Brad Keller

BIOGRAPHY

Brad Keller was born July 27, 1995, in Flowery Branch, Georgia. He is a pitcher in the MLB.

Keller made his professional debut that year with the Arizona League Diamondbacks and was later promoted to the Missoula Osprey. In 15 games (13 starts), he posted a 7–3 record and 2.44 ERA. In 2014, he pitched for the Arizona League Diamondbacks, Missoula and Hillsboro Hops, going 6–4 with a 4.31 ERA over 15 games (12 starts). Keller pitched for the Kane County Cougars in 2015, going 8–9 with a 2.60 ERA over 26 games (25 starts), the Visalia Rawhide in 2016 where he went 9–7 with a 4.47 ERA in 24 starts, and 2017 with the Jackson Generals, where he posted a 10–9 record and 4.68 ERA in 26 starts.

Keller made the 25-man roster for the Royals in 2018, and had his MLB debut on Opening Day, March 29, pitching an inning of scoreless relief against the Chicago White Sox; he struck out the first batter he faced, Adam Engel. He split time between the bullpen and the rotation, leading the team in ERA (3.08) and tied for first on the team in wins (9). He struck out 96 batters in 140 1⁄3 innings.

On July 7, 2020, it was announced that Keller had tested positive for COVID-19. Ten days later, he was cleared to return to the Royals’ Summer Camp after producing two negative tests at least 24 hours apart. On September 13, 2020, Keller pitched the first complete game shutout of his career against the Pittsburgh Pirates, allowing five hits (only one for extra bases) and one walk, striking out two batters. With the 2020 Kansas City Royals, Keller appeared in nine games, compiling a 5–3 record with 2.47 ERA and 35 strikeouts in 54+2⁄3 innings pitched. In 2021, he started 26 games and posted an 8–12 record, a 5.39 ERA and 120 strikeouts in 133+2⁄3 innings.