned to Indianapolis Indians from Bradenton Marauders. 07/10/2018 RHP Mitch Keller assigned to Bradenton Marauders from Indianapolis Indians. 06/28/2018 RHP Mitch Keller assigned to Indianapolis Indians from Altoona Curve. 03/18/2018 RHP Mitch Keller assigned to Pittsburgh Pirates. 08/04/2017 RHP Mitch Keller assigned to Altoona Curve from Bradenton Marauders. 06/29/2017 Bradenton Marauders activated RHP Mitch Keller from the 7-day disabled list. 06/19/2017 Bradenton Marauders sent RHP Mitch Keller on a rehab assignment to West Virginia Black Bears. 06/19/2017 Bradenton Marauders sent RHP Mitch Keller on a rehab assignment to West Virginia Black Bears. 05/26/2017 Bradenton Marauders placed RHP Mitch Keller on the 7-day disabled list retroactive to May 24, 2017. 08/30/2016 RHP Mitch Keller assigned to Bradenton Marauders from West Virginia Power. 04/05/2016 RHP Mitch Keller assigned to West Virginia Power from Bristol Pirates. 06/21/2015 RHP Mitch Keller assigned to Bristol Pirates from GCL Pirates. 06/14/2014 Pittsburgh Pirates signed RHP Mitch Keller. 06/14/2014 RHP Mitch Keller assigned to GCL Pirates.
