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Pittsburgh Pirates Top 10 Prospects for 2017

By Benjamin Chase

Mar 17, 2016; Bradenton, FL, USA; A view of the Pittsburgh Pirates logo during the game between the Pirates and the New York Yankees at McKechnie Field. The Yankees defeat the Pirates 7-2. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 17, 2016; Bradenton, FL, USA; A view of the Pittsburgh Pirates logo during the game between the Pirates and the New York Yankees at McKechnie Field. The Yankees defeat the Pirates 7-2. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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3. Mitch Keller, RHP

Birthdate: 4/4/96 (20 years old)
Level(s) Played in 2016: low A, high A
Stats in 2016: 130 1/3 IP, 2.35 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 3.72 BB%, 27.01 K%

Of the half dozen guys I talked with about Keller, two told me that he’s their #1 Pirates prospect, with one telling me that it was “not even close”. That’s a big time compliment considering the other players in the Pirates top 5.

Keller was drafted out of high school in Iowa in 2014, so they’ve done a nice job of letting him slowly build up innings as a cold weather pitcher as he had minor injuries he worked through as well. This smart handling has also allowed Keller to build up his secondary stuff to the point where he could move very quickly now as the gloves are off for Keller on innings.

Keller has always had an elite fastball, both in velocity and in movement. He gets a ton of weak contact on the pitch due to it’s late combination of sink and run. He ticked up from sitting 90-92 to sitting more in the 92-94 range and he can now touch 95-96.

Keller compliments that fastball with a curve that has very tight spin in an 11-to-5 drop, giving him an interesting look from a righty to get that type of drop on the pitch.

Keller’s change took a monster step forward in 2016, and you can see that in his walk rates. Rather than having to attack with pitches out of the zone late in the count, Keller could attack with the change to get weak contact and avoid free base runners.

Keller has established himself as one of the truly elite prospects in all of the game. He’ll likely be in high-A to open 2017, but he could move to AA by the end of the year in his age 21 year.

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