Randy Keisler Stats & Scouting Report

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Keisler recovered from Tommy John surgery in college to reach New York barely two years after he was drafted. He beat the Red Sox with five solid innings of work in his major league debut in September. He was made available to the Indians in the David Justice trade, but they chose righthander Zach Day instead. Keisler has three major league pitches. He throws his fastball from 88-92 mph, his curveball is average to slightly above-average and he has picked up a nice changeup. After defeating the Red Sox, Keisler got rocked by major league hitters, allowing 13 runs in six innings. He must improve the command of his fastball, which is solid but not overpowering. Though Adrian Hernandez is the frontrunner, Keisler also will contend for the vacancy in New York's rotation during spring training. A few more Triple-A starts won't hurt if he gets sent to the minors.

Keisler reached Double-A toward the end of his first full pro season in 1999 and graduated from the EL after two months this year. He shows good life on his 92-94 mph fastball and his curveball, and has a potentially above-average changeup. Command is his biggest need. "I like his arm strength," Davis said. "He's a power pitcher. There aren't a lot of lefthanders who throw that hard, and I like his breaking ball. Being at this level and doing what he's done here, and then going to Triple-A and doing the same thing, he has the raw talent that's going to carry him through the minor leagues. I'm not sure he's going to be a No. 1 guy, but he can be a No. 2 or 3 guy at the major league level."
With a five-inning victory over the Red Sox in his major league debut in September, Keisler continued his dazzling 2000 that began in Double-A. In a year in which so many of the Yankees' top prospects were either hurt, ineffective or traded, Keisler completed a two-season sprint toward New York. He was a second-round pick in 1998 despite having had Tommy John surgery while at Louisiana State. Keisler throws in the low to mid-90s, quite hard for a lefthander, and has a decent curveball and changeup. Some IL managers and Yankees officials don't think his ceiling is very high. The Indians reportedly had a chance to take Keisler in the David Justice trade and took Class A righthander Zach Day instead.

With a five-inning victory over the Red Sox in his major league debut in September, Keisler continued his dazzling 2000 that began in Double-A. In a year in which so many of the Yankees' top prospects were either hurt, ineffective or traded, Keisler completed a two-season sprint toward New York. He was a second-round pick in 1998 despite having had Tommy John surgery while at Louisiana State. Keisler throws in the low to mid-90s, quite hard for a lefthander, and has a decent curveball and changeup. Some IL managers and Yankees officials don't think his ceiling is very high. The Indians reportedly had a chance to take Keisler in the David Justice trade and took Class A righthander Zach Day instead.
Keisler reached Double-A toward the end of his first full pro season in 1999 and graduated from the EL after two months this year. He shows good life on his 92-94 mph fastball and his curveball, and has a potentially above-average changeup. Command is his biggest need. "I like his arm strength," Davis said. "He's a power pitcher. There aren't a lot of lefthanders who throw that hard, and I like his breaking ball. Being at this level and doing what he's done here, and then going to Triple-A and doing the same thing, he has the raw talent that's going to carry him through the minor leagues. I'm not sure he's going to be a No. 1 guy, but he can be a No. 2 or 3 guy at the major league level."