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Keller CLASS="highlight"> worked CLASS="highlight"> on CLASS="highlight"> making CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> delivery CLASS="highlight"> before CLASS="highlight"> 2022 CLASS="highlight"> spring CLASS="highlight"> training CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> is CLASS="highlight"> hitting CLASS="highlight"> 100 CLASS="highlight"> mph CLASS="highlight"> with CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> FASTBALL. CLASS="highlight"> CLASS="highlight">
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In CLASS="highlight"> 2010, CLASS="highlight"> Mike CLASS="highlight"> Trout CLASS="highlight"> was CLASS="highlight"> an CLASS="highlight"> 18-year-old CLASS="highlight"> prospect CLASS="highlight"> tearing CLASS="highlight"> up CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> Midwest CLASS="highlight"> League CLASS="highlight"> with CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> Angels’ CLASS="highlight"> Class CLASS="highlight"> A CLASS="highlight"> affiliate CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> Cedar CLASS="highlight"> Rapids, CLASS="highlight"> Iowa. CLASS="highlight"> The CLASS="highlight"> way CLASS="highlight"> he CLASS="highlight"> played CLASS="highlight"> then CLASS="highlight"> stood CLASS="highlight"> out CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> 14-year-old CLASS="highlight"> Cedar CLASS="highlight"> Rapids CLASS="highlight"> native CLASS="highlight"> by CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> name CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> Mitch CLASS="highlight"> Keller, CLASS="highlight"> who CLASS="highlight"> said CLASS="highlight"> he CLASS="highlight"> grew CLASS="highlight"> up CLASS="highlight"> watching CLASS="highlight"> Trout. CLASS="highlight"> Now CLASS="highlight"> he CLASS="highlight"> will CLASS="highlight"> get CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> face CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> best CLASS="highlight"> baseball CLASS="highlight"> player CLASS="highlight"> on CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> planet CLASS="highlight"> for CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> first CLASS="highlight"> time CLASS="highlight"> as CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> returns CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> Majors CLASS="highlight"> at CLASS="highlight"> Angel CLASS="highlight"> Stadium.
Keller CLASS="highlight"> often CLASS="highlight"> went CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> ballpark CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> watch CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> Cedar CLASS="highlight"> Rapids CLASS="highlight"> Kernels CLASS="highlight"> when CLASS="highlight"> Trout CLASS="highlight"> was CLASS="highlight"> on CLASS="highlight"> their CLASS="highlight"> roster. CLASS="highlight"> One CLASS="highlight"> home CLASS="highlight"> run CLASS="highlight"> Trout CLASS="highlight"> crushed CLASS="highlight"> over CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> batter’s CLASS="highlight"> eye, CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> said, CLASS="highlight"> was CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> “craziest CLASS="highlight"> thing CLASS="highlight"> I’ve CLASS="highlight"> ever CLASS="highlight"> seen.” CLASS="highlight"> So CLASS="highlight"> Keller’s CLASS="highlight"> excited CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> face CLASS="highlight"> Trout CLASS="highlight"> as CLASS="highlight"> well CLASS="highlight"> as CLASS="highlight"> Albert CLASS="highlight"> Pujols, CLASS="highlight"> but CLASS="highlight"> he’s CLASS="highlight"> not CLASS="highlight"> going CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> be CLASS="highlight"> too CLASS="highlight"> star-struck.
“If CLASS="highlight"> you CLASS="highlight"> start CLASS="highlight"> looking CLASS="highlight"> at CLASS="highlight"> them CLASS="highlight"> like CLASS="highlight"> that, CLASS="highlight"> then CLASS="highlight"> you’re CLASS="highlight"> already CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> step CLASS="highlight"> behind. CLASS="highlight"> I CLASS="highlight"> feel CLASS="highlight"> like CLASS="highlight"> I CLASS="highlight"> can CLASS="highlight"> go CLASS="highlight"> up CLASS="highlight"> against CLASS="highlight"> anybody CLASS="highlight"> with CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> stuff CLASS="highlight"> that CLASS="highlight"> I CLASS="highlight"> have, CLASS="highlight"> so CLASS="highlight"> I CLASS="highlight"> don’t CLASS="highlight"> really CLASS="highlight"> think CLASS="highlight"> about CLASS="highlight"> that,” CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> said CLASS="highlight"> before CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> Pirates’ CLASS="highlight"> 11-9 CLASS="highlight"> loss CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> Cardinals. CLASS="highlight"> “It’ll CLASS="highlight"> be CLASS="highlight"> kind CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> cool CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> face CLASS="highlight"> Trout, CLASS="highlight"> though.”
“Obviously, CLASS="highlight"> getting CLASS="highlight"> back CLASS="highlight"> up CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> where CLASS="highlight"> you CLASS="highlight"> want CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> be CLASS="highlight"> is CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> good CLASS="highlight"> thing,” CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> said. CLASS="highlight"> “It CLASS="highlight"> feels CLASS="highlight"> really CLASS="highlight"> good CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> come CLASS="highlight"> back CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> get CLASS="highlight"> another CLASS="highlight"> opportunity.”
The CLASS="highlight"> Pirates CLASS="highlight"> sent CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> Triple-A CLASS="highlight"> Indianapolis CLASS="highlight"> with CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> to-do CLASS="highlight"> list CLASS="highlight"> focused CLASS="highlight"> mostly CLASS="highlight"> on CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> pitch CLASS="highlight"> sequencing. CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> threw CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> fastball CLASS="highlight"> about CLASS="highlight"> 65 CLASS="highlight"> percent CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> time CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> first CLASS="highlight"> three CLASS="highlight"> starts, CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> he CLASS="highlight"> only CLASS="highlight"> used CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> curveball CLASS="highlight"> 9.1 CLASS="highlight"> percent CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> time. CLASS="highlight"> Keller’s CLASS="highlight"> experience CLASS="highlight"> with CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> Pirates CLASS="highlight"> reinforced CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> importance CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> throwing CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> breaking CLASS="highlight"> balls CLASS="highlight"> for CLASS="highlight"> strikes, CLASS="highlight"> which CLASS="highlight"> he CLASS="highlight"> said CLASS="highlight"> he CLASS="highlight"> did CLASS="highlight"> more CLASS="highlight"> consistently CLASS="highlight"> after CLASS="highlight"> returning CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> Triple-A.
In CLASS="highlight"> eight CLASS="highlight"> Triple-A CLASS="highlight"> starts CLASS="highlight"> between CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> big CLASS="highlight"> league CLASS="highlight"> stints, CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> posted CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> 4.14 CLASS="highlight"> ERA CLASS="highlight"> while CLASS="highlight"> striking CLASS="highlight"> out CLASS="highlight"> 49 CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> walking CLASS="highlight"> 10 CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> 45.2 CLASS="highlight"> innings.
“I CLASS="highlight"> think CLASS="highlight"> it CLASS="highlight"> went CLASS="highlight"> really CLASS="highlight"> well. CLASS="highlight"> Just CLASS="highlight"> going CLASS="highlight"> over CLASS="highlight"> pitch CLASS="highlight"> sequencing CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> splits CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> pitches, CLASS="highlight"> maybe CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> little CLASS="highlight"> bit CLASS="highlight"> less CLASS="highlight"> fastball CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> more CLASS="highlight"> off-speed,” CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> said. CLASS="highlight"> “Really CLASS="highlight"> working CLASS="highlight"> on CLASS="highlight"> throwing CLASS="highlight"> off-speed CLASS="highlight"> for CLASS="highlight"> strikes CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> any CLASS="highlight"> count.
“It CLASS="highlight"> kept CLASS="highlight"> hitters CLASS="highlight"> off-balance CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> just CLASS="highlight"> made CLASS="highlight"> my CLASS="highlight"> fastball CLASS="highlight"> play CLASS="highlight"> up CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> little CLASS="highlight"> bit CLASS="highlight"> more CLASS="highlight"> than CLASS="highlight"> it CLASS="highlight"> already CLASS="highlight"> did, CLASS="highlight"> just CLASS="highlight"> because CLASS="highlight"> they CLASS="highlight"> didn’t CLASS="highlight"> know CLASS="highlight"> it CLASS="highlight"> was CLASS="highlight"> coming. CLASS="highlight"> If CLASS="highlight"> I CLASS="highlight"> don’t CLASS="highlight"> do CLASS="highlight"> that, CLASS="highlight"> I’m CLASS="highlight"> going CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> get CLASS="highlight"> into CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> bad CLASS="highlight"> hitter’s CLASS="highlight"> count CLASS="highlight"> or CLASS="highlight"> I CLASS="highlight"> could CLASS="highlight"> walk CLASS="highlight"> them. CLASS="highlight"> My CLASS="highlight"> mentality CLASS="highlight"> was CLASS="highlight"> that CLASS="highlight"> I CLASS="highlight"> had CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> throw CLASS="highlight"> it CLASS="highlight"> for CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> strike.”
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Following CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> 2015 CLASS="highlight"> season, CLASS="highlight"> Mitch CLASS="highlight"> spent CLASS="highlight"> time CLASS="highlight"> working CLASS="highlight"> on CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> mechanics CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> instructional CLASS="highlight"> league. CLASS="highlight"> “I CLASS="highlight"> really CLASS="highlight"> cleaned CLASS="highlight"> up CLASS="highlight"> my CLASS="highlight"> delivery, CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> I CLASS="highlight"> can CLASS="highlight"> get CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> ball CLASS="highlight"> where CLASS="highlight"> I CLASS="highlight"> want CLASS="highlight"> it CLASS="highlight"> now CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> consistently CLASS="highlight"> throws CLASS="highlight"> strikes,” CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> said. CLASS="highlight"> “I CLASS="highlight"> also CLASS="highlight"> have CLASS="highlight"> more CLASS="highlight"> power CLASS="highlight"> behind CLASS="highlight"> my CLASS="highlight"> pitches CLASS="highlight"> now. CLASS="highlight"> I CLASS="highlight"> feel CLASS="highlight"> stronger CLASS="highlight"> from CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> start CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> stay CLASS="highlight"> that CLASS="highlight"> way CLASS="highlight"> into CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> late CLASS="highlight"> innings.”
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2016 CLASS="highlight"> Improvements: CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> began CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> season CLASS="highlight"> No. CLASS="highlight"> 14 CLASS="highlight"> on CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> Pirates' CLASS="highlight"> Top CLASS="highlight"> 30. CLASS="highlight"> He CLASS="highlight"> moved CLASS="highlight"> up CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> No. CLASS="highlight"> 5 CLASS="highlight"> on CLASS="highlight"> that CLASS="highlight"> list CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> firmly CLASS="highlight"> on CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> Top CLASS="highlight"> 100 CLASS="highlight"> at CLASS="highlight"> No. CLASS="highlight"> 76, CLASS="highlight"> as CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> October CLASS="highlight"> 2016. CLASS="highlight"> There's CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> chance CLASS="highlight"> that CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> is CLASS="highlight"> still CLASS="highlight"> under-ranked.
Making CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> full-season CLASS="highlight"> debut, CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> 20-year-old CLASS="highlight"> led CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> organization CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> WHIP, CLASS="highlight"> finished CLASS="highlight"> second CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> strikeouts CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> batting-average-against CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> third CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> ERA. CLASS="highlight"> A CLASS="highlight"> late CLASS="highlight"> promotion CLASS="highlight"> up CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> Bradenton CLASS="highlight"> resulted CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> strong CLASS="highlight"> regular-season CLASS="highlight"> start CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> two CLASS="highlight"> postseason CLASS="highlight"> wins, CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> second CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> which CLASS="highlight"> came CLASS="highlight"> from CLASS="highlight"> tossing CLASS="highlight"> eight CLASS="highlight"> shutout CLASS="highlight"> innings. CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> could CLASS="highlight"> top CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> next CLASS="highlight"> wave CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> young CLASS="highlight"> Pirates CLASS="highlight"> pitching CLASS="highlight"> prospects CLASS="highlight"> making CLASS="highlight"> their CLASS="highlight"> way CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> Pittsburgh.
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In CLASS="highlight"> 2016, CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> made CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> mechanical CLASS="highlight"> change CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> delivery. CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> held CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> glove CLASS="highlight"> firmly CLASS="highlight"> above CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> belt, CLASS="highlight"> which CLASS="highlight"> enabled CLASS="highlight"> him CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> better CLASS="highlight"> locate CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> fastball CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> both CLASS="highlight"> sides CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> plate. CLASS="highlight"> Mitch CLASS="highlight"> is CLASS="highlight"> learning CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> effectively CLASS="highlight"> mix CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> curveball CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> changeup CLASS="highlight"> into CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> mix CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> complement CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> fastball, CLASS="highlight"> which CLASS="highlight"> consistently CLASS="highlight"> sits CLASS="highlight"> at CLASS="highlight"> 94-96 CLASS="highlight"> mph CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> tops CLASS="highlight"> out CLASS="highlight"> at CLASS="highlight"> 98.
“The CLASS="highlight"> hitters CLASS="highlight"> aren’t CLASS="highlight"> sitting CLASS="highlight"> on CLASS="highlight"> my CLASS="highlight"> fastball CLASS="highlight"> anymore,” CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> said. CLASS="highlight"> “They CLASS="highlight"> have CLASS="highlight"> doubt CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> their CLASS="highlight"> mind. CLASS="highlight"> They CLASS="highlight"> don’t CLASS="highlight"> know CLASS="highlight"> what’s CLASS="highlight"> coming. CLASS="highlight"> That CLASS="highlight"> gears CLASS="highlight"> up CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> fastball, CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> when CLASS="highlight"> I CLASS="highlight"> throw CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> off-speed CLASS="highlight"> stuff, CLASS="highlight"> they CLASS="highlight"> end CLASS="highlight"> up CLASS="highlight"> chasing CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> lot.”
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Mitch CLASS="highlight"> comes CLASS="highlight"> at CLASS="highlight"> hitters CLASS="highlight"> from CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> nice CLASS="highlight"> downhill CLASS="highlight"> plane CLASS="highlight"> from CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> high CLASS="highlight"> three-quarters CLASS="highlight"> arm CLASS="highlight"> slot. CLASS="highlight"> It CLASS="highlight"> is CLASS="highlight"> an CLASS="highlight"> easy CLASS="highlight"> delivery CLASS="highlight"> that CLASS="highlight"> gives CLASS="highlight"> him CLASS="highlight"> at CLASS="highlight"> least CLASS="highlight"> average CLASS="highlight"> control CLASS="highlight"> (a CLASS="highlight"> 60 CLASS="highlight"> grade). CLASS="highlight"> His CLASS="highlight"> arm CLASS="highlight"> circle CLASS="highlight"> has CLASS="highlight"> some CLASS="highlight"> length, CLASS="highlight"> with CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> wrist CLASS="highlight"> wrap CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> back, CLASS="highlight"> but CLASS="highlight"> consistently CLASS="highlight"> throws CLASS="highlight"> strikes.
He CLASS="highlight"> could CLASS="highlight"> stand CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> tighten CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> delivery CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> order CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> improve CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> control.
"The CLASS="highlight"> key CLASS="highlight"> has CLASS="highlight"> been CLASS="highlight"> being CLASS="highlight"> able CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> command CLASS="highlight"> my CLASS="highlight"> fastball CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> throw CLASS="highlight"> changeups CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> different CLASS="highlight"> counts," CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> said. CLASS="highlight"> "That's CLASS="highlight"> been CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> main CLASS="highlight"> focus CLASS="highlight"> for CLASS="highlight"> me, CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> throw CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> changeup. CLASS="highlight"> I CLASS="highlight"> didn't CLASS="highlight"> throw CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> changeup CLASS="highlight"> at CLASS="highlight"> all CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> high CLASS="highlight"> school. CLASS="highlight"> It's CLASS="highlight"> made CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> huge CLASS="highlight"> difference CLASS="highlight"> for CLASS="highlight"> me."
A CLASS="highlight"> native CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> Cedar CLASS="highlight"> Rapids, CLASS="highlight"> Iowa, CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> grew CLASS="highlight"> up CLASS="highlight"> playing CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> game CLASS="highlight"> while CLASS="highlight"> admiring CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> brother CLASS="highlight"> Jon, CLASS="highlight"> who CLASS="highlight"> is CLASS="highlight"> three CLASS="highlight"> years CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> seven CLASS="highlight"> months CLASS="highlight"> older CLASS="highlight"> than CLASS="highlight"> Mitch. CLASS="highlight"> Jon CLASS="highlight"> pitched CLASS="highlight"> two CLASS="highlight"> years CLASS="highlight"> at CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> University CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> Nebraska CLASS="highlight"> before CLASS="highlight"> transferring CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> University CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> Tampa. CLASS="highlight"> He CLASS="highlight"> wound CLASS="highlight"> up CLASS="highlight"> signing CLASS="highlight"> as CLASS="highlight"> Baltimore's CLASS="highlight"> 22nd-round CLASS="highlight"> pick CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> 2013.
"I CLASS="highlight"> watched CLASS="highlight"> my CLASS="highlight"> brother CLASS="highlight"> play CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> high CLASS="highlight"> school CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> then CLASS="highlight"> go CLASS="highlight"> on CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> play CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> college," CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> said. CLASS="highlight"> "I CLASS="highlight"> always CLASS="highlight"> wanted CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> do CLASS="highlight"> that, CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> then CLASS="highlight"> he CLASS="highlight"> got CLASS="highlight"> drafted. CLASS="highlight"> I CLASS="highlight"> guess CLASS="highlight"> I've CLASS="highlight"> always CLASS="highlight"> followed CLASS="highlight"> him CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> footsteps CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> now CLASS="highlight"> we're CLASS="highlight"> both CLASS="highlight"> playing CLASS="highlight"> Minor CLASS="highlight"> League CLASS="highlight"> Baseball. CLASS="highlight"> We CLASS="highlight"> talk CLASS="highlight"> just CLASS="highlight"> about CLASS="highlight"> every CLASS="highlight"> day, CLASS="highlight"> about CLASS="highlight"> anything CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> everything. CLASS="highlight"> In CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> offseason CLASS="highlight"> we CLASS="highlight"> work CLASS="highlight"> out CLASS="highlight"> together CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> throw CLASS="highlight"> together. CLASS="highlight"> It's CLASS="highlight"> helped CLASS="highlight"> us CLASS="highlight"> both CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> lot. CLASS="highlight"> We CLASS="highlight"> push CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> encourage CLASS="highlight"> one CLASS="highlight"> another. CLASS="highlight"> It's CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> great CLASS="highlight"> situation CLASS="highlight"> for CLASS="highlight"> both CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> us." CLASS="highlight"> (Bill CLASS="highlight"> Ballew CLASS="highlight"> - CLASS="highlight"> 6/30/2016)
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Part CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> Keller’s CLASS="highlight"> struggles CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> 2018 CLASS="highlight"> came CLASS="highlight"> because CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> mechanical CLASS="highlight"> problems CLASS="highlight"> on CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> backside CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> delivery CLASS="highlight"> that CLASS="highlight"> led CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> pitches CLASS="highlight"> coming CLASS="highlight"> out CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> hand CLASS="highlight"> flat. CLASS="highlight"> He CLASS="highlight"> focused CLASS="highlight"> on CLASS="highlight"> eliminating CLASS="highlight"> those CLASS="highlight"> problems CLASS="highlight"> late CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> season CLASS="highlight"> but CLASS="highlight"> still CLASS="highlight"> had CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> worst CLASS="highlight"> season CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> career CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> terms CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> command. CLASS="highlight"> He CLASS="highlight"> was CLASS="highlight"> missing CLASS="highlight"> too CLASS="highlight"> much CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> middle CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> plate. CLASS="highlight"> (Spring, CLASS="highlight"> 2019)
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Mitch's CLASS="highlight"> Scouting CLASS="highlight"> Grades: CLASS="highlight"> He CLASS="highlight"> has CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> 65 CLASS="highlight"> fastball, CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> 60 CLASS="highlight"> curveball, CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> 50 CLASS="highlight"> changeup. CLASS="highlight"> He CLASS="highlight"> also CLASS="highlight"> rates CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> 60 CLASS="highlight"> for CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> above-average CLASS="highlight"> control. CLASS="highlight"> (Spring, CLASS="highlight"> 2018)
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He CLASS="highlight"> generates CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> lot CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> groundballs CLASS="highlight"> because CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> heater CLASS="highlight"> generates CLASS="highlight"> good CLASS="highlight"> sink.
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Keller CLASS="highlight"> should CLASS="highlight"> develop CLASS="highlight"> into CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> #2, CLASS="highlight"> or CLASS="highlight"> at CLASS="highlight"> least CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> #3, CLASS="highlight"> big CLASS="highlight"> league CLASS="highlight"> starter.
- 2018 CLASS="highlight"> Season: CLASS="highlight"> Over CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> course CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> two CLASS="highlight"> starts—on CLASS="highlight"> May CLASS="highlight"> 9 CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> May CLASS="highlight"> 26—Keller CLASS="highlight"> allowed CLASS="highlight"> 10 CLASS="highlight"> runs CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> 10.1 CLASS="highlight"> innings, CLASS="highlight"> allowing CLASS="highlight"> 18 CLASS="highlight"> hits CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> three CLASS="highlight"> home CLASS="highlight"> runs. CLASS="highlight"> He CLASS="highlight"> allowed CLASS="highlight"> four CLASS="highlight"> earned CLASS="highlight"> runs CLASS="highlight"> or CLASS="highlight"> more CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> both CLASS="highlight"> starts, CLASS="highlight"> which CLASS="highlight"> is CLASS="highlight"> something CLASS="highlight"> he CLASS="highlight"> had CLASS="highlight"> done CLASS="highlight"> only CLASS="highlight"> once CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> pro CLASS="highlight"> career CLASS="highlight"> up CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> that CLASS="highlight"> point.
But CLASS="highlight"> after CLASS="highlight"> those CLASS="highlight"> starts, CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> 6-foot-3, CLASS="highlight"> 195-pound CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> showed CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> ability CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> make CLASS="highlight"> adjustments, CLASS="highlight"> down CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> basics CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> mechanics. CLASS="highlight"> A CLASS="highlight"> lights-out CLASS="highlight"> June CLASS="highlight"> led CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> Pirates CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> promote CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> 22-year-old CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> Triple-A CLASS="highlight"> Indianapolis CLASS="highlight"> on CLASS="highlight"> June CLASS="highlight"> 28. CLASS="highlight"> He CLASS="highlight"> finished CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> time CLASS="highlight"> at CLASS="highlight"> Altoona CLASS="highlight"> with CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> 2.72 CLASS="highlight"> ERA CLASS="highlight"> with CLASS="highlight"> 76 CLASS="highlight"> strikeouts CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> 86 CLASS="highlight"> innings.
“I CLASS="highlight"> think CLASS="highlight"> it CLASS="highlight"> was CLASS="highlight"> important CLASS="highlight"> for CLASS="highlight"> him CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> have CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> couple CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> starts CLASS="highlight"> that CLASS="highlight"> weren’t CLASS="highlight"> great CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> understand CLASS="highlight"> what CLASS="highlight"> adjustments CLASS="highlight"> he CLASS="highlight"> needed CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> make,” CLASS="highlight"> farm CLASS="highlight"> director Larry CLASS="highlight"> Broadway said. CLASS="highlight"> “I CLASS="highlight"> think CLASS="highlight"> he CLASS="highlight"> got CLASS="highlight"> off CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> back CLASS="highlight"> side CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> little CLASS="highlight"> bit, CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> when CLASS="highlight"> he CLASS="highlight"> does CLASS="highlight"> that, CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> ball CLASS="highlight"> gets CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> little CLASS="highlight"> flatter. CLASS="highlight"> It CLASS="highlight"> gets CLASS="highlight"> up CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> elevated.
Now, CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> is CLASS="highlight"> better CLASS="highlight"> able CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> self-correct CLASS="highlight"> delivery CLASS="highlight"> flaws. CLASS="highlight"> He CLASS="highlight"> also CLASS="highlight"> picked CLASS="highlight"> up CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> two-seam CLASS="highlight"> changeup CLASS="highlight"> grip CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> give CLASS="highlight"> him CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> pitch CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> complement CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> mid-90s CLASS="highlight"> fastball CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> plus CLASS="highlight"> 11-to-5 CLASS="highlight"> curveball. CLASS="highlight"> (Dustin CLASS="highlight"> Dopirak CLASS="highlight"> - CLASS="highlight"> Baseball CLASS="highlight"> America CLASS="highlight"> - CLASS="highlight"> 8/24/2018)
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October CLASS="highlight"> 2018: CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> was CLASS="highlight"> named CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> MLB CLASS="highlight"> Pipeline CLASS="highlight"> Pitcher CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> Year CLASS="highlight"> for CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> Pirates.
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Anticipating CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> first CLASS="highlight"> start CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> Major CLASS="highlight"> Leagues, CLASS="highlight"> Mitch CLASS="highlight"> has CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> following CLASS="highlight"> going CLASS="highlight"> for CLASS="highlight"> him CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> 2019.
Fastball: CLASS="highlight"> During CLASS="highlight"> Keller’s CLASS="highlight"> struggles CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> 2018, CLASS="highlight"> he CLASS="highlight"> saw CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> velocity CLASS="highlight"> dip, CLASS="highlight"> but CLASS="highlight"> it’s CLASS="highlight"> come CLASS="highlight"> back CLASS="highlight"> since. CLASS="highlight"> Outside CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> that CLASS="highlight"> one CLASS="highlight"> stretch CLASS="highlight"> he’s CLASS="highlight"> consistently CLASS="highlight"> been CLASS="highlight"> able CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> touch CLASS="highlight"> 97-98 CLASS="highlight"> mph CLASS="highlight"> with CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> fastball CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> sit CLASS="highlight"> 93-96 CLASS="highlight"> with CLASS="highlight"> good CLASS="highlight"> sink. CLASS="highlight"> If CLASS="highlight"> you CLASS="highlight"> saw CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> Futures CLASS="highlight"> Game, CLASS="highlight"> you CLASS="highlight"> saw CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> velocity, CLASS="highlight"> as CLASS="highlight"> he CLASS="highlight"> hit CLASS="highlight"> 99 CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> one CLASS="highlight"> inning CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> work. CLASS="highlight"> He CLASS="highlight"> misses CLASS="highlight"> bats CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> gets CLASS="highlight"> weak CLASS="highlight"> contact CLASS="highlight"> on CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> ground CLASS="highlight"> as CLASS="highlight"> well CLASS="highlight"> with CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> pitch.
Curveball: CLASS="highlight"> An CLASS="highlight"> excellent CLASS="highlight"> 11-to-5 CLASS="highlight"> breaker, CLASS="highlight"> this CLASS="highlight"> is CLASS="highlight"> Keller’s CLASS="highlight"> other CLASS="highlight"> strikeout CLASS="highlight"> pitch. CLASS="highlight"> It’s CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> true CLASS="highlight"> downer CLASS="highlight"> breaking CLASS="highlight"> ball CLASS="highlight"> with CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> lot CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> bite. CLASS="highlight"> Look CLASS="highlight"> for CLASS="highlight"> him CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> lean CLASS="highlight"> on CLASS="highlight"> this CLASS="highlight"> pitch, CLASS="highlight"> which CLASS="highlight"> flashes CLASS="highlight"> plus CLASS="highlight"> often, CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> attack CLASS="highlight"> big CLASS="highlight"> league CLASS="highlight"> hitters.
Slider: CLASS="highlight"> This CLASS="highlight"> is CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> new CLASS="highlight"> pitch CLASS="highlight"> for CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> that CLASS="highlight"> he’s CLASS="highlight"> added CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> repertoire CLASS="highlight"> this CLASS="highlight"> year. CLASS="highlight"> It’s CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> cutter-like CLASS="highlight"> pitch CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> it’s CLASS="highlight"> been CLASS="highlight"> an CLASS="highlight"> effective CLASS="highlight"> weapon CLASS="highlight"> for CLASS="highlight"> him, CLASS="highlight"> giving CLASS="highlight"> advanced CLASS="highlight"> hitters CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> different CLASS="highlight"> look. CLASS="highlight"> It CLASS="highlight"> might CLASS="highlight"> be CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> Major CLASS="highlight"> League CLASS="highlight"> average CLASS="highlight"> offering CLASS="highlight"> at CLASS="highlight"> this CLASS="highlight"> point.
Changeup: CLASS="highlight"> He’s CLASS="highlight"> worked CLASS="highlight"> on CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> changeup CLASS="highlight"> quite CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> bit CLASS="highlight"> over CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> years CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> get CLASS="highlight"> it CLASS="highlight"> up CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> Major CLASS="highlight"> League CLASS="highlight"> average. CLASS="highlight"> It CLASS="highlight"> does CLASS="highlight"> have CLASS="highlight"> some CLASS="highlight"> fade CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> sink CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> it, CLASS="highlight"> eliciting CLASS="highlight"> some CLASS="highlight"> ground-ball CLASS="highlight"> outs, CLASS="highlight"> but CLASS="highlight"> it CLASS="highlight"> might CLASS="highlight"> be CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> fourth CLASS="highlight"> pitch CLASS="highlight"> at CLASS="highlight"> this CLASS="highlight"> point.
Control: CLASS="highlight"> This CLASS="highlight"> was CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> plus CLASS="highlight"> part CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> game CLASS="highlight"> until CLASS="highlight"> recently. CLASS="highlight"> His CLASS="highlight"> walk CLASS="highlight"> rate CLASS="highlight"> jumped CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> 2018 CLASS="highlight"> up CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> 3.5 CLASS="highlight"> BB/9 CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> he’s CLASS="highlight"> walked CLASS="highlight"> 3.8 CLASS="highlight"> per CLASS="highlight"> nine CLASS="highlight"> so CLASS="highlight"> far CLASS="highlight"> this CLASS="highlight"> year. CLASS="highlight"> Still, CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> career CLASS="highlight"> mark CLASS="highlight"> is CLASS="highlight"> 2.9, CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> he’s CLASS="highlight"> looked CLASS="highlight"> more CLASS="highlight"> like CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> old CLASS="highlight"> self CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> four CLASS="highlight"> May CLASS="highlight"> starts, CLASS="highlight"> walking CLASS="highlight"> just CLASS="highlight"> 2.45 CLASS="highlight"> per CLASS="highlight"> nine CLASS="highlight"> during CLASS="highlight"> that CLASS="highlight"> stretch. CLASS="highlight"> When CLASS="highlight"> he CLASS="highlight"> repeats CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> delivery CLASS="highlight"> well, CLASS="highlight"> he CLASS="highlight"> is CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> strike-thrower, CLASS="highlight"> one CLASS="highlight"> who CLASS="highlight"> eventually CLASS="highlight"> could CLASS="highlight"> have CLASS="highlight"> above-average CLASS="highlight"> overall CLASS="highlight"> command. CLASS="highlight"> (Mayo CLASS="highlight"> - CLASS="highlight"> mlb.com CLASS="highlight"> - CLASS="highlight"> 5/26/19)
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MLB CLASS="highlight"> debut CLASS="highlight"> (May CLASS="highlight"> 27, CLASS="highlight"> 2019): CLASS="highlight"> The CLASS="highlight"> Pirates CLASS="highlight"> had CLASS="highlight"> essentially CLASS="highlight"> knocked CLASS="highlight"> themselves CLASS="highlight"> out CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> game CLASS="highlight"> by CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> end CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> first CLASS="highlight"> inning CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> Game CLASS="highlight"> 2 CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> their CLASS="highlight"> doubleheader CLASS="highlight"> with CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> Reds, CLASS="highlight"> but CLASS="highlight"> there CLASS="highlight"> were CLASS="highlight"> still CLASS="highlight"> positives CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> draw CLASS="highlight"> from CLASS="highlight"> their CLASS="highlight"> 8-1 CLASS="highlight"> loss. CLASS="highlight"> The CLASS="highlight"> main CLASS="highlight"> takeaway? CLASS="highlight"> Rookie CLASS="highlight"> Mitch CLASS="highlight"> Keller, CLASS="highlight"> making CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> Major CLASS="highlight"> League CLASS="highlight"> debut CLASS="highlight"> as CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> spot CLASS="highlight"> starter CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> this CLASS="highlight"> twin CLASS="highlight"> bill CLASS="highlight"> at CLASS="highlight"> Great CLASS="highlight"> American CLASS="highlight"> Ball CLASS="highlight"> Park, CLASS="highlight"> pitched CLASS="highlight"> well CLASS="highlight"> after CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> mostly CLASS="highlight"> disastrous CLASS="highlight"> opening CLASS="highlight"> inning.
“The CLASS="highlight"> entire CLASS="highlight"> volume CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> work, CLASS="highlight"> I CLASS="highlight"> saw CLASS="highlight"> improvement,” CLASS="highlight"> manager CLASS="highlight"> Clint CLASS="highlight"> Hurdle CLASS="highlight"> said. CLASS="highlight"> “He CLASS="highlight"> got CLASS="highlight"> punched CLASS="highlight"> hard CLASS="highlight"> early. CLASS="highlight"> And CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> hole CLASS="highlight"> was CLASS="highlight"> awful CLASS="highlight"> deep CLASS="highlight"> that CLASS="highlight"> was CLASS="highlight"> dug. CLASS="highlight"> From CLASS="highlight"> that CLASS="highlight"> point CLASS="highlight"> on, CLASS="highlight"> everything CLASS="highlight"> got CLASS="highlight"> better. CLASS="highlight"> The CLASS="highlight"> fastball CLASS="highlight"> was CLASS="highlight"> up, CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> breaking CLASS="highlight"> ball CLASS="highlight"> was CLASS="highlight"> up, CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> changeup CLASS="highlight"> was CLASS="highlight"> up. CLASS="highlight"> They CLASS="highlight"> hit CLASS="highlight"> it CLASS="highlight"> hard. CLASS="highlight"> After CLASS="highlight"> that, CLASS="highlight"> he CLASS="highlight"> responded CLASS="highlight"> well.”
The CLASS="highlight"> Pirates CLASS="highlight"> placed CLASS="highlight"> no CLASS="highlight"> inflated CLASS="highlight"> expectations CLASS="highlight"> on CLASS="highlight"> their CLASS="highlight"> prized CLASS="highlight"> pitcher, CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> club’s CLASS="highlight"> No. CLASS="highlight"> 1 CLASS="highlight"> prospect, CLASS="highlight"> according CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> MLB CLASS="highlight"> Pipeline, CLASS="highlight"> when CLASS="highlight"> they CLASS="highlight"> announced CLASS="highlight"> he CLASS="highlight"> would CLASS="highlight"> start CLASS="highlight"> Game CLASS="highlight"> 2. CLASS="highlight"> In CLASS="highlight"> fact, CLASS="highlight"> they CLASS="highlight"> made CLASS="highlight"> it CLASS="highlight"> clear CLASS="highlight"> ahead CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> time CLASS="highlight"> this CLASS="highlight"> was CLASS="highlight"> probably CLASS="highlight"> too CLASS="highlight"> early CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> Keller’s CLASS="highlight"> development CLASS="highlight"> for CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> promotion, CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> this CLASS="highlight"> was CLASS="highlight"> happening CLASS="highlight"> only CLASS="highlight"> out CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> necessity—their CLASS="highlight"> rotation CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> bullpen CLASS="highlight"> have CLASS="highlight"> been CLASS="highlight"> severely CLASS="highlight"> affected CLASS="highlight"> by CLASS="highlight"> injury CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> inconsistency, CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> they CLASS="highlight"> needed CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> dip CLASS="highlight"> into CLASS="highlight"> their CLASS="highlight"> system CLASS="highlight"> for CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> starter CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> help CLASS="highlight"> out CLASS="highlight"> during CLASS="highlight"> what CLASS="highlight"> was CLASS="highlight"> surely CLASS="highlight"> going CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> be CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> very CLASS="highlight"> long CLASS="highlight"> day CLASS="highlight"> at CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> ballpark.
And CLASS="highlight"> at CLASS="highlight"> first, CLASS="highlight"> it CLASS="highlight"> looked CLASS="highlight"> as CLASS="highlight"> if CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> may CLASS="highlight"> not CLASS="highlight"> make CLASS="highlight"> it CLASS="highlight"> out CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> that CLASS="highlight"> opening CLASS="highlight"> frame, CLASS="highlight"> which CLASS="highlight"> could CLASS="highlight"> have CLASS="highlight"> spelled CLASS="highlight"> disaster CLASS="highlight"> for CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> Pirates. CLASS="highlight"> They CLASS="highlight"> used CLASS="highlight"> four CLASS="highlight"> relievers CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> their CLASS="highlight"> Game CLASS="highlight"> 1 CLASS="highlight"> win, CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> even CLASS="highlight"> with CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> extra CLASS="highlight"> arm CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> 'pen CLASS="highlight"> due CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> 26th CLASS="highlight"> man CLASS="highlight"> rule, CLASS="highlight"> absorbing CLASS="highlight"> seven CLASS="highlight"> or CLASS="highlight"> eight CLASS="highlight"> innings CLASS="highlight"> would CLASS="highlight"> have CLASS="highlight"> been CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> struggle CLASS="highlight"> for CLASS="highlight"> any CLASS="highlight"> team, CLASS="highlight"> doubleheader CLASS="highlight"> or CLASS="highlight"> not.
But CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> settled CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> well, CLASS="highlight"> retiring CLASS="highlight"> eight CLASS="highlight"> batters CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> row CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> allowing CLASS="highlight"> just CLASS="highlight"> one CLASS="highlight"> hit CLASS="highlight"> over CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> final CLASS="highlight"> three CLASS="highlight"> frames.
“I CLASS="highlight"> think CLASS="highlight"> just CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> first CLASS="highlight"> inning, CLASS="highlight"> I CLASS="highlight"> was CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> little CLASS="highlight"> amped CLASS="highlight"> up,” CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> said. CLASS="highlight"> “My CLASS="highlight"> off-speed CLASS="highlight"> pitches CLASS="highlight"> weren't CLASS="highlight"> as CLASS="highlight"> crisp CLASS="highlight"> as CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> second, CLASS="highlight"> third CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> fourth CLASS="highlight"> innings. CLASS="highlight"> I CLASS="highlight"> think CLASS="highlight"> that CLASS="highlight"> was CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> main CLASS="highlight"> thing. CLASS="highlight"> My CLASS="highlight"> fastball CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> first CLASS="highlight"> inning CLASS="highlight"> was CLASS="highlight"> pretty CLASS="highlight"> much CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> way CLASS="highlight"> it CLASS="highlight"> was CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> whole CLASS="highlight"> game.”
Keller, CLASS="highlight"> pitching CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> front CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> nearly CLASS="highlight"> 40 CLASS="highlight"> friends CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> family CLASS="highlight"> who CLASS="highlight"> made CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> trek CLASS="highlight"> from CLASS="highlight"> Iowa CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> watch CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> debut, CLASS="highlight"> faced CLASS="highlight"> 11 CLASS="highlight"> batters CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> first CLASS="highlight"> inning. CLASS="highlight"> He CLASS="highlight"> issued CLASS="highlight"> walks CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> two CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> first CLASS="highlight"> three, CLASS="highlight"> before CLASS="highlight"> logging CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> first CLASS="highlight"> Major CLASS="highlight"> League CLASS="highlight"> out—a CLASS="highlight"> strikeout CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> cleanup CLASS="highlight"> hitter CLASS="highlight"> Derek CLASS="highlight"> Dietrich. CLASS="highlight"> The CLASS="highlight"> dagger CLASS="highlight"> arrived CLASS="highlight"> two CLASS="highlight"> batters CLASS="highlight"> later, CLASS="highlight"> when CLASS="highlight"> Jose CLASS="highlight"> Iglesias CLASS="highlight"> launched CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> grand CLASS="highlight"> slam, CLASS="highlight"> putting CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> Reds CLASS="highlight"> ahead, CLASS="highlight"> 5-0.
“Changeup,” CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> said CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> pitch CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> Iglesias. CLASS="highlight"> “Just CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> bad CLASS="highlight"> changeup.”
But CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> needed CLASS="highlight"> just CLASS="highlight"> 12 CLASS="highlight"> pitches CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> retire CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> side CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> second, CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> he CLASS="highlight"> ended CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> 85-pitch CLASS="highlight"> outing CLASS="highlight"> with CLASS="highlight"> seven CLASS="highlight"> strikeouts.
The CLASS="highlight"> performance CLASS="highlight"> impressed CLASS="highlight"> at CLASS="highlight"> least CLASS="highlight"> one CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> hitters CLASS="highlight"> he CLASS="highlight"> faced.
“He’s CLASS="highlight"> good. CLASS="highlight"> He’s CLASS="highlight"> got CLASS="highlight"> good CLASS="highlight"> stuff,” CLASS="highlight"> Dietrich CLASS="highlight"> said. CLASS="highlight"> “There’s CLASS="highlight"> no CLASS="highlight"> doubt CLASS="highlight"> about CLASS="highlight"> it. CLASS="highlight"> You CLASS="highlight"> saw CLASS="highlight"> some CLASS="highlight"> flashes. CLASS="highlight"> I CLASS="highlight"> didn’t CLASS="highlight"> see CLASS="highlight"> him CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> first CLASS="highlight"> at-bat CLASS="highlight"> very CLASS="highlight"> well. CLASS="highlight"> The CLASS="highlight"> second CLASS="highlight"> at-bat, CLASS="highlight"> I CLASS="highlight"> was CLASS="highlight"> like CLASS="highlight"> ‘one, CLASS="highlight"> two, CLASS="highlight"> three CLASS="highlight"> [snaps CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> fingers]’ CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> he CLASS="highlight"> just CLASS="highlight"> dotted CLASS="highlight"> three CLASS="highlight"> different CLASS="highlight"> pitches.
“He CLASS="highlight"> showed CLASS="highlight"> flashes CLASS="highlight"> like CLASS="highlight"> he’s CLASS="highlight"> got CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> stuff. CLASS="highlight"> Once CLASS="highlight"> he CLASS="highlight"> settles CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> finds CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> routine CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> everything CLASS="highlight"> falls CLASS="highlight"> into CLASS="highlight"> place, CLASS="highlight"> he’ll CLASS="highlight"> probably CLASS="highlight"> be CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> top-of-the-line CLASS="highlight"> starter CLASS="highlight"> for CLASS="highlight"> them. CLASS="highlight"> Tough CLASS="highlight"> first CLASS="highlight"> go CLASS="highlight"> for CLASS="highlight"> him, CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> course. CLASS="highlight"> At CLASS="highlight"> least CLASS="highlight"> he CLASS="highlight"> got CLASS="highlight"> me CLASS="highlight"> with CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> first CLASS="highlight"> K, CLASS="highlight"> which CLASS="highlight"> sucks CLASS="highlight"> for CLASS="highlight"> me CLASS="highlight"> but CLASS="highlight"> for CLASS="highlight"> him, CLASS="highlight"> it’s CLASS="highlight"> all CLASS="highlight"> good.”
Keller CLASS="highlight"> threw CLASS="highlight"> north CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> 40 CLASS="highlight"> pitches CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> that CLASS="highlight"> opening CLASS="highlight"> frame, CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> had CLASS="highlight"> he CLASS="highlight"> not CLASS="highlight"> struck CLASS="highlight"> out CLASS="highlight"> Jesse CLASS="highlight"> Winker CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> end CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> rally, CLASS="highlight"> he CLASS="highlight"> probably CLASS="highlight"> would CLASS="highlight"> not CLASS="highlight"> have CLASS="highlight"> been CLASS="highlight"> given CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> chance CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> go CLASS="highlight"> out CLASS="highlight"> for CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> second.
Instead, CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> stayed CLASS="highlight"> in, CLASS="highlight"> which CLASS="highlight"> shaved CLASS="highlight"> several CLASS="highlight"> innings CLASS="highlight"> off CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> bullpen’s CLASS="highlight"> workload.
“The CLASS="highlight"> man's CLASS="highlight"> got CLASS="highlight"> an CLASS="highlight"> arm CLASS="highlight"> that CLASS="highlight"> you’ve CLASS="highlight"> got CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> take CLASS="highlight"> care CLASS="highlight"> of,” CLASS="highlight"> Hurdle CLASS="highlight"> said. CLASS="highlight"> “Winker’s CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> last CLASS="highlight"> hitter. CLASS="highlight"> If CLASS="highlight"> he CLASS="highlight"> doesn't CLASS="highlight"> get CLASS="highlight"> that CLASS="highlight"> guy CLASS="highlight"> out, CLASS="highlight"> he's CLASS="highlight"> out CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> game, CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> we CLASS="highlight"> have CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> make CLASS="highlight"> up CLASS="highlight"> seven CLASS="highlight"> innings. CLASS="highlight"> We've CLASS="highlight"> got CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> find CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> way CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> patch CLASS="highlight"> that CLASS="highlight"> together, CLASS="highlight"> which CLASS="highlight"> we CLASS="highlight"> would CLASS="highlight"> have CLASS="highlight"> done. CLASS="highlight"> He CLASS="highlight"> got CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> man CLASS="highlight"> out CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> moved CLASS="highlight"> on. CLASS="highlight"> There CLASS="highlight"> was CLASS="highlight"> resilience, CLASS="highlight"> there CLASS="highlight"> was CLASS="highlight"> fight CLASS="highlight"> back.”
- June CLASS="highlight"> 7, CLASS="highlight"> 2019: CLASS="highlight"> The CLASS="highlight"> Pirates CLASS="highlight"> No. CLASS="highlight"> 1 CLASS="highlight"> prospect CLASS="highlight"> Mitch CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> had CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> night CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> remember, CLASS="highlight"> when CLASS="highlight"> each CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> first CLASS="highlight"> 12 CLASS="highlight"> outs CLASS="highlight"> he CLASS="highlight"> recorded CLASS="highlight"> for CLASS="highlight"> Triple-A CLASS="highlight"> Indianapolis CLASS="highlight"> against CLASS="highlight"> Toledo CLASS="highlight"> came CLASS="highlight"> via CLASS="highlight"> strikeout.
The CLASS="highlight"> No. CLASS="highlight"> 18 CLASS="highlight"> overall CLASS="highlight"> prospect CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> baseball, CLASS="highlight"> according CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> MLB CLASS="highlight"> Pipeline, CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> finished CLASS="highlight"> with CLASS="highlight"> 13 CLASS="highlight"> strikeouts CLASS="highlight"> over CLASS="highlight"> five CLASS="highlight"> innings. CLASS="highlight"> The CLASS="highlight"> 23-year-old CLASS="highlight"> yielded CLASS="highlight"> one CLASS="highlight"> hit CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> walked CLASS="highlight"> three, CLASS="highlight"> lowering CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> season CLASS="highlight"> ERA CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> 3.10 CLASS="highlight"> over CLASS="highlight"> 11 CLASS="highlight"> starts.
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Aug CLASS="highlight"> 12, CLASS="highlight"> 2019: CLASS="highlight"> In CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> first CLASS="highlight"> start CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> second CLASS="highlight"> Major CLASS="highlight"> League CLASS="highlight"> stint, CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> allowed CLASS="highlight"> two CLASS="highlight"> runs CLASS="highlight"> (one CLASS="highlight"> earned) CLASS="highlight"> over CLASS="highlight"> five CLASS="highlight"> innings CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> was CLASS="highlight"> backed CLASS="highlight"> by CLASS="highlight"> four CLASS="highlight"> home CLASS="highlight"> runs CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> 10-2, CLASS="highlight"> skid-ending CLASS="highlight"> victory. CLASS="highlight"> Pittsburgh’s CLASS="highlight"> top CLASS="highlight"> prospect CLASS="highlight"> gave CLASS="highlight"> up CLASS="highlight"> five CLASS="highlight"> hits, CLASS="highlight"> two CLASS="highlight"> walks CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> hit CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> batter CLASS="highlight"> while CLASS="highlight"> striking CLASS="highlight"> out CLASS="highlight"> four.
“It’s CLASS="highlight"> incredible,” CLASS="highlight"> said CLASS="highlight"> Keller. CLASS="highlight"> “Growing CLASS="highlight"> up, CLASS="highlight"> I CLASS="highlight"> would CLASS="highlight"> never CLASS="highlight"> picture CLASS="highlight"> being CLASS="highlight"> here, CLASS="highlight"> where CLASS="highlight"> I’m CLASS="highlight"> at CLASS="highlight"> right CLASS="highlight"> now. CLASS="highlight"> It CLASS="highlight"> feels CLASS="highlight"> good CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> get CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> first CLASS="highlight"> [win] CLASS="highlight"> out CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> way. CLASS="highlight"> Hopefully, CLASS="highlight"> many CLASS="highlight"> more CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> come, CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> with CLASS="highlight"> this CLASS="highlight"> team, CLASS="highlight"> hopefully CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> lot CLASS="highlight"> more CLASS="highlight"> success.”
“I CLASS="highlight"> don’t CLASS="highlight"> know CLASS="highlight"> if CLASS="highlight"> I CLASS="highlight"> felt CLASS="highlight"> really CLASS="highlight"> anything CLASS="highlight"> different. CLASS="highlight"> It CLASS="highlight"> was CLASS="highlight"> just CLASS="highlight"> kind CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> confidence CLASS="highlight"> thing,” CLASS="highlight"> said CLASS="highlight"> Keller. CLASS="highlight"> “I CLASS="highlight"> know CLASS="highlight"> I CLASS="highlight"> belong CLASS="highlight"> here, CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> I CLASS="highlight"> know CLASS="highlight"> I CLASS="highlight"> can CLASS="highlight"> do CLASS="highlight"> it. CLASS="highlight"> It’s CLASS="highlight"> just CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> mindset CLASS="highlight"> of, CLASS="highlight"> ‘Here’s CLASS="highlight"> my CLASS="highlight"> best CLASS="highlight"> stuff. CLASS="highlight"> Try CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> hit CLASS="highlight"> it.’”
It CLASS="highlight"> helped CLASS="highlight"> that CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> had CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> lead CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> work CLASS="highlight"> with CLASS="highlight"> before CLASS="highlight"> even CLASS="highlight"> setting CLASS="highlight"> foot CLASS="highlight"> on CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> mound, CLASS="highlight"> with CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> teammates CLASS="highlight"> taking CLASS="highlight"> advantage CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> some CLASS="highlight"> sloppy CLASS="highlight"> Angels CLASS="highlight"> defense CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> put CLASS="highlight"> up CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> three-spot CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> top CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> first. CLASS="highlight"> It CLASS="highlight"> turned CLASS="highlight"> out CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> be CLASS="highlight"> all CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> would CLASS="highlight"> need.
“Whenever CLASS="highlight"> we’re CLASS="highlight"> scoring CLASS="highlight"> runs CLASS="highlight"> is CLASS="highlight"> awesome CLASS="highlight"> as CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> starting CLASS="highlight"> pitcher, CLASS="highlight"> for CLASS="highlight"> sure,” CLASS="highlight"> said CLASS="highlight"> Keller. CLASS="highlight"> “Going CLASS="highlight"> out CLASS="highlight"> there CLASS="highlight"> with CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> three-run CLASS="highlight"> lead CLASS="highlight"> right CLASS="highlight"> off CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> bat CLASS="highlight"> there. CLASS="highlight"> It CLASS="highlight"> doesn’t CLASS="highlight"> change CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> way CLASS="highlight"> I CLASS="highlight"> was CLASS="highlight"> pitching. CLASS="highlight"> I CLASS="highlight"> would’ve CLASS="highlight"> pitched CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> same CLASS="highlight"> way CLASS="highlight"> if CLASS="highlight"> it CLASS="highlight"> was CLASS="highlight"> 0-0 CLASS="highlight"> going CLASS="highlight"> out CLASS="highlight"> there. CLASS="highlight"> But, CLASS="highlight"> yeah, CLASS="highlight"> it’s CLASS="highlight"> definitely CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> good CLASS="highlight"> feeling, CLASS="highlight"> all CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> time.” CLASS="highlight"> (S CLASS="highlight"> Wexler CLASS="highlight"> - CLASS="highlight"> MLB.com CLASS="highlight"> - CLASS="highlight"> Aug CLASS="highlight"> 13, CLASS="highlight"> 2019)
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August CLASS="highlight"> 27, CLASS="highlight"> 2019: CLASS="highlight"> The CLASS="highlight"> honor CLASS="highlight"> was CLASS="highlight"> neat CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> recognition CLASS="highlight"> was CLASS="highlight"> appreciated, CLASS="highlight"> but CLASS="highlight"> Mitch CLASS="highlight"> had CLASS="highlight"> bigger CLASS="highlight"> goals CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> mind CLASS="highlight"> after CLASS="highlight"> being CLASS="highlight"> named CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> International CLASS="highlight"> League’s CLASS="highlight"> Most CLASS="highlight"> Valuable CLASS="highlight"> Pitcher.
“It’s CLASS="highlight"> really CLASS="highlight"> cool. CLASS="highlight"> Hopefully CLASS="highlight"> I’ll CLASS="highlight"> get CLASS="highlight"> that CLASS="highlight"> award CLASS="highlight"> up CLASS="highlight"> here CLASS="highlight"> someday,” CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> said. CLASS="highlight"> “It’s CLASS="highlight"> cool CLASS="highlight"> just CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> be CLASS="highlight"> recognized CLASS="highlight"> for CLASS="highlight"> all CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> hard CLASS="highlight"> work CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> everything CLASS="highlight"> I’ve CLASS="highlight"> done CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> get CLASS="highlight"> myself CLASS="highlight"> here. CLASS="highlight"> It’s CLASS="highlight"> awesome.”
Keller CLASS="highlight"> led CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> Triple-A CLASS="highlight"> International CLASS="highlight"> League CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> ERA CLASS="highlight"> (3.56) CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> strikeouts CLASS="highlight"> (123) CLASS="highlight"> when CLASS="highlight"> he CLASS="highlight"> was CLASS="highlight"> promoted CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> Pirates’ CLASS="highlight"> rotation CLASS="highlight"> on CLASS="highlight"> Aug. CLASS="highlight"> 12. CLASS="highlight"> Overall, CLASS="highlight"> he CLASS="highlight"> went CLASS="highlight"> 7-5 CLASS="highlight"> for CLASS="highlight"> Indianapolis, CLASS="highlight"> while CLASS="highlight"> posting CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> 1.24 CLASS="highlight"> WHIP CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> holding CLASS="highlight"> opponents CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> .243 CLASS="highlight"> batting CLASS="highlight"> average CLASS="highlight"> over CLASS="highlight"> 19 CLASS="highlight"> starts.
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Keller CLASS="highlight"> on CLASS="highlight"> how CLASS="highlight"> he CLASS="highlight"> developed CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> slider: “When CLASS="highlight"> Joe CLASS="highlight"> Musgrove CLASS="highlight"> came CLASS="highlight"> down CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> Double-A CLASS="highlight"> last CLASS="highlight"> year CLASS="highlight"> [on CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> rehab CLASS="highlight"> assignment], CLASS="highlight"> he CLASS="highlight"> kind CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> bounced CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> cutter-slider CLASS="highlight"> idea CLASS="highlight"> off CLASS="highlight"> me. CLASS="highlight"> Before CLASS="highlight"> that, CLASS="highlight"> I’d CLASS="highlight"> never CLASS="highlight"> even CLASS="highlight"> thought CLASS="highlight"> about CLASS="highlight"> throwing CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> slider. CLASS="highlight"> We CLASS="highlight"> were CLASS="highlight"> playing CLASS="highlight"> catch. CLASS="highlight"> Me CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> him CLASS="highlight"> were CLASS="highlight"> throwing CLASS="highlight"> partners CLASS="highlight"> that CLASS="highlight"> day, CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> he CLASS="highlight"> was CLASS="highlight"> throwing CLASS="highlight"> one. CLASS="highlight"> I CLASS="highlight"> was CLASS="highlight"> like, CLASS="highlight"> ‘Dang, CLASS="highlight"> that’s CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> pretty CLASS="highlight"> good CLASS="highlight"> pitch; CLASS="highlight"> I CLASS="highlight"> want CLASS="highlight"> something CLASS="highlight"> like CLASS="highlight"> that.’
After CLASS="highlight"> we CLASS="highlight"> were CLASS="highlight"> done, CLASS="highlight"> I CLASS="highlight"> talked CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> him CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> got CLASS="highlight"> an CLASS="highlight"> idea. CLASS="highlight"> So, CLASS="highlight"> last CLASS="highlight"> off-season, CLASS="highlight"> I CLASS="highlight"> started CLASS="highlight"> trying CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> throw CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> cutter. CLASS="highlight"> I CLASS="highlight"> worked CLASS="highlight"> on CLASS="highlight"> it CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> spring CLASS="highlight"> training, CLASS="highlight"> but CLASS="highlight"> I CLASS="highlight"> didn’t CLASS="highlight"> really CLASS="highlight"> have CLASS="highlight"> one CLASS="highlight"> when CLASS="highlight"> I CLASS="highlight"> got CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> [Triple-A] CLASS="highlight"> Indianapolis. CLASS="highlight"> But CLASS="highlight"> I CLASS="highlight"> talked CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> Alex CLASS="highlight"> McRae CLASS="highlight"> about CLASS="highlight"> it CLASS="highlight"> — CLASS="highlight"> he’s CLASS="highlight"> got CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> really CLASS="highlight"> good CLASS="highlight"> cutter-slider CLASS="highlight"> type CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> pitch CLASS="highlight"> — CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> I CLASS="highlight"> kind CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> learned CLASS="highlight"> it CLASS="highlight"> from CLASS="highlight"> him, CLASS="highlight"> honestly. CLASS="highlight"> I CLASS="highlight"> probably CLASS="highlight"> started CLASS="highlight"> throwing CLASS="highlight"> one CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> my CLASS="highlight"> second CLASS="highlight"> or CLASS="highlight"> third CLASS="highlight"> start, CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> Indy. CLASS="highlight"> I’ve CLASS="highlight"> been CLASS="highlight"> using CLASS="highlight"> it CLASS="highlight"> ever CLASS="highlight"> since, CLASS="highlight"> although CLASS="highlight"> it’s CLASS="highlight"> definitely CLASS="highlight"> changed. CLASS="highlight"> It’s CLASS="highlight"> not CLASS="highlight"> even CLASS="highlight"> close CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> what CLASS="highlight"> it CLASS="highlight"> was CLASS="highlight"> at CLASS="highlight"> first. CLASS="highlight"> At CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> beginning CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> year CLASS="highlight"> it CLASS="highlight"> was CLASS="highlight"> kind CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> like CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> cutter CLASS="highlight"> — CLASS="highlight"> it CLASS="highlight"> didn’t CLASS="highlight"> really CLASS="highlight"> have CLASS="highlight"> much CLASS="highlight"> depth CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> it CLASS="highlight"> — CLASS="highlight"> but CLASS="highlight"> then CLASS="highlight"> I CLASS="highlight"> started CLASS="highlight"> trying CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> use CLASS="highlight"> it CLASS="highlight"> more CLASS="highlight"> like CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> wipeout CLASS="highlight"> slider.
“I CLASS="highlight"> don’t CLASS="highlight"> know CLASS="highlight"> if CLASS="highlight"> I CLASS="highlight"> can CLASS="highlight"> really CLASS="highlight"> explain CLASS="highlight"> how. CLASS="highlight"> It’s CLASS="highlight"> kind CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> feel CLASS="highlight"> thing. CLASS="highlight"> There’s CLASS="highlight"> kind CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> mental CLASS="highlight"> cue CLASS="highlight"> that CLASS="highlight"> I CLASS="highlight"> have, CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> get CLASS="highlight"> out CLASS="highlight"> front CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> rip CLASS="highlight"> it CLASS="highlight"> down. CLASS="highlight"> I CLASS="highlight"> guess CLASS="highlight"> that’s CLASS="highlight"> what CLASS="highlight"> goes CLASS="highlight"> through CLASS="highlight"> my CLASS="highlight"> mind CLASS="highlight"> when CLASS="highlight"> I CLASS="highlight"> think CLASS="highlight"> about CLASS="highlight"> throwing CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> really CLASS="highlight"> good CLASS="highlight"> one. CLASS="highlight"> So CLASS="highlight"> I CLASS="highlight"> still CLASS="highlight"> throw CLASS="highlight"> it CLASS="highlight"> hard CLASS="highlight"> [87-92 CLASS="highlight"> mph], CLASS="highlight"> but CLASS="highlight"> it’s CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> slider. CLASS="highlight"> In CLASS="highlight"> my CLASS="highlight"> mind, CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> cut CLASS="highlight"> fastball CLASS="highlight"> has CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> subtle CLASS="highlight"> kind CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> cut CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> it, CLASS="highlight"> while CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> slider CLASS="highlight"> has CLASS="highlight"> more CLASS="highlight"> depth. CLASS="highlight"> That’s CLASS="highlight"> how CLASS="highlight"> I CLASS="highlight"> use CLASS="highlight"> it, CLASS="highlight"> as CLASS="highlight"> more CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> depth CLASS="highlight"> pitch.
“Developing CLASS="highlight"> it CLASS="highlight"> has CLASS="highlight"> been CLASS="highlight"> kind CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> trial CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> error. CLASS="highlight"> I CLASS="highlight"> bounced CLASS="highlight"> grips CLASS="highlight"> off CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> guys, CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> I’m CLASS="highlight"> kind CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> still CLASS="highlight"> working CLASS="highlight"> on CLASS="highlight"> grips, CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> be CLASS="highlight"> honest. CLASS="highlight"> Maybe CLASS="highlight"> something CLASS="highlight"> here CLASS="highlight"> or CLASS="highlight"> there CLASS="highlight"> will CLASS="highlight"> help CLASS="highlight"> out CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> little CLASS="highlight"> bit, CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> it CLASS="highlight"> will CLASS="highlight"> become CLASS="highlight"> more CLASS="highlight"> consistent. CLASS="highlight"> I CLASS="highlight"> have CLASS="highlight"> thrown CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> front CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> Rapsodo CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> an CLASS="highlight"> Edgertronic. CLASS="highlight"> I CLASS="highlight"> used CLASS="highlight"> one CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> off-season, CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> we CLASS="highlight"> have CLASS="highlight"> one CLASS="highlight"> here, CLASS="highlight"> too. CLASS="highlight"> It’s CLASS="highlight"> been CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> big CLASS="highlight"> help CLASS="highlight"> for CLASS="highlight"> me. CLASS="highlight"> I CLASS="highlight"> like CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> visual CLASS="highlight"> picture CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> what CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> ball CLASS="highlight"> is CLASS="highlight"> doing, CLASS="highlight"> what CLASS="highlight"> it CLASS="highlight"> puts CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> my CLASS="highlight"> brain. CLASS="highlight"> I’m CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> visual CLASS="highlight"> learner.” CLASS="highlight"> (David CLASS="highlight"> Laurila CLASS="highlight"> - CLASS="highlight"> Fangraphs CLASS="highlight"> - CLASS="highlight"> November CLASS="highlight"> 5, CLASS="highlight"> 2019)
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In CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> 2019 CLASS="highlight"> rookie CLASS="highlight"> season, CLASS="highlight"> Mitch CLASS="highlight"> had CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> 7.13 CLASS="highlight"> ERA CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> go CLASS="highlight"> with CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> 3.19 CLASS="highlight"> FIP. CLASS="highlight"> But CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> 2020, CLASS="highlight"> he CLASS="highlight"> had CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> 2.91 CLASS="highlight"> ERA CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> go CLASS="highlight"> with CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> 6.75 CLASS="highlight"> FIP.
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2019 CLASS="highlight"> Season CLASS="highlight"> Pitch CLASS="highlight"> Usage: CLASS="highlight"> 4-seam CLASS="highlight"> Fastball CLASS="highlight"> 59.5% CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> time, CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> Change CLASS="highlight"> 3.7%; CLASS="highlight"> Slider CLASS="highlight"> 20.9%; CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> Curveball CLASS="highlight"> 15.9% CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> time. CLASS="highlight"> Average CLASS="highlight"> velocity: CLASS="highlight"> 4-seam CLASS="highlight"> 95.5 CLASS="highlight"> mph, CLASS="highlight"> Change CLASS="highlight"> 91.2, CLASS="highlight"> Slider CLASS="highlight"> 87.8, CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> Curve CLASS="highlight"> 81.2 CLASS="highlight"> mph.
- 2020 CLASS="highlight"> Season CLASS="highlight"> Pitch CLASS="highlight"> Usage: CLASS="highlight"> 4-seam CLASS="highlight"> Fastball CLASS="highlight"> 55.9% CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> time, CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> Change CLASS="highlight"> 3.1%; CLASS="highlight"> Slider CLASS="highlight"> 21.7%; CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> Curveball CLASS="highlight"> 19.3% CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> time. CLASS="highlight"> Average CLASS="highlight"> velocity: CLASS="highlight"> 4-seam CLASS="highlight"> 94.3 CLASS="highlight"> mph, CLASS="highlight"> Change CLASS="highlight"> 89.1, CLASS="highlight"> Slider CLASS="highlight"> 87.3, CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> Curve CLASS="highlight"> 78.5 CLASS="highlight"> mph.
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Keller CLASS="highlight"> has CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> 93-99 CLASS="highlight"> mph CLASS="highlight"> FASTBALL CLASS="highlight"> with CLASS="highlight"> excellent CLASS="highlight"> late-sinking, CLASS="highlight"> generating CLASS="highlight"> weak CLASS="highlight"> contact CLASS="highlight"> or CLASS="highlight"> for CLASS="highlight"> swinging CLASS="highlight"> strikes. CLASS="highlight"> Mitch CLASS="highlight"> also CLASS="highlight"> has CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> big CLASS="highlight"> 12-to-6 CLASS="highlight"> CURVEBALL CLASS="highlight"> with CLASS="highlight"> hard, CLASS="highlight"> downer CLASS="highlight"> bite CLASS="highlight"> that CLASS="highlight"> he CLASS="highlight"> can CLASS="highlight"> vary CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> speed CLASS="highlight"> of. CLASS="highlight"> He CLASS="highlight"> added CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> SLIDER CLASS="highlight"> early CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> 2019 CLASS="highlight"> because CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> issues CLASS="highlight"> with CLASS="highlight"> Keller’s CLASS="highlight"> changeup, CLASS="highlight"> which CLASS="highlight"> flashes CLASS="highlight"> average CLASS="highlight"> potential CLASS="highlight"> with CLASS="highlight"> fade, CLASS="highlight"> but CLASS="highlight"> has CLASS="highlight"> largely CLASS="highlight"> been CLASS="highlight"> inconsistent CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> ineffective. CLASS="highlight"> And CLASS="highlight"> he CLASS="highlight"> has CLASS="highlight"> some CLASS="highlight"> feel CLASS="highlight"> for CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> 88-91 CLASS="highlight"> mph CLASS="highlight"> CHANGEUP CLASS="highlight"> that CLASS="highlight"> he CLASS="highlight"> can CLASS="highlight"> locate CLASS="highlight"> well.
Even CLASS="highlight"> when CLASS="highlight"> he CLASS="highlight"> was CLASS="highlight"> struggling, CLASS="highlight"> Keller's CLASS="highlight"> pure CLASS="highlight"> stuff CLASS="highlight"> was CLASS="highlight"> plenty CLASS="highlight"> good CLASS="highlight"> enough. CLASS="highlight"> He'll CLASS="highlight"> throw CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> heater CLASS="highlight"> with CLASS="highlight"> good CLASS="highlight"> heavy CLASS="highlight"> sink CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> get CLASS="highlight"> ground-ball CLASS="highlight"> outs CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> he'll CLASS="highlight"> also CLASS="highlight"> miss CLASS="highlight"> bats CLASS="highlight"> with CLASS="highlight"> it. CLASS="highlight"> His CLASS="highlight"> 11-to-5 CLASS="highlight"> power CLASS="highlight"> curve CLASS="highlight"> is CLASS="highlight"> another CLASS="highlight"> out CLASS="highlight"> pitch CLASS="highlight"> for CLASS="highlight"> him, CLASS="highlight"> but CLASS="highlight"> he CLASS="highlight"> actually CLASS="highlight"> threw CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> newer CLASS="highlight"> slider CLASS="highlight"> more CLASS="highlight"> once CLASS="highlight"> he CLASS="highlight"> was CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> big CLASS="highlight"> leagues CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> it CLASS="highlight"> became CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> good CLASS="highlight"> weapon CLASS="highlight"> for CLASS="highlight"> him, CLASS="highlight"> especially CLASS="highlight"> at CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> end CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> 2019 CLASS="highlight"> season. CLASS="highlight"> He CLASS="highlight"> will CLASS="highlight"> need CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> throw CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> changeup CLASS="highlight"> more CLASS="highlight"> as CLASS="highlight"> he CLASS="highlight"> establishes CLASS="highlight"> himself, CLASS="highlight"> but CLASS="highlight"> it's CLASS="highlight"> an CLASS="highlight"> average CLASS="highlight"> off-speed CLASS="highlight"> pitch.
Keller CLASS="highlight"> has CLASS="highlight"> struggled CLASS="highlight"> with CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> command CLASS="highlight"> over CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> last CLASS="highlight"> couple CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> seasons, CLASS="highlight"> both CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> terms CLASS="highlight"> getting CLASS="highlight"> too CLASS="highlight"> much CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> strike CLASS="highlight"> zone CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> an CLASS="highlight"> increased CLASS="highlight"> walk CLASS="highlight"> rate, CLASS="highlight"> though CLASS="highlight"> that CLASS="highlight"> was CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> bit CLASS="highlight"> better CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> 2019 CLASS="highlight"> overall. CLASS="highlight"> At CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> end CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> year, CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> quality CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> strikes CLASS="highlight"> was CLASS="highlight"> much CLASS="highlight"> better, CLASS="highlight"> as CLASS="highlight"> was CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> overall CLASS="highlight"> execution CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> pitches, CLASS="highlight"> something CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> Pirates CLASS="highlight"> are CLASS="highlight"> confident CLASS="highlight"> will CLASS="highlight"> carry CLASS="highlight"> over CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> 2020. CLASS="highlight"> (Spring CLASS="highlight"> 2020)
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Mitch's CLASS="highlight"> Fastball CLASS="highlight"> is CLASS="highlight"> 70 CLASS="highlight"> grade. CLASS="highlight"> His CLASS="highlight"> Curve CLASS="highlight"> gets CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> 60, CLASS="highlight"> as CLASS="highlight"> does CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> Slider. CLASS="highlight"> He CLASS="highlight"> has CLASS="highlight"> only CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> 45 CLASS="highlight"> on CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> Changeup. CLASS="highlight"> But CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> Controls CLASS="highlight"> is CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> 60.
Mitch CLASS="highlight"> has CLASS="highlight"> big CLASS="highlight"> stuff CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> throws CLASS="highlight"> strikes, CLASS="highlight"> but CLASS="highlight"> he CLASS="highlight"> often CLASS="highlight"> gets CLASS="highlight"> too CLASS="highlight"> much CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> plate CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> struggles CLASS="highlight"> with CLASS="highlight"> sequencing. CLASS="highlight"> (Tim CLASS="highlight"> Williams CLASS="highlight"> - CLASS="highlight"> BA CLASS="highlight"> Prospect CLASS="highlight"> Handbook CLASS="highlight"> - CLASS="highlight"> Spring CLASS="highlight"> 2020)
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In CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> minors, CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> recorded CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> 3.12 CLASS="highlight"> ERA CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> 1.16 CLASS="highlight"> WHIP CLASS="highlight"> with CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> 3.33 CLASS="highlight"> strikeout-to-walk CLASS="highlight"> ratio CLASS="highlight"> from CLASS="highlight"> 2014-2019. CLASS="highlight"> And CLASS="highlight"> he CLASS="highlight"> did CLASS="highlight"> so CLASS="highlight"> convincingly CLASS="highlight"> enough CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> consistently CLASS="highlight"> register CLASS="highlight"> as CLASS="highlight"> one CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> Top CLASS="highlight"> 50 CLASS="highlight"> prospects CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> baseball CLASS="highlight"> over CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> past CLASS="highlight"> three CLASS="highlight"> years. CLASS="highlight"> Amid CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> struggles CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> Majors, CLASS="highlight"> he CLASS="highlight"> struck CLASS="highlight"> out CLASS="highlight"> 28.6 CLASS="highlight"> percent CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> batters CLASS="highlight"> he CLASS="highlight"> faced CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> walked CLASS="highlight"> only CLASS="highlight"> 7 CLASS="highlight"> percent.
The CLASS="highlight"> 6-foot-2 CLASS="highlight"> righthander CLASS="highlight"> still CLASS="highlight"> has CLASS="highlight"> that CLASS="highlight"> front-of-the-rotation CLASS="highlight"> potential. CLASS="highlight"> And CLASS="highlight"> he CLASS="highlight"> knows CLASS="highlight"> it, CLASS="highlight"> too. CLASS="highlight"> Whenever CLASS="highlight"> baseball CLASS="highlight"> returns, CLASS="highlight"> it's CLASS="highlight"> easy CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> imagine CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> taking CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> massive CLASS="highlight"> step CLASS="highlight"> forward CLASS="highlight"> just CLASS="highlight"> due CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> better CLASS="highlight"> pitch-sequencing CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> anything CLASS="highlight"> less CLASS="highlight"> than CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> catastrophically CLASS="highlight"> bad CLASS="highlight"> batted-ball CLASS="highlight"> luck CLASS="highlight"> he CLASS="highlight"> endured CLASS="highlight"> last CLASS="highlight"> season. CLASS="highlight"> Working CLASS="highlight"> with CLASS="highlight"> pitching CLASS="highlight"> coach CLASS="highlight"> Oscar CLASS="highlight"> Marin CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> bullpen CLASS="highlight"> coach CLASS="highlight"> Justin CLASS="highlight"> Meccage, CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> learned CLASS="highlight"> this CLASS="highlight"> spring CLASS="highlight"> how CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> make CLASS="highlight"> better CLASS="highlight"> use CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> fastball, CLASS="highlight"> slider CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> curveball.
Simply CLASS="highlight"> put, CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> is CLASS="highlight"> much CLASS="highlight"> better CLASS="highlight"> than CLASS="highlight"> 2019's CLASS="highlight"> numbers CLASS="highlight"> would CLASS="highlight"> indicate CLASS="highlight"> (1-5 CLASS="highlight"> record CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> 7.13 CLASS="highlight"> ERA CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> 11 CLASS="highlight"> starts). CLASS="highlight"> As CLASS="highlight"> he CLASS="highlight"> told CLASS="highlight"> MLB.com, CLASS="highlight"> "Ultimately, CLASS="highlight"> one CLASS="highlight"> day CLASS="highlight"> I CLASS="highlight"> want CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> be CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> ace, CLASS="highlight"> so CLASS="highlight"> that's CLASS="highlight"> what CLASS="highlight"> I'm CLASS="highlight"> trying CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> be CLASS="highlight"> right CLASS="highlight"> now." CLASS="highlight"> (Adam CLASS="highlight"> Berry CLASS="highlight"> - CLASS="highlight"> MLB.com CLASS="highlight"> - CLASS="highlight"> April CLASS="highlight"> 2, CLASS="highlight"> 2020)
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2020 CLASS="highlight"> Improvements: CLASS="highlight"> Mitch CLASS="highlight"> referred CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> past CLASS="highlight"> few CLASS="highlight"> months CLASS="highlight"> as CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> “second CLASS="highlight"> off-season” CLASS="highlight"> twice, CLASS="highlight"> but CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> Pirates’ CLASS="highlight"> top CLASS="highlight"> prospect CLASS="highlight"> didn’t CLASS="highlight"> actually CLASS="highlight"> take CLASS="highlight"> much CLASS="highlight"> time CLASS="highlight"> off.
While CLASS="highlight"> baseball CLASS="highlight"> was CLASS="highlight"> shut CLASS="highlight"> down CLASS="highlight"> due CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> coronavirus CLASS="highlight"> pandemic, CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> assigned CLASS="highlight"> himself CLASS="highlight"> two CLASS="highlight"> pitching CLASS="highlight"> projects. CLASS="highlight"> He CLASS="highlight"> wanted CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> improve CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> fastball’s CLASS="highlight"> spin CLASS="highlight"> direction CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> spin CLASS="highlight"> efficiency, CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> he CLASS="highlight"> set CLASS="highlight"> out CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> find CLASS="highlight"> an CLASS="highlight"> effective CLASS="highlight"> changeup. CLASS="highlight"> Armed CLASS="highlight"> with CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> own CLASS="highlight"> Rapsodo CLASS="highlight"> inside CLASS="highlight"> an CLASS="highlight"> empty CLASS="highlight"> facility CLASS="highlight"> near CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> home CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> Iowa, CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> went CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> work.
"That CLASS="highlight"> was CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> main CLASS="highlight"> point CLASS="highlight"> when CLASS="highlight"> going CLASS="highlight"> back CLASS="highlight"> home. CLASS="highlight"> We CLASS="highlight"> don't CLASS="highlight"> want CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> lose CLASS="highlight"> anything CLASS="highlight"> that CLASS="highlight"> we CLASS="highlight"> had CLASS="highlight"> gained, CLASS="highlight"> because CLASS="highlight"> we CLASS="highlight"> made CLASS="highlight"> some CLASS="highlight"> good CLASS="highlight"> strides CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> Spring CLASS="highlight"> Training,” CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> said CLASS="highlight"> on CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> Zoom CLASS="highlight"> call. CLASS="highlight"> “We CLASS="highlight"> didn't CLASS="highlight"> want CLASS="highlight"> this CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> be CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> setback. CLASS="highlight"> We CLASS="highlight"> wanted CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> be CLASS="highlight"> able CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> use CLASS="highlight"> it CLASS="highlight"> as CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> point CLASS="highlight"> where CLASS="highlight"> I CLASS="highlight"> can CLASS="highlight"> go CLASS="highlight"> forward, CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> I CLASS="highlight"> think CLASS="highlight"> I CLASS="highlight"> really CLASS="highlight"> used CLASS="highlight"> this CLASS="highlight"> time CLASS="highlight"> back CLASS="highlight"> home CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> further CLASS="highlight"> my CLASS="highlight"> game.”
Keller CLASS="highlight"> has CLASS="highlight"> worked CLASS="highlight"> with CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> Rapsodo CLASS="highlight"> tracking CLASS="highlight"> technology CLASS="highlight"> before, CLASS="highlight"> but CLASS="highlight"> he CLASS="highlight"> essentially CLASS="highlight"> only CLASS="highlight"> used CLASS="highlight"> it CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> ensure CLASS="highlight"> that CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> pitches CLASS="highlight"> were CLASS="highlight"> moving CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> way CLASS="highlight"> they CLASS="highlight"> had CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> previous CLASS="highlight"> seasons. CLASS="highlight"> But CLASS="highlight"> this CLASS="highlight"> spring, CLASS="highlight"> analytically CLASS="highlight"> minded CLASS="highlight"> pitching CLASS="highlight"> coach CLASS="highlight"> Oscar CLASS="highlight"> Marin CLASS="highlight"> helped CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> understand CLASS="highlight"> what CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> Rapsodo CLASS="highlight"> data CLASS="highlight"> meant CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> how CLASS="highlight"> he CLASS="highlight"> could CLASS="highlight"> alter CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> arsenal CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> change CLASS="highlight"> those CLASS="highlight"> numbers CLASS="highlight"> for CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> better.
"Once CLASS="highlight"> we CLASS="highlight"> left CLASS="highlight"> Spring CLASS="highlight"> Training CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> go CLASS="highlight"> back CLASS="highlight"> home, CLASS="highlight"> I CLASS="highlight"> had CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> plan CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> my CLASS="highlight"> mind CLASS="highlight"> [of] CLASS="highlight"> where CLASS="highlight"> I CLASS="highlight"> want CLASS="highlight"> my CLASS="highlight"> numbers CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> be CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> what CLASS="highlight"> I CLASS="highlight"> need CLASS="highlight"> them CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> look CLASS="highlight"> like CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> be CLASS="highlight"> successful CLASS="highlight"> here,” CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> said.
Keller CLASS="highlight"> focused CLASS="highlight"> on CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> spin CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> fastball, CLASS="highlight"> improving CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> spin CLASS="highlight"> efficiency CLASS="highlight"> from CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> lower CLASS="highlight"> 90th CLASS="highlight"> percentile CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> around CLASS="highlight"> 95 CLASS="highlight"> percent. CLASS="highlight"> He’s CLASS="highlight"> tinkered CLASS="highlight"> with CLASS="highlight"> changeup CLASS="highlight"> grips CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> continues CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> do CLASS="highlight"> so, CLASS="highlight"> looking CLASS="highlight"> for CLASS="highlight"> another CLASS="highlight"> off-speed CLASS="highlight"> pitch CLASS="highlight"> that CLASS="highlight"> will CLASS="highlight"> complement CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> fastball, CLASS="highlight"> slider CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> curveball. CLASS="highlight"> (Adam CLASS="highlight"> Berry CLASS="highlight"> - CLASS="highlight"> July CLASS="highlight"> 6, CLASS="highlight"> 2020)
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Like CLASS="highlight"> so CLASS="highlight"> many CLASS="highlight"> other CLASS="highlight"> Pirates CLASS="highlight"> pitching CLASS="highlight"> prospects, CLASS="highlight"> Mitch CLASS="highlight"> was CLASS="highlight"> instructed CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> Minors CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> pound CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> bottom CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> strike CLASS="highlight"> zone CLASS="highlight"> with CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> fastball CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> produce CLASS="highlight"> ground CLASS="highlight"> balls. CLASS="highlight"> The CLASS="highlight"> new CLASS="highlight"> staff CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> Pittsburgh CLASS="highlight"> has CLASS="highlight"> helped CLASS="highlight"> change CLASS="highlight"> that, CLASS="highlight"> pairing CLASS="highlight"> high CLASS="highlight"> fastballs CLASS="highlight"> with CLASS="highlight"> Keller’s CLASS="highlight"> hard-breaking CLASS="highlight"> slider CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> swing-and-miss CLASS="highlight"> curveball. CLASS="highlight"> (Berry CLASS="highlight"> - CLASS="highlight"> mlb.com CLASS="highlight"> - CLASS="highlight"> 9/19/2020)
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Sept CLASS="highlight"> 25, CLASS="highlight"> 2020: CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> ended CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> season CLASS="highlight"> with CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> hitless CLASS="highlight"> streak CLASS="highlight"> that CLASS="highlight"> evoked CLASS="highlight"> statistical CLASS="highlight"> comparisons CLASS="highlight"> ranging CLASS="highlight"> from CLASS="highlight"> Johnny CLASS="highlight"> Vander CLASS="highlight"> Meer CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> Dock CLASS="highlight"> Ellis CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> Jason CLASS="highlight"> Schmidt.
After CLASS="highlight"> throwing CLASS="highlight"> six CLASS="highlight"> hitless CLASS="highlight"> innings CLASS="highlight"> against CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> Cardinals, CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> didn’t CLASS="highlight"> allow CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> hit CLASS="highlight"> against CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> Indians CLASS="highlight"> over CLASS="highlight"> five CLASS="highlight"> innings CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> Pirates’ CLASS="highlight"> 4-3 CLASS="highlight"> loss CLASS="highlight"> at CLASS="highlight"> Progressive CLASS="highlight"> Field. CLASS="highlight"> According CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> STATS CLASS="highlight"> LLC, CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> became CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> first CLASS="highlight"> National CLASS="highlight"> League CLASS="highlight"> pitcher CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> complete CLASS="highlight"> back-to-back CLASS="highlight"> no-hit CLASS="highlight"> outings CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> at CLASS="highlight"> least CLASS="highlight"> five CLASS="highlight"> innings CLASS="highlight"> each CLASS="highlight"> since CLASS="highlight"> Vander CLASS="highlight"> Meer’s CLASS="highlight"> consecutive CLASS="highlight"> no-hitters CLASS="highlight"> on CLASS="highlight"> June CLASS="highlight"> 11-15, CLASS="highlight"> 1938.
“Obviously CLASS="highlight"> we’d CLASS="highlight"> prefer CLASS="highlight"> more CLASS="highlight"> strikes, CLASS="highlight"> but CLASS="highlight"> I CLASS="highlight"> think CLASS="highlight"> it CLASS="highlight"> just CLASS="highlight"> shows CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> quality CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> stuff,” CLASS="highlight"> Pirates CLASS="highlight"> manager CLASS="highlight"> Derek CLASS="highlight"> Shelton CLASS="highlight"> said. CLASS="highlight"> “The CLASS="highlight"> fact CLASS="highlight"> that CLASS="highlight"> he CLASS="highlight"> ends CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> season CLASS="highlight"> with CLASS="highlight"> 11 CLASS="highlight"> straight CLASS="highlight"> no-hit CLASS="highlight"> innings, CLASS="highlight"> that’s CLASS="highlight"> pretty CLASS="highlight"> damn CLASS="highlight"> good.” CLASS="highlight"> (A CLASS="highlight"> Berry CLASS="highlight"> - CLASS="highlight"> MLB.com CLASS="highlight"> - CLASS="highlight"> Sept CLASS="highlight"> 25, CLASS="highlight"> 2020)
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2020 CLASS="highlight"> Season: CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> entered CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> season CLASS="highlight"> as CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> top CLASS="highlight"> prospect CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> organization, CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> kid CLASS="highlight"> coming CLASS="highlight"> into CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> own CLASS="highlight"> after CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> rocky CLASS="highlight"> rookie CLASS="highlight"> season. CLASS="highlight"> And CLASS="highlight"> he CLASS="highlight"> had CLASS="highlight"> high CLASS="highlight"> expectations, CLASS="highlight"> setting CLASS="highlight"> out CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> become CLASS="highlight"> not CLASS="highlight"> only CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> member CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> Pirates’ CLASS="highlight"> starting CLASS="highlight"> rotation CLASS="highlight"> but CLASS="highlight"> one CLASS="highlight"> who CLASS="highlight"> would CLASS="highlight"> provide CLASS="highlight"> quality CLASS="highlight"> starts CLASS="highlight"> every CLASS="highlight"> five CLASS="highlight"> days.
Instead, CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> finished CLASS="highlight"> with CLASS="highlight"> five CLASS="highlight"> starts. That CLASS="highlight"> several CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> them CLASS="highlight"> were CLASS="highlight"> quality CLASS="highlight"> was CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> strong CLASS="highlight"> sign CLASS="highlight"> for CLASS="highlight"> Keller, CLASS="highlight"> who CLASS="highlight"> spent CLASS="highlight"> six CLASS="highlight"> weeks CLASS="highlight"> on CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> injured CLASS="highlight"> list CLASS="highlight"> with CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> strained CLASS="highlight"> left CLASS="highlight"> oblique. CLASS="highlight"> He CLASS="highlight"> earned CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> victory CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> 5-1 CLASS="highlight"> win CLASS="highlight"> at CLASS="highlight"> St. CLASS="highlight"> Louis CLASS="highlight"> on CLASS="highlight"> July CLASS="highlight"> 26, CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> first CLASS="highlight"> major-league CLASS="highlight"> managerial CLASS="highlight"> win CLASS="highlight"> for CLASS="highlight"> Pirates CLASS="highlight"> skipper CLASS="highlight"> Derek CLASS="highlight"> Shelton.
Keller CLASS="highlight"> didn’t CLASS="highlight"> get CLASS="highlight"> another CLASS="highlight"> win, CLASS="highlight"> despite CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> strong CLASS="highlight"> finish. CLASS="highlight"> He CLASS="highlight"> threw CLASS="highlight"> 11 CLASS="highlight"> consecutive CLASS="highlight"> no-hit CLASS="highlight"> innings CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> finish CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> season, CLASS="highlight"> following CLASS="highlight"> six CLASS="highlight"> scoreless CLASS="highlight"> innings CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> 5-4 CLASS="highlight"> loss CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> Cardinals CLASS="highlight"> on CLASS="highlight"> Sept. CLASS="highlight"> 19 CLASS="highlight"> by CLASS="highlight"> allowing CLASS="highlight"> one CLASS="highlight"> run CLASS="highlight"> (and CLASS="highlight"> eight CLASS="highlight"> walks) CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> five CLASS="highlight"> innings CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> 4-3 CLASS="highlight"> loss CLASS="highlight"> at CLASS="highlight"> Cleveland CLASS="highlight"> on CLASS="highlight"> Sept. CLASS="highlight"> 25.
“The CLASS="highlight"> eight CLASS="highlight"> walks CLASS="highlight"> really CLASS="highlight"> sucks. CLASS="highlight"> I CLASS="highlight"> don’t CLASS="highlight"> remember CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> last CLASS="highlight"> time CLASS="highlight"> I CLASS="highlight"> did CLASS="highlight"> that,” CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> said. CLASS="highlight"> “At CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> end CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> day, CLASS="highlight"> I CLASS="highlight"> kept CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> team CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> it. CLASS="highlight"> I CLASS="highlight"> got CLASS="highlight"> through CLASS="highlight"> five CLASS="highlight"> innings CLASS="highlight"> with CLASS="highlight"> one CLASS="highlight"> run. CLASS="highlight"> That’s CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> big CLASS="highlight"> thing CLASS="highlight"> for CLASS="highlight"> me, CLASS="highlight"> taking CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> positive CLASS="highlight"> out CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> that CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> doing CLASS="highlight"> whatever CLASS="highlight"> I CLASS="highlight"> could CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> make CLASS="highlight"> it CLASS="highlight"> through CLASS="highlight"> at CLASS="highlight"> least CLASS="highlight"> five CLASS="highlight"> for CLASS="highlight"> us.”
Throwing CLASS="highlight"> at CLASS="highlight"> least CLASS="highlight"> five CLASS="highlight"> no-hit CLASS="highlight"> innings CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> successive CLASS="highlight"> starts CLASS="highlight"> is CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> feat CLASS="highlight"> that CLASS="highlight"> had CLASS="highlight"> been CLASS="highlight"> accomplished CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> National CLASS="highlight"> League CLASS="highlight"> only CLASS="highlight"> once CLASS="highlight"> since CLASS="highlight"> 1901, CLASS="highlight"> when CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> Cincinnati CLASS="highlight"> Reds’ CLASS="highlight"> Johnny CLASS="highlight"> Vander CLASS="highlight"> Meer CLASS="highlight"> threw CLASS="highlight"> back-to-back CLASS="highlight"> no-hitters CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> 1938.
“He CLASS="highlight"> threw CLASS="highlight"> five CLASS="highlight"> no-hit CLASS="highlight"> innings CLASS="highlight"> against CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> playoff CLASS="highlight"> team,” CLASS="highlight"> Shelton CLASS="highlight"> said. CLASS="highlight"> “We’d CLASS="highlight"> prefer CLASS="highlight"> more CLASS="highlight"> strikes, CLASS="highlight"> but CLASS="highlight"> I CLASS="highlight"> think CLASS="highlight"> it CLASS="highlight"> just CLASS="highlight"> shows CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> quality CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> stuff. CLASS="highlight"> That’s CLASS="highlight"> pretty CLASS="highlight"> impressive CLASS="highlight"> without CLASS="highlight"> your CLASS="highlight"> best CLASS="highlight"> stuff. CLASS="highlight"> The CLASS="highlight"> fact CLASS="highlight"> that CLASS="highlight"> he CLASS="highlight"> leaves CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> season CLASS="highlight"> with CLASS="highlight"> 11 CLASS="highlight"> straight CLASS="highlight"> no-hit CLASS="highlight"> innings, CLASS="highlight"> that’s CLASS="highlight"> pretty CLASS="highlight"> good.”
In CLASS="highlight"> between, CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> had CLASS="highlight"> some CLASS="highlight"> rocky CLASS="highlight"> moments. CLASS="highlight"> He CLASS="highlight"> allowed CLASS="highlight"> more CLASS="highlight"> walks CLASS="highlight"> (18) CLASS="highlight"> than CLASS="highlight"> he CLASS="highlight"> had CLASS="highlight"> strikeouts CLASS="highlight"> (16), CLASS="highlight"> as CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> strikeouts CLASS="highlight"> per CLASS="highlight"> nine CLASS="highlight"> innings CLASS="highlight"> dropped CLASS="highlight"> from CLASS="highlight"> 12.2 CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> 2019 CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> 6.6 CLASS="highlight"> last CLASS="highlight"> season CLASS="highlight"> while CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> walks CLASS="highlight"> per CLASS="highlight"> nine CLASS="highlight"> increased CLASS="highlight"> from CLASS="highlight"> 3.0 CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> 7.5. CLASS="highlight"> He CLASS="highlight"> also CLASS="highlight"> allowed CLASS="highlight"> four CLASS="highlight"> home CLASS="highlight"> runs. It CLASS="highlight"> was CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> second CLASS="highlight"> start CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> season, CLASS="highlight"> against CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> Cubs, CLASS="highlight"> that CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> knew CLASS="highlight"> something CLASS="highlight"> was CLASS="highlight"> wrong. CLASS="highlight"> He CLASS="highlight"> allowed CLASS="highlight"> five CLASS="highlight"> hits, CLASS="highlight"> including CLASS="highlight"> two CLASS="highlight"> home CLASS="highlight"> runs, CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> walk CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> 2 CLASS="highlight"> 2/3 CLASS="highlight"> innings CLASS="highlight"> before CLASS="highlight"> leaving CLASS="highlight"> with CLASS="highlight"> discomfort CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> side. CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> didn’t CLASS="highlight"> make CLASS="highlight"> another CLASS="highlight"> start CLASS="highlight"> until CLASS="highlight"> Sept. CLASS="highlight"> 14.
“One CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> things CLASS="highlight"> we’re CLASS="highlight"> really CLASS="highlight"> happy CLASS="highlight"> about, CLASS="highlight"> before CLASS="highlight"> he CLASS="highlight"> had CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> injury, CLASS="highlight"> was CLASS="highlight"> how CLASS="highlight"> he CLASS="highlight"> was CLASS="highlight"> progressing,” CLASS="highlight"> Pirates CLASS="highlight"> pitching CLASS="highlight"> coach CLASS="highlight"> Oscar CLASS="highlight"> Marin CLASS="highlight"> said. CLASS="highlight"> “In CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> last CLASS="highlight"> start CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> St. CLASS="highlight"> Louis, CLASS="highlight"> he CLASS="highlight"> didn’t CLASS="highlight"> have CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> best CLASS="highlight"> stuff, CLASS="highlight"> but CLASS="highlight"> he CLASS="highlight"> rolled CLASS="highlight"> five CLASS="highlight"> innings CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> he CLASS="highlight"> limited CLASS="highlight"> that CLASS="highlight"> offense CLASS="highlight"> pretty CLASS="highlight"> well. CLASS="highlight"> The CLASS="highlight"> whole CLASS="highlight"> thing CLASS="highlight"> about CLASS="highlight"> it CLASS="highlight"> was, CLASS="highlight"> that CLASS="highlight"> was CLASS="highlight"> him CLASS="highlight"> (saying), CLASS="highlight"> ‘All CLASS="highlight"> right, CLASS="highlight"> I CLASS="highlight"> don’t CLASS="highlight"> have CLASS="highlight"> my CLASS="highlight"> best CLASS="highlight"> stuff CLASS="highlight"> today. CLASS="highlight"> What’s CLASS="highlight"> going CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> be CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> challenge CLASS="highlight"> today?’ CLASS="highlight"> We CLASS="highlight"> challenged CLASS="highlight"> him CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> change CLASS="highlight"> speeds, CLASS="highlight"> change CLASS="highlight"> eye CLASS="highlight"> levels. CLASS="highlight"> He CLASS="highlight"> was CLASS="highlight"> able CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> do CLASS="highlight"> those CLASS="highlight"> things.”
The CLASS="highlight"> Pirates CLASS="highlight"> identified CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> problem CLASS="highlight"> with CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> worked CLASS="highlight"> with CLASS="highlight"> him CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> maintain CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> posture CLASS="highlight"> down CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> slope. CLASS="highlight"> And CLASS="highlight"> they CLASS="highlight"> believed CLASS="highlight"> that CLASS="highlight"> working CLASS="highlight"> with CLASS="highlight"> Jameson CLASS="highlight"> Taillon, CLASS="highlight"> who CLASS="highlight"> was CLASS="highlight"> rehabilitating CLASS="highlight"> from CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> second CLASS="highlight"> Tommy CLASS="highlight"> John CLASS="highlight"> surgery, CLASS="highlight"> was CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> best CLASS="highlight"> thing CLASS="highlight"> for CLASS="highlight"> Keller’s CLASS="highlight"> development. CLASS="highlight"> He CLASS="highlight"> got CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> pick CLASS="highlight"> Taillon’s CLASS="highlight"> brain CLASS="highlight"> about CLASS="highlight"> preparation CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> pitch CLASS="highlight"> sequencing.
“They CLASS="highlight"> talk CLASS="highlight"> every CLASS="highlight"> day, CLASS="highlight"> they CLASS="highlight"> watch CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> games CLASS="highlight"> together. CLASS="highlight"> When CLASS="highlight"> certain CLASS="highlight"> situations CLASS="highlight"> come CLASS="highlight"> up CLASS="highlight"> during CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> games, CLASS="highlight"> they’re CLASS="highlight"> talking CLASS="highlight"> about CLASS="highlight"> it,” CLASS="highlight"> Marin CLASS="highlight"> said. CLASS="highlight"> “What CLASS="highlight"> better CLASS="highlight"> influence CLASS="highlight"> than CLASS="highlight"> having CLASS="highlight"> Jamo CLASS="highlight"> right CLASS="highlight"> there CLASS="highlight"> with CLASS="highlight"> him? CLASS="highlight"> Those CLASS="highlight"> are CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> kind CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> things CLASS="highlight"> that CLASS="highlight"> that CLASS="highlight"> have CLASS="highlight"> helped CLASS="highlight"> him CLASS="highlight"> out. CLASS="highlight"> Every CLASS="highlight"> time CLASS="highlight"> he’s CLASS="highlight"> thrown CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> bullpen CLASS="highlight"> or CLASS="highlight"> live CLASS="highlight"> BP, CLASS="highlight"> we’re CLASS="highlight"> talking CLASS="highlight"> him CLASS="highlight"> through CLASS="highlight"> those CLASS="highlight"> situations: CLASS="highlight"> ‘Hey, CLASS="highlight"> what CLASS="highlight"> was CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> thought CLASS="highlight"> process CLASS="highlight"> behind CLASS="highlight"> that CLASS="highlight"> pitch? CLASS="highlight"> What’s CLASS="highlight"> your CLASS="highlight"> thought CLASS="highlight"> process CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> location CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> this CLASS="highlight"> one?’ CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> then CLASS="highlight"> having CLASS="highlight"> him CLASS="highlight"> understand CLASS="highlight"> different CLASS="highlight"> things CLASS="highlight"> so CLASS="highlight"> he CLASS="highlight"> can CLASS="highlight"> keep CLASS="highlight"> growing, CLASS="highlight"> even CLASS="highlight"> without CLASS="highlight"> reps CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> game.”
The CLASS="highlight"> future: CLASS="highlight"> A CLASS="highlight"> positive CLASS="highlight"> sign CLASS="highlight"> for CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> was CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> effectiveness CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> fastball, CLASS="highlight"> as CLASS="highlight"> he CLASS="highlight"> touched CLASS="highlight"> 97 CLASS="highlight"> mph CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> was CLASS="highlight"> able CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> locate CLASS="highlight"> it CLASS="highlight"> for CLASS="highlight"> strikes CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> six CLASS="highlight"> no-hit CLASS="highlight"> innings CLASS="highlight"> against CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> Cardinals CLASS="highlight"> on CLASS="highlight"> Sept. CLASS="highlight"> 19.
“He CLASS="highlight"> was CLASS="highlight"> obviously CLASS="highlight"> really CLASS="highlight"> good. CLASS="highlight"> He CLASS="highlight"> just CLASS="highlight"> had CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> really CLASS="highlight"> good CLASS="highlight"> fastball, CLASS="highlight"> maybe CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> best CLASS="highlight"> I’ve CLASS="highlight"> seen CLASS="highlight"> since CLASS="highlight"> I’ve CLASS="highlight"> caught CLASS="highlight"> him CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> terms CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> where CLASS="highlight"> he CLASS="highlight"> was CLASS="highlight"> locating CLASS="highlight"> it CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> overall CLASS="highlight"> life CLASS="highlight"> on CLASS="highlight"> it, CLASS="highlight"> playing CLASS="highlight"> up,” CLASS="highlight"> Pirates CLASS="highlight"> catcher CLASS="highlight"> Jacob CLASS="highlight"> Stallings CLASS="highlight"> said, CLASS="highlight"> noting CLASS="highlight"> that CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> threw CLASS="highlight"> mostly CLASS="highlight"> fastball-sliders CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> righties CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> fastball-curveballs CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> lefties. CLASS="highlight"> “The CLASS="highlight"> fastball CLASS="highlight"> was CLASS="highlight"> just CLASS="highlight"> really CLASS="highlight"> working CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> he CLASS="highlight"> was CLASS="highlight"> obviously CLASS="highlight"> able CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> use CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> off-speed CLASS="highlight"> stuff CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> get CLASS="highlight"> them CLASS="highlight"> off CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> heater CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> put CLASS="highlight"> ‘em CLASS="highlight"> away.”
The CLASS="highlight"> Pirates CLASS="highlight"> believe CLASS="highlight"> that CLASS="highlight"> Keller, CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> organization’s CLASS="highlight"> top CLASS="highlight"> prospect, CLASS="highlight"> has CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> stuff CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> become CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> top-of-the-rotation CLASS="highlight"> starter, CLASS="highlight"> even CLASS="highlight"> if CLASS="highlight"> he CLASS="highlight"> has CLASS="highlight"> only CLASS="highlight"> 16 CLASS="highlight"> career CLASS="highlight"> Major CLASS="highlight"> League CLASS="highlight"> starts. CLASS="highlight"> He CLASS="highlight"> has CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> show CLASS="highlight"> more CLASS="highlight"> consistency CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> durability CLASS="highlight"> than CLASS="highlight"> he CLASS="highlight"> has CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> first CLASS="highlight"> two CLASS="highlight"> seasons, CLASS="highlight"> but CLASS="highlight"> there CLASS="highlight"> is CLASS="highlight"> hope CLASS="highlight"> that CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> last CLASS="highlight"> two CLASS="highlight"> starts CLASS="highlight"> were CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> turning CLASS="highlight"> point. CLASS="highlight"> The CLASS="highlight"> Pirates CLASS="highlight"> would CLASS="highlight"> love CLASS="highlight"> nothing CLASS="highlight"> more CLASS="highlight"> than CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> have CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> Taillon CLASS="highlight"> at CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> top CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> their CLASS="highlight"> starting CLASS="highlight"> rotation, CLASS="highlight"> though CLASS="highlight"> both CLASS="highlight"> have CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> lot CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> prove.
“If CLASS="highlight"> I CLASS="highlight"> can CLASS="highlight"> be CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> No. CLASS="highlight"> 2 CLASS="highlight"> behind CLASS="highlight"> Mitch CLASS="highlight"> Keller, CLASS="highlight"> that’s CLASS="highlight"> really CLASS="highlight"> good CLASS="highlight"> for CLASS="highlight"> our CLASS="highlight"> organization CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> our CLASS="highlight"> team,” CLASS="highlight"> Taillon CLASS="highlight"> said. CLASS="highlight"> “I CLASS="highlight"> would CLASS="highlight"> happily CLASS="highlight"> pencil CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> behind CLASS="highlight"> him.” That CLASS="highlight"> almost CLASS="highlight"> made CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> blush.
“I’d CLASS="highlight"> be CLASS="highlight"> happy,” CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> said, CLASS="highlight"> “if CLASS="highlight"> I CLASS="highlight"> was CLASS="highlight"> No. CLASS="highlight"> 2 CLASS="highlight"> behind CLASS="highlight"> him.”
The CLASS="highlight"> Pirates CLASS="highlight"> would CLASS="highlight"> be CLASS="highlight"> happy CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> have CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> No. CLASS="highlight"> 1 CLASS="highlight"> starter. CLASS="highlight"> The CLASS="highlight"> sooner CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> can CLASS="highlight"> elevate CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> that CLASS="highlight"> role, CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> better. CLASS="highlight"> (Kevin CLASS="highlight"> Gorman CLASS="highlight"> - CLASS="highlight"> Nov CLASS="highlight"> 16, CLASS="highlight"> 2020)
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June CLASS="highlight"> 11, CLASS="highlight"> 2021: CLASS="highlight"> Keller’s CLASS="highlight"> up CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> down CLASS="highlight"> season CLASS="highlight"> moved CLASS="highlight"> into CLASS="highlight"> its CLASS="highlight"> third CLASS="highlight"> month CLASS="highlight"> without CLASS="highlight"> any CLASS="highlight"> signs CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> straightening CLASS="highlight"> out CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> trending CLASS="highlight"> up CLASS="highlight"> yet.
His CLASS="highlight"> four-seam CLASS="highlight"> fastball CLASS="highlight"> has CLASS="highlight"> velocity, CLASS="highlight"> as CLASS="highlight"> he’s CLASS="highlight"> able CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> sit CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> mid-90s CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> touch CLASS="highlight"> 98 CLASS="highlight"> mph. CLASS="highlight"> That CLASS="highlight"> kind CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> heater CLASS="highlight"> tends CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> play CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> big CLASS="highlight"> leagues, CLASS="highlight"> but CLASS="highlight"> it’s CLASS="highlight"> not CLASS="highlight"> been CLASS="highlight"> up CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> par CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> Keller’s CLASS="highlight"> case CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> terms CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> production CLASS="highlight"> against CLASS="highlight"> it, CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> that’s CLASS="highlight"> been CLASS="highlight"> largely CLASS="highlight"> true CLASS="highlight"> even CLASS="highlight"> with CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> sharp CLASS="highlight"> drop CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> weighted CLASS="highlight"> on-base CLASS="highlight"> average CLASS="highlight"> from CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> rookie CLASS="highlight"> season CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> this CLASS="highlight"> season. CLASS="highlight"> Of CLASS="highlight"> 144 CLASS="highlight"> pitchers CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> throw CLASS="highlight"> 750 CLASS="highlight"> four-seamers CLASS="highlight"> between CLASS="highlight"> 2019-2021, CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> has CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> eighth-highest CLASS="highlight"> weighted CLASS="highlight"> on-base CLASS="highlight"> average CLASS="highlight"> (wOBA) CLASS="highlight"> off CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> four-seamer CLASS="highlight"> (.410). CLASS="highlight"> It CLASS="highlight"> was CLASS="highlight"> at CLASS="highlight"> .499 CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> 2019, CLASS="highlight"> but CLASS="highlight"> has CLASS="highlight"> dropped CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> .366 CLASS="highlight"> this CLASS="highlight"> season. CLASS="highlight"> That’s CLASS="highlight"> mainly CLASS="highlight"> due CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> drop CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> batting CLASS="highlight"> average CLASS="highlight"> against, CLASS="highlight"> but CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> slugging CLASS="highlight"> mark CLASS="highlight"> against CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> .471 CLASS="highlight"> has CLASS="highlight"> stayed CLASS="highlight"> fairly CLASS="highlight"> high, CLASS="highlight"> as CLASS="highlight"> 13 CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> 25 CLASS="highlight"> hits CLASS="highlight"> off CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> four-seamer CLASS="highlight"> have CLASS="highlight"> gone CLASS="highlight"> for CLASS="highlight"> extra CLASS="highlight"> bases.
Since CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> relies CLASS="highlight"> on CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> four-seam CLASS="highlight"> fastball CLASS="highlight"> so CLASS="highlight"> much, CLASS="highlight"> using CLASS="highlight"> it CLASS="highlight"> 57.2% CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> time CLASS="highlight"> on CLASS="highlight"> average CLASS="highlight"> this CLASS="highlight"> season, CLASS="highlight"> it’s CLASS="highlight"> important CLASS="highlight"> that CLASS="highlight"> he CLASS="highlight"> locate CLASS="highlight"> it CLASS="highlight"> as CLASS="highlight"> well. CLASS="highlight"> However, CLASS="highlight"> among CLASS="highlight"> pitchers CLASS="highlight"> who CLASS="highlight"> have CLASS="highlight"> thrown CLASS="highlight"> 750 CLASS="highlight"> fastballs CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> 2021, CLASS="highlight"> he CLASS="highlight"> has CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> fourth-worst CLASS="highlight"> rate CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> four-seamers CLASS="highlight"> for CLASS="highlight"> balls CLASS="highlight"> (not CLASS="highlight"> including CLASS="highlight"> intentional CLASS="highlight"> balls) CLASS="highlight"> at CLASS="highlight"> 21.1%.
The CLASS="highlight"> whiff CLASS="highlight"> rate CLASS="highlight"> on CLASS="highlight"> Keller’s CLASS="highlight"> slider CLASS="highlight"> has CLASS="highlight"> been CLASS="highlight"> lower CLASS="highlight"> than CLASS="highlight"> past CLASS="highlight"> seasons, CLASS="highlight"> but CLASS="highlight"> not CLASS="highlight"> alarmingly CLASS="highlight"> low. CLASS="highlight"> However, CLASS="highlight"> he’s CLASS="highlight"> left CLASS="highlight"> 24.4% CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> sliders CLASS="highlight"> over CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> heart CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> plate, CLASS="highlight"> as CLASS="highlight"> defined CLASS="highlight"> by CLASS="highlight"> Baseball CLASS="highlight"> Savant, CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> they’ve CLASS="highlight"> gotten CLASS="highlight"> hit CLASS="highlight"> (.425 CLASS="highlight"> wOBA CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> .420 CLASS="highlight"> expected CLASS="highlight"> wOBA).
He’s CLASS="highlight"> middle CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> pack CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> whiff CLASS="highlight"> rate CLASS="highlight"> at CLASS="highlight"> 31.4%, CLASS="highlight"> which CLASS="highlight"> ranks CLASS="highlight"> 52nd CLASS="highlight"> out CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> 80 CLASS="highlight"> pitchers CLASS="highlight"> with CLASS="highlight"> 100 CLASS="highlight"> swings CLASS="highlight"> induced CLASS="highlight"> on CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> slider CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> 2021. Batters CLASS="highlight"> are CLASS="highlight"> squaring CLASS="highlight"> up CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> curveball CLASS="highlight"> like CLASS="highlight"> never CLASS="highlight"> before. CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> has CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> lowest CLASS="highlight"> whiff CLASS="highlight"> rate CLASS="highlight"> this CLASS="highlight"> season CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> any CLASS="highlight"> MLB CLASS="highlight"> pitcher CLASS="highlight"> with CLASS="highlight"> 50 CLASS="highlight"> swings CLASS="highlight"> induced CLASS="highlight"> on CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> curveball CLASS="highlight"> at CLASS="highlight"> 15.4%, CLASS="highlight"> which CLASS="highlight"> is CLASS="highlight"> 7% CLASS="highlight"> back CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> next CLASS="highlight"> closest CLASS="highlight"> pitcher CLASS="highlight"> (Jameson CLASS="highlight"> Taillon).
In CLASS="highlight"> short, CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> fastball CLASS="highlight"> is CLASS="highlight"> fast, CLASS="highlight"> but CLASS="highlight"> fairly CLASS="highlight"> straight CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> not CLASS="highlight"> being CLASS="highlight"> commanded CLASS="highlight"> well, CLASS="highlight"> per CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> own CLASS="highlight"> admission CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> data. CLASS="highlight"> His CLASS="highlight"> slider CLASS="highlight"> is CLASS="highlight"> finding CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> heart CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> plate CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> quarter CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> time, CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> second CLASS="highlight"> off-speed CLASS="highlight"> pitch CLASS="highlight"> is CLASS="highlight"> being CLASS="highlight"> hit CLASS="highlight"> at CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> higher CLASS="highlight"> rate CLASS="highlight"> than CLASS="highlight"> ever CLASS="highlight"> before CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> MLB CLASS="highlight"> career.
Keller, CLASS="highlight"> Shelton CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> Cherington CLASS="highlight"> all CLASS="highlight"> trust CLASS="highlight"> that CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> work CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> right-hander CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> former CLASS="highlight"> No. CLASS="highlight"> 1 CLASS="highlight"> prospect CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> organization CLASS="highlight"> is CLASS="highlight"> doing CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> background CLASS="highlight"> is CLASS="highlight"> pointed CLASS="highlight"> toward CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> good CLASS="highlight"> outcome. CLASS="highlight"> It’s CLASS="highlight"> just CLASS="highlight"> been CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> bumpy CLASS="highlight"> road CLASS="highlight"> so CLASS="highlight"> far CLASS="highlight"> for CLASS="highlight"> Keller, CLASS="highlight"> who CLASS="highlight"> has CLASS="highlight"> still CLASS="highlight"> yet CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> pitch CLASS="highlight"> 30 CLASS="highlight"> Major CLASS="highlight"> League CLASS="highlight"> games.
"I CLASS="highlight"> think CLASS="highlight"> we CLASS="highlight"> have CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> good CLASS="highlight"> plan,” CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> said. CLASS="highlight"> “It's CLASS="highlight"> just CLASS="highlight"> me CLASS="highlight"> going CLASS="highlight"> out CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> executing.” CLASS="highlight"> (J CLASS="highlight"> Crouse CLASS="highlight"> - CLASS="highlight"> MLB.com CLASS="highlight"> - CLASS="highlight"> June CLASS="highlight"> 11, CLASS="highlight"> 2021)
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2021 CLASS="highlight"> Season: CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> went CLASS="highlight"> 3-7 CLASS="highlight"> with CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> 7.04 CLASS="highlight"> ERA CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> 12 CLASS="highlight"> outings CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> start CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> season, CLASS="highlight"> yielding CLASS="highlight"> 56 CLASS="highlight"> hits CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> 29 CLASS="highlight"> walks CLASS="highlight"> while CLASS="highlight"> striking CLASS="highlight"> out CLASS="highlight"> 51 CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> 47 CLASS="highlight"> innings. CLASS="highlight"> Manager CLASS="highlight"> Derek CLASS="highlight"> Shelton CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> GM CLASS="highlight"> Ben CLASS="highlight"> Cherington CLASS="highlight"> had CLASS="highlight"> seen CLASS="highlight"> enough CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> sent CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> back CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> Indianapolis CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> mid-June CLASS="highlight"> after CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> short CLASS="highlight"> stint CLASS="highlight"> on CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> injured CLASS="highlight"> list. CLASS="highlight"> In CLASS="highlight"> eight CLASS="highlight"> appearances, CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> went CLASS="highlight"> 1-1 CLASS="highlight"> with CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> 3.21 CLASS="highlight"> ERA, CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> Pirates CLASS="highlight"> recalled CLASS="highlight"> him CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> Pittsburgh CLASS="highlight"> at CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> end CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> July.
He CLASS="highlight"> pitched CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> 11 CLASS="highlight"> games CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> rest CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> way, CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> things CLASS="highlight"> did CLASS="highlight"> not CLASS="highlight"> get CLASS="highlight"> much CLASS="highlight"> better; CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> ERA CLASS="highlight"> during CLASS="highlight"> that CLASS="highlight"> 53 CLASS="highlight"> 1/3-inning CLASS="highlight"> stretch CLASS="highlight"> was CLASS="highlight"> 5.40 CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> he CLASS="highlight"> gave CLASS="highlight"> up CLASS="highlight"> 75 CLASS="highlight"> hits CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> 20 CLASS="highlight"> walks CLASS="highlight"> while CLASS="highlight"> striking CLASS="highlight"> out CLASS="highlight"> 41. CLASS="highlight"> Opposing CLASS="highlight"> hitters CLASS="highlight"> raked CLASS="highlight"> at CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> .350 CLASS="highlight"> clip. CLASS="highlight"> (Robert CLASS="highlight"> Kelley CLASS="highlight"> Jan CLASS="highlight"> 13, CLASS="highlight"> 2022)
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March CLASS="highlight"> 20, CLASS="highlight"> 2022: CLASS="highlight"> Keller’s CLASS="highlight"> viral CLASS="highlight"> bullpen CLASS="highlight"> session CLASS="highlight"> was CLASS="highlight"> conducted CLASS="highlight"> at CLASS="highlight"> Tread CLASS="highlight"> Athletics, CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> private CLASS="highlight"> training CLASS="highlight"> facility CLASS="highlight"> that CLASS="highlight"> was CLASS="highlight"> introduced CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> him CLASS="highlight"> by CLASS="highlight"> former CLASS="highlight"> Pirate CLASS="highlight"> Clay CLASS="highlight"> Holmes. CLASS="highlight"> There, CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> had CLASS="highlight"> one CLASS="highlight"> main CLASS="highlight"> goal: CLASS="highlight"> re-lengthen CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> arm CLASS="highlight"> action.
Keller CLASS="highlight"> had CLASS="highlight"> shortened CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> arm CLASS="highlight"> action CLASS="highlight"> beginning CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> 2020. CLASS="highlight"> Devin CLASS="highlight"> Hayes, CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> performance CLASS="highlight"> coordinator CLASS="highlight"> at CLASS="highlight"> Tread CLASS="highlight"> Athletics CLASS="highlight"> who CLASS="highlight"> worked CLASS="highlight"> extensively CLASS="highlight"> with CLASS="highlight"> Keller, CLASS="highlight"> explained CLASS="highlight"> that CLASS="highlight"> shorter CLASS="highlight"> arm CLASS="highlight"> action CLASS="highlight"> essentially CLASS="highlight"> took CLASS="highlight"> away CLASS="highlight"> velocity CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> Keller’s CLASS="highlight"> ability CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> “supinate,” CLASS="highlight"> or CLASS="highlight"> turn CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> wrist. CLASS="highlight"> The CLASS="highlight"> numbers CLASS="highlight"> are CLASS="highlight"> jarring.
Before CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> shortened CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> arm CLASS="highlight"> action, CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> average CLASS="highlight"> fastball CLASS="highlight"> velocity CLASS="highlight"> was CLASS="highlight"> 95.4 CLASS="highlight"> mph. CLASS="highlight"> The CLASS="highlight"> last CLASS="highlight"> two CLASS="highlight"> seasons, CLASS="highlight"> Keller’s CLASS="highlight"> fastball CLASS="highlight"> velocity CLASS="highlight"> dropped CLASS="highlight"> below CLASS="highlight"> 94 CLASS="highlight"> mph. CLASS="highlight"> By CLASS="highlight"> re-extending CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> arm CLASS="highlight"> action, CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> would CLASS="highlight"> more CLASS="highlight"> effectively CLASS="highlight"> supinate CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> utilize CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> body’s CLASS="highlight"> upper CLASS="highlight"> half. CLASS="highlight"> Those CLASS="highlight"> tweaks, CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> turn, CLASS="highlight"> would CLASS="highlight"> lead CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> better CLASS="highlight"> stuff CLASS="highlight"> . CLASS="highlight"> . CLASS="highlight"> . CLASS="highlight"> CLASS="highlight"> CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> better CLASS="highlight"> results.
To CLASS="highlight"> achieve CLASS="highlight"> that CLASS="highlight"> length, CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> frequently CLASS="highlight"> performed CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> figure CLASS="highlight"> eight CLASS="highlight"> drill CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> help CLASS="highlight"> create CLASS="highlight"> fluidity CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> improve CLASS="highlight"> arm CLASS="highlight"> path. CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> also CLASS="highlight"> did CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> “Kikuchi CLASS="highlight"> Drill,” CLASS="highlight"> named CLASS="highlight"> after CLASS="highlight"> Yusei CLASS="highlight"> Kikuchi, CLASS="highlight"> which CLASS="highlight"> helps CLASS="highlight"> with CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> body’s CLASS="highlight"> lower CLASS="highlight"> half. CLASS="highlight"> To CLASS="highlight"> complement CLASS="highlight"> all CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> throwing, CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> went CLASS="highlight"> through CLASS="highlight"> general CLASS="highlight"> strength CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> conditioning CLASS="highlight"> during CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> week CLASS="highlight"> with CLASS="highlight"> Tread. CLASS="highlight"> Social CLASS="highlight"> media CLASS="highlight"> soon CLASS="highlight"> discovered CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> fruit CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> Keller’s CLASS="highlight"> labor. CLASS="highlight"> (JD CLASS="highlight"> Santos CLASS="highlight"> - CLASS="highlight"> MLB.com CLASS="highlight"> - CLASS="highlight"> March CLASS="highlight"> 20, CLASS="highlight"> 2022)
- 2022 CLASS="highlight"> Improvements: CLASS="highlight"> Beginning CLASS="highlight"> last CLASS="highlight"> month CLASS="highlight"> (May), CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> has CLASS="highlight"> introduced CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> incorporated CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> sinker CLASS="highlight"> into CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> arsenal, CLASS="highlight"> which CLASS="highlight"> is CLASS="highlight"> slowly CLASS="highlight"> becoming CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> primary CLASS="highlight"> pitch. CLASS="highlight"> (Justice CLASS="highlight"> delos CLASS="highlight"> Santos)
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- June CLASS="highlight"> 8, CLASS="highlight"> 2022: CLASS="highlight"> -- CLASS="highlight"> The CLASS="highlight"> theme CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> this CLASS="highlight"> year CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> 2022 CLASS="highlight"> for CLASS="highlight"> Mitch CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> has CLASS="highlight"> been CLASS="highlight"> change. CLASS="highlight"> He CLASS="highlight"> modified CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> arm CLASS="highlight"> action CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> offseason CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> rediscover CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> velocity. CLASS="highlight"> He CLASS="highlight"> added CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> “sweeper” CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> repertoire. CLASS="highlight"> He CLASS="highlight"> made CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> first CLASS="highlight"> Major CLASS="highlight"> League CLASS="highlight"> relief CLASS="highlight"> appearance. CLASS="highlight"> And CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> recent CLASS="highlight"> weeks, CLASS="highlight"> Keller’s CLASS="highlight"> pitch CLASS="highlight"> profile CLASS="highlight"> has CLASS="highlight"> been CLASS="highlight"> headlined CLASS="highlight"> by CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> new CLASS="highlight"> toy.
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CLASS="highlight"> />Beginning CLASS="highlight"> last CLASS="highlight"> month CLASS="highlight"> -n CLASS="highlight"> May, CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> has CLASS="highlight"> introduced CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> incorporated CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> sinker CLASS="highlight"> into CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> arsenal, CLASS="highlight"> which CLASS="highlight"> is CLASS="highlight"> slowly CLASS="highlight"> becoming CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> primary CLASS="highlight"> pitch. CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> threw CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> career-high CLASS="highlight"> 42 CLASS="highlight"> sinkers CLASS="highlight"> as CLASS="highlight"> he CLASS="highlight"> pitched CLASS="highlight"> six CLASS="highlight"> innings CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> one-run CLASS="highlight"> ball CLASS="highlight"> with CLASS="highlight"> seven CLASS="highlight"> strikeouts CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> Pirates’ CLASS="highlight"> 3-1 CLASS="highlight"> loss CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> Tigers CLASS="highlight"> at CLASS="highlight"> PNC CLASS="highlight"> Park. CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> is CLASS="highlight"> still CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> experimental CLASS="highlight"> phase, CLASS="highlight"> but CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> early CLASS="highlight"> returns CLASS="highlight"> with CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> sinker CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> bag CLASS="highlight"> have CLASS="highlight"> been CLASS="highlight"> promising.
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CLASS="highlight"> />“I CLASS="highlight"> think CLASS="highlight"> I CLASS="highlight"> still CLASS="highlight"> don't CLASS="highlight"> have CLASS="highlight"> all CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> feel CLASS="highlight"> in CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> world CLASS="highlight"> for CLASS="highlight"> that CLASS="highlight"> pitch CLASS="highlight"> yet, CLASS="highlight"> but CLASS="highlight"> it's CLASS="highlight"> just CLASS="highlight"> such CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> good CLASS="highlight"> pitch CLASS="highlight"> with CLASS="highlight"> so CLASS="highlight"> much CLASS="highlight"> movement CLASS="highlight"> that CLASS="highlight"> it CLASS="highlight"> just CLASS="highlight"> gives CLASS="highlight"> me CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> confidence CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> attack CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> zone CLASS="highlight"> with CLASS="highlight"> it, CLASS="highlight"> even CLASS="highlight"> if CLASS="highlight"> I CLASS="highlight"> am CLASS="highlight"> … CLASS="highlight"> missing CLASS="highlight"> arm CLASS="highlight"> side CLASS="highlight"> or CLASS="highlight"> missing CLASS="highlight"> down CLASS="highlight"> with CLASS="highlight"> it,” CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> said.
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CLASS="highlight"> />With CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> caveat CLASS="highlight"> that CLASS="highlight"> correlation CLASS="highlight"> does CLASS="highlight"> not CLASS="highlight"> imply CLASS="highlight"> causation, CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> has CLASS="highlight"> thrown CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> ball CLASS="highlight"> well CLASS="highlight"> since CLASS="highlight"> introducing CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> sinker CLASS="highlight"> on CLASS="highlight"> May CLASS="highlight"> 18. CLASS="highlight"> In CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> past CLASS="highlight"> four CLASS="highlight"> outings, CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> has CLASS="highlight"> struck CLASS="highlight"> out CLASS="highlight"> 18 CLASS="highlight"> batters CLASS="highlight"> across CLASS="highlight"> 17 CLASS="highlight"> innings CLASS="highlight"> with CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> 2.65 CLASS="highlight"> ERA. CLASS="highlight"> Other CLASS="highlight"> factors CLASS="highlight"> have CLASS="highlight"> contributed CLASS="highlight"> to CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> success CLASS="highlight"> aside CLASS="highlight"> from CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> sinker CLASS="highlight"> -- CLASS="highlight"> Keller CLASS="highlight"> called CLASS="highlight"> his CLASS="highlight"> two CLASS="highlight"> appearances CLASS="highlight"> out CLASS="highlight"> of CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> bullpen CLASS="highlight"> against CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> Cubs CLASS="highlight"> and CLASS="highlight"> Rockies CLASS="highlight"> a CLASS="highlight"> “reset” CLASS="highlight"> -- CLASS="highlight"> but CLASS="highlight"> the CLASS="highlight"> sinker CLASS="highlight"> has CLASS="highlight"> quickly CLASS="highlight"> proven CLASS="highlight"> its CLASS="highlight"> effectiveness. CLASS="highlight"> (JD CLASS="highlight"> Santos CLASS="highlight"> - CLASS="highlight"> MLB.com CLASS="highlight"> - CLASS="highlight"> June CLASS="highlight"> 8, CLASS="highlight"> 2022)