Baseball scouting can be an inexact science, but when a project starts showing promise it can be the lifeblood of an organization.
For the Arizona Diamondbacks, 19-year-old Cougars starting pitcher Brad Keller is turning into one of the projects that pans out.
Arizona snagged the 6-foot-5, 230-pounder out of Flowery Branch, Ga., in the eighth round of the 2013 draft despite the fact his fastball was only sitting in the high 80s.
Now, Keller’s fastball rides in at 93 miles per hour, occasionally hitting 96, and he has been the Cougars’ most consistent starter, dropping his ERA to 2.48 with a stellar outing on Sunday that resulted in a no-decision. Despite carrying an 0-3 record, Keller has 31 strikeouts in 29 innings and a WHIP of 1.07.
“I was kind of a long shot to get drafted,” said Keller, who was signed to Presbyterian University before opting to sign with Arizona as a 17-year-old. “I went into my senior year not really expecting anything. Something clicked and I started to get a couple of looks. It’s kind of crazy how it turned out. Nobody knew who I was until two months before the draft. The Diamondbacks showed a lot of faith in me back then and they still do now.”
Cougars pitching coach Doug Bochtler still marvels at the fact that the Diamondbacks scouting staff even found Keller, who was lightly regarded in scouting circles going into his senior year at Flowery Branch.
“I saw him when he first signed,” Bochtler said. “When you look at him and what the scouts saw, I don’t understand how they do what they do because when we got him he was 87-90 (with his fastball). How did they know it would turn into a pitcher that averages 93 miles per hour on his fastball now? That’s real.”
In addition to the velocity, Keller’s secondary pitches (changeup and slider) have continued to improve as he has physically matured.
“To see where he is now is just a credit to how much work he’s put in,” Bochtler said. “His body has changed. When he signed, he was a little chubby, a young kid. He’s really leaned out and he’s turning into a man right before our eyes. His presence on the mound is completely different. It’s fun to watch.”
In addition to Keller’s increased fastball velocity, Bochtler has noticed a different pitcher out on the mound.
“The velocity isn’t what’s making him a better pitcher,” Bochtler said. “It’s not. His last two outings he’s had 28 ground ball opportunities. He’s keeping the ball on the infield and getting a lot of poor contact. Those are things that we’re looking at down the road being something really special.”
Keller said he feels different than the 17-year-old who suddenly found himself in professional baseball.
“Looking back from when I first signed to now, it’s night and day, really,” Keller said. “It’s all improving little by little, so we’ll see how it goes. You get bigger, faster and stronger the older you get, but you also get more mature. You handle the game better. It helps on both sides getting older.”
Johnson is a freelance reporter.
Quad Cities 3, Cougars 1
Summary: Quad Cities took the opener of a three-game set by overcoming an early 1-0 deficit to the Cougars with a three-run sixth inning. The River Bandits (19-6) held a four-game lead in the Midwest League’s Western Division coming into the game, and they stayed hot. The Cougars took a 1-0 lead in the third when Cody Regis singled in Josh Elander. After cruising through five scoreless innings, Cougars starter Markus Solbach was tagged for three runs in the sixth and chased from the game.
Key moment: Quad Cities had only two baserunners and one hit through five innings before the River Bandits broke through against Solbach. They had runners on first and third with one out in the sixth when Derek Fisher connected on his fourth double of the season, which scored both Kristian Trompiz and Jamie Ritchie. Matt Hyde singled in Fisher. After one more hitter, a Nick Tanielu single, Solbach’s day was over. The Cougars’ best chance to score came in the eighth when Colin Bray reached third with two outs, but was unable to score.
By the numbers: The Cougars (11-14) had only six hits, all singles, coming from six different players. Bray, Ryan Gebhardt, Regis, Marty Herum, Grant Heyman and Elander had the Cougars’ hits. Defensively, the Cougars turned a pair of double plays and committed no errors. Jency Solis, Cody Geyer and Nick Baker combined for 3 2/3 innings of scoreless relief of Solbach (1-2). Austin Chrismon (3-1) was solid in seven innings for Quad Cities. He allowed a run on five hits, striking out one and walking none.
Up next: Quad Cities (Daniel Mengden 0-0) at Cougars (Brent Jones 1-2), noon, Tuesday, WBIG-AM (1280), MiLB.TV.
