Brad Keller

Brad Michael Keller (born July 27, 1995) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball (MLB).

For the volleyball coach and player, see Brad Keller (volleyball).
Brad Keller
Kansas City Royals – No. 56
Pitcher
Born: (1995-07-27) July 27, 1995
Flowery Branch, Georgia
Bats: Right Throws: Right
MLB debut
March 29, 2018, for the Kansas City Royals
MLB statistics
(through 2020 season)
Win–loss record21–23
Earned run average3.50
Strikeouts253
Teams

Career

Keller attended Flowery Branch High School in Flowery Branch, Georgia. He was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the eighth round of the 2013 MLB draft.[1] He had committed to play college baseball at Presbyterian College, but chose to sign with the Diamondbacks rather than attend college.[2]

Arizona Diamondbacks

Keller made his professional debut that year with the Arizona League Diamondbacks and was later promoted to the Missoula Osprey.[3] In 15 games (13 starts), he posted a 7–3 record and 2.44 ERA. In 2014, he pitched for the Arizona League Diamondbacks, Missoula and Hillsboro Hops,[4] going 6–4 with a 4.31 ERA over 15 games (12 starts). Keller pitched for the Kane County Cougars in 2015, going 8–9 with a 2.60 ERA over 26 games (25 starts), the Visalia Rawhide in 2016 where he went 9–7 with a 4.47 ERA in 24 starts, and 2017 with the Jackson Generals,[5] where he posted a 10–9 record and 4.68 ERA in 26 starts.[6]

Kansas City Royals

On December 14, 2017, Keller was selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the Rule 5 draft and immediately traded to the Kansas City Royals for cash considerations.[7][8]

Keller made the 25-man roster for the Royals in 2018,[9] and had his MLB debut on Opening Day, March 29, pitching an inning of scoreless relief against the Chicago White Sox; he struck out the first batter he faced, Adam Engel.[10] He split time between the bullpen and the rotation, leading the team in ERA (3.08) and tied for first on the team in wins (9). He struck out 96 batters in ​140 1⁄3 innings. On April 19, 2019 Keller received a 5 game suspension by Major League Baseball, which concluded he intentionally threw a pitch that hit Tim Anderson of the Chicago White Sox.

On July 7, 2020, it was announced that Keller had tested positive for COVID-19.[11] 10 days later he was cleared to return to the Royals’ Summer Camp after producing two negative tests at least 24 hours apart. [12] On September 13, 2020, Keller pitched the first complete game shutout of his career against the Pittsburgh Pirates, allowing five hits (only one for extra bases) and one walk, striking out two batters.[13] With the 2020 Kansas City Royals, Keller appeared in 9 games, compiling a 5-3 record with 2.47 ERA and 35 strikeouts in ​54 2⁄3 innings pitched.[14]

References
  1. http://www.gainesvilletimes.com/archives/84718/
  2. "Brad Keller". Baseball America Enterprises.
  3. http://www.gainesvilletimes.com/archives/100376/
  4. Johnson, Paul (May 4, 2015). "Cougars pitcher Brad Keller's progress speeding up". Aurora Beacon-News – via Chicago Tribune.
  5. http://www.gainesvilletimes.com/archives/110494/
  6. "Brad Keller Stats, Highlights, Bio – MiLB.com Stats – The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
  7. Flannagan, Jeffrey (December 14, 2017). "KC adds pair of high picks in Rule 5 Draft". MLB.com. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
  8. Torres, Maria (March 23, 2018). "The Royals almost drafted this Rule-5 pitcher in 2013. Now he might join their bullpen". The Kansas City Star.
  9. Torres, Maria (March 29, 2018). "Hours before opener, Royals announce 25-man roster, cut Kyle Zimmer, Wily Peralta". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
  10. "White Sox vs. Royals - Box Score". ESPN. March 29, 2018. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
  11. "Royals' Brad Keller, Ryan O'Hearn test positive for COVID-19". ESPN. July 7, 2020. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
  12. "KC notes: Keller returns; 2 test positive". MLB.com. July 17, 2020. Retrieved July 18, 2020.
  13. https://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article245704110.html
  14. https://www.mlb.com/player/brad-keller-641745
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