Rank History
| Year | Team | Position | Team Rank | OFP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | LAA | RHP | 31 | 30 |
Grades Update: Jan 2021
| OFP | Role | FB | CB | FK | Cnt/Cmd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | 30 | 50 | 40 | 30 | 50/40 |
Jan 2021 Report
Evaluator: Geoff Pontes
Age: 28 yr
Height: 6-4
Weight: 200 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2015 Draft, Round 18, MIA
RuleV: On 40-Man Roster
Physical Description: Long tall and lean, Keller's body is seemingly 80% legs. He uses this to good use, getting excellent extension and more importantly great drive. He has a strong lower half highlighted by muscular quads and glutes. Longer arms but thinner frame up top.
Mechanics: Starts from the stretch, high leg lift nearly to chin as his knee comes to full flexion. He then drops down low striding forward releasing the ball from a high three quarters slot, but a last second snap gives him that extra second to maximize release height. Due to this he gets efficient ride in his fastball despite pedestrian raw spin rates.
Fastball: Sits 92-95 MPH touching 96 mph at its peak. Limited feel and control for the pitch as his above average vertical movement often plays against him. Generates some swings and misses and plays up due to his slot. Squarely an average MLB bullpen fastball. Grade: 50
Curveball: Below average breaking ball in the 80-82 mph range. Slurvy break, with some gyro spin movement. His best swing and miss pitch of the two but much of that has to do with his lack of command of his two pitches. Needs to improve pitch command to play at the MLB level. Grade: 40
Forkball: Poor pitch with limited usage, has thrown three all in 2020 as a pro. Low gloveside plan of attack with high-80s velocity. Plays like a split-changeup but it's a rarely used pitch. Grade: 30
Control and Command: Following four consecutive seasons of strong strike throwing Keller finally broke into the majors with Marlins in 2019. While his struggles to find the zone over his 12 major league innings are easy to see with a search it's an interesting example of what may play in the minors can often be an easy take to the best in the world. While Keller has shown the ability to throw strikes throughout his professional career his command has always lagged making the pitcher work a little harder on his high fastballs. Overall it's a rare full grade difference between his average strike throwing and below average command. Control: 50 | Command: 40
Overall: A two-pitch relief profile, that's already had two shots on major league squads. It's an up/down emergency depth profile unless he can improve his breaking ball or live off nothing hit fastballs. It's a low leverage relief ceiling.
OFP: 35
Role: 30 - Up/Down Emergency Depth
Risk: Low
