Brad Keller’s season for the Royals is over. Manager Ned Yost announced to reporters today that the right-hander has been showing signs of arm fatigue and will not pitch again in 2019 (Twitter link via Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com).
Keller’s shutdown removes Kansas City’s best starting pitcher from the rotation, though the organization and fans alike are likely relieved that there’s no serious injury at play. Right-hander Jorge Lopez and lefty Eric Skoglund are both in the rotation this weekend and could see increased opportunities down the stretch with Keller no longer in the mix for starts.
The 24-year-old Keller saw his innings total make a somewhat modest increase from 140 1/3 in 2018 to 165 1/3 in 2019. He didn’t quite replicate last year’s excellence, when he posted a 3.08 ERA with 6.2 K/9, 3.2 BB/9, 0.45 HR/9 and a 54.4 percent ground-ball rate. Keller did, however, enjoy a second consecutive quality season, compiling a 4.19 earned run average with 6.6 K/9, 3.8 BB/9, 0.82 HR/9 and a 50 percent grounder rate. While the uptick in walks is of mild concern, Keller’s ability to keep the ball in the yard (and on the ground, in particular) was maintained even at a time when home-run rates throughout the league exploded.
By the time the season has wrapped up, Keller will have racked up two full years of big league service, putting him on pace to become eligible for arbitration following the 2020 season. He’s gone from a flier in the 2017 Rule 5 Draft to a hands-down member of the Kansas City rotation and is easily among the most successful Rule 5 selections in recent memory. The loss of Keller no doubt stings for the Diamondbacks, who received no compensation for him in the aforementioned Rule 5 process and have seen several pitching injuries crop up this season. Such statements are easy to make with the benefit of hindsight, and trades have alleviated some of the depth issues for the D-backs, but they’d surely take a mulligan on protecting Keller, given the opportunity.
Looking down the road, Keller, Danny Duffy and Jakob Junis are the sure things in next year’s rotation for the Royals. Other options currently on the 40-man roster include Lopez, Skoglund, Mike Montgomery, Glenn Sparkman, Trevor Oaks, Heath Fillmyer and Scott Blewett. Beyond that largely underwhelming group is a collection of more promising arms, headlined by recent draftees such as Brady Singer, Daniel Lynch, Jackson Kowar and Kris Bubic. Any of that bunch could conceivably reach the big leagues next season, giving the Kansas City organization some hope for better days in the not-too-distant future. That said, it still wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Royals add some veteran options to the starting mix this offseason as a means of bridging the gap.
Classic Ned Yost pitching decision, made one start too late. Before Keller’s last start Yost notes that were monitoring his innings and then he lays a turd where he walked five in a row in the 2nd inning before getting yanked.
Keller has good stuff. Could be a good one. Do not agree with him being shut down. This won’t avoid future injury. Seems inevitable that a pitcher will go down eventually. Hopefully someday we see a pitcher truly fight decisions like this. In fact, if the MLBPA had a real grievance to fight, this is it.
Why would that be something they fight? He’s not arbitration eligible nor are they contending. so this literally has no impact on Keller other than the fact that he gets to rest for a couple extra months while receiving the same check. I can’t imagine why the MLBPA would ever want to fight a player getting paid without even having to play.
As for Keller specifically, he couldn’t throw a strike the last game he pitched. I saw it with my own two eyes. He walked in at least 2 runs before I flipped the channel. Looks like a good candidate to rest to me.
Unless the man is injured he should not be shut down due to “protection”. That is absolutely a cause to fight if the MLBPA cared enough to do so. They won’t.
If he’s dealing with fatigue and can’t throw strikes put him on the IL for 10 days.
This is the major leagues. This is not little league where children have to be protected from injury. There is no reason to coddle adults making over half a million dollars per season and more.
Brad Keller has provided excess value on his 500K deal so I’m not sure the Royals “coddling” him is a bad thing. He makes more than you or I per year but his talent dictates that. Dead arm can get you put on the IL anyway. This gives them the opportunity to go evaluate some other arms in the rotation also.
They could’ve sent him to AAA instead considering he has options. That could’ve actually been a problem. But Getting pissed because they shut a guy down after showing arm fatigue in a non contending year makes no sense to me. The season is 95% over.
I really wish they’d just leave Lopez in the bullpen. He’s already shown he can’t cut it as a starter, might as well let him continue to work on coming out of the pen.
Uh, didn’t Arizona get 50K
as a result of his Rule 5
placement?
It’s a 100k that any team pays when selecting a player in the rule 5 draft. So technically yes they received compensation. So the equivalent of 5 bucks. Congratulations on pointing that out Jorge
Kris Bubic is going to be a beast.
Dude’s a stud
Couldn’t agree more. Wouldn’t surprise me if he had the best career out of these hurlers.
good idea. perhaps build up to 180 next year.
didn’t he just pitch against the a’s on monday?
Sort of.