Brad Keller

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Kansas City Royals #22 prospect in 2018
  For the third consecutive season, Keller took the ball just about every fifth day and chewed up innings. By the end of 2017 he started producing the stuff and results that led some in the D-backs organization to believe a breakout might be on the horizon. The Royals apparently agreed, because they purchased the rights to the Rule 5 pick after the Reds selected him third overall in 2017. Keller was a lightly-scouted eighth-round high school pick in 2013 who moved slowly but steadily through Arizona system. He commands his fastball well and has the ability to either cut or sink it. He is capable of filling the zone with strikes, though he did see his walk rate rise to 3.9 per nine innings in 2017. Regardless, Keller took a step forward late in the season, when his fastball suddenly jumped and he gained a better understanding of how to finish off hitters. Over his final month, Keller sat 93-94 mph and topped out at 97. He throws an average to above-average changeup and a slider that coaches said improved as the year progressed. If his late-year run carries over to 2018, Keller could become a back-of-the-rotation starter. If not, he could wind up being a power arm out of the bullpen.
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  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #8 prospect in 2017
  Keller impressively survived as a 21-year old in the unforgiving Cal League in 2016, throwing strikes and keeping the ball in the park in a productive season at high Class A Visalia. His most impressive attribute was a walk rate of 1.7 per nine innings, and his 1.28 WHIP ranked fifth in the circuit. Keller is a pitch-to-contact type who consistently throws strikes with an advanced feel for pitching. His fastball ranges from 89-93 mph and typically sits 91, and there could be more velocity to come with experience. He commands his heater really well, cuts and sinks it, and pitches to both sides of the plate. Keller shows a good feel for his average secondary pitches, a slider and changeup. Keller keeps the ball down, and more than half of balls in play against him were hit on the ground in 2016. He has also shown himself to be durable and held up over 142 innings in 2015 and 135 in 2016. Keller will open 2017 as a 21-year-old with Arizona's new Double-A Jackson affiliate. He projects as either a No. 3 or 4 starter depending on the development of his offspeed pitches.
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  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #17 prospect in 2016
  Keller put in a strong pro debut in the Rookie-level Arizona League in 2013, striking out 61 in 57 innings, after the Diamondbacks popped him in the eighth round of the draft out of high school. He ran up a 6.95 ERA at Rookie-level Missoula in 2014, however, before getting his career back on track in 2015 at low Class A Kane County. One of the keys to Keller's improvement was learning to throw a sinker that helped him generate an elite 2-to-1 groundout-to-airout ratio. He also added velocity to his fastball and now sits 91-94 mph and touches 95. He can throw his two-seamer under the hands of righthanders and a four-seamer down in the zone. Keller's slider and changeup both project to be average pitches, and he has a chance to develop above-average command. Keller won't turn 21 until midway through 2016 and projects to a ceiling value of No. 3 or 4 starter, but he will need to move one level per year, so expect him to head to high Class A Visalia in 2016.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked Arizona Complex League #19 prospect in 2013
  Keller flew under the radar while in high school in Georgia and was committed to Presbyterian, one of the smallest schools in NCAA Division I baseball. The Diamondbacks picked him in the eighth round and signed the big-bodied righthander for $125,000. He quickly became a pro workhorse, tying for the league lead in wins. Pitching from a high three-quarters slot, Keller usually sits in the low 90s with his fastball and peaked at 93 mph. His second-best pitch was a power slider at 79-84 mph, and he also has an 80-84 changeup. Keller?s velocity jumped just before the draft, and he may be able to add a few ticks with better mechanics and improved conditioning. ?It?s just a matter of him getting his mechanics down and his arm to where it works,? Diamondbacks pitching coach Jeff Bajenaru said. Just about maxed out physically, Keller projects as a durable, back-of-the-rotation starter.

• December, 2016 Scouting Report
  Background: The extreme hitters parks in the California League can be unforgiving to any pitcher, much less one not turning 21 until mid-season. Keller impressively survived as a 21-year old in the unforgiving Cal League in 2016, throwing strikes and keeping the ball in the park in a productive season at high Class A Visalia. His most impressive attribute was a walk rate of 1.7 per nine innings, and his 1.28 WHIP ranked fifth in the circuit. Scouting Report: Keller is a pitch-to-contact type who consistently throws strikes while featuring good arm speed and an advanced feel for pitching. His fastball ranges from 89-93 mph and typically sits 91, and there could be more velocity to come with experience. He commands his heater really well, cuts and sinks it, and pitches to both sides of the plate. Keller shows a good feel for his average secondary pitches, a slider and changeup. Keller keeps the ball down, and more than half of balls in play against him were hit on the ground in 2016. He has also shown himself to be durable and held up over 142 innings in 2015 and 135 in 2016.
  
  The Future: Keller will open 2017 as a 21-year-old with Arizona's new Double-A Jackson affiliate. He projects as either a No. 3 or 4 starter depending on the development of his offspeed pitches.