PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Mitch Keller is an ace. Imagine making that statement last year at this time. Following his first MLB complete game shutout on Monday, it’s the phrase uttered around the Pirates clubhouse like you were talking about any team’s number one pitcher.
By comparison, on May 7, 2022 Keller was coming off a game at Cincinnati where he gave up five earned runs on six hits, three walks and a homer allowed. The right-hander had an ERA of 6.11 and would make one more start before he was sent to the bullpen. He would get his fourth win on August 10.
On May 8, 2023, Keller is coming off the Pirates first complete game shutout in five years. He is 4-1 with a 2.72 ERA and only Gerrit Cole has thrown more innings this season than Keller. A deeper dive between the $324 million Cole and the $2.4 million Keller.
· Each with 8 starts
· Each with a complete game shutout
· Keller has allowed four more hits, three more earned runs
· Cole has allowed two home runs, Keller allowed one
· Cole has walked 16, Keller 14
· Cole has struck out 58, Keller 56
· Cole’s WHIP is 1.01, Keller’s is 1.09
“He’s in that category of Ace,” said Pirates catcher Austin Hedges. “He's the one you want on the mound in the playoffs when you’ve gotta face a big dog. He's our big dog. I don't care who we're facing, I’ll take I'll take Mitch Keller versus anybody in the league right now.”
In 2021 this same pitcher was sent to the minors because he was so bad. The 27-year-old finished that season with a 6.17 ERA and an astronomical 1.78 WHIP. The year before that Keller averaged 7.5 walks per nine innings.
Ke’Bryan Hayes was roommates with Keller back in 2016 in the Bucs minor league system. He said it’s special to see how the Iowa native has progressed. He says now any night he could do what he did on Monday against Colorado.
"I think overall confidence, just in his stuff, attacking guys, going right after guys, putting them away,” Hayes said of the changes. “Really, just his confidence, I think even this year compared to last two years. Like I think his confidence is way better than it was and it's shown."
“I feel like he’s kinda taking that next step and like you’re saying becoming an ace and (Monday) showed it.”
“The funny thing is, I feel like I get that sense out of him every time,” Hedges said. “He's been pitching amazing all year, but it seems like we're one pitch away from it looking like that every single outing.”
“The stuff speaks for itself, but it’s also his desire to show not just himself but the whole league that he is that guy. I think it was a focus of his coming into spring training. Obviously, he got Opening Day for that reason, and I think he's exceeded expectations.”
Keller admitted his confidence is better and experience has helped with that confidence. He was also quick to credit his coaches, Hedges and the overall game plans so he feels confident going into every outing.
Over his last 15 starts, Mitch Keller has given up 26 earned runs. Even in his lone loss in Tampa Bay last week, he showed the composer of a leader.
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Once talked about as a second-round bust or a never-will-be, Keller is now the Pirates ace.