Mitchell Thomas Keller...Wife’s name is Clancy...Has a son...Is a 2014 graduate of Xavier (Iowa) High School...Was the No. 1 baseball prospect in all of Iowa (per Perfect Game)...Was committed to pitch at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill before signing with the Pirates...His older brother, Jon, pitched across parts of five seasons (2013-17) in Baltimore’s Minor League system...Is a fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes (grew up close to campus)...Was signed by Pirates scout Matt Bimeal.
2025
Made his sixth career Opening Day roster... Earned the win after allowing one run over 6.0 innings in his season debut on 3/28 at Miami...Struck out six batters over 7.1 scoreless innings on 4/9 vs. St. Louis...Recorded his 700th Major League strikeout (Pedro Pagés) that afternoon, making him the fastest pitcher in team history (since 1887) to reach 700 strikeouts by innings pitched (718.1), according to Elias, passing Bob Veale (740.0 innings, 1962-66)…Also became the third-fastest pitcher by games pitched (136) to reach the mark, per Elias, trailing only Gerrit Cole (123 games, 2013- 17) and Veale (135 games, 1962-66)…Snapped a streak of 10 straight losing decisions (4/4-6/21) after earning the win on 6/27 vs. New York-NL (also marked his first win at PNC Park since 7/8/24 vs. New York-NL)…Struck out seven batters over 7.0 scoreless innings on 7/2 vs. St. Louis...Passed Paul Maholm as PNC Park’s all-time leader in strikeouts with his third-inning punchout of Masyn Winn (strikeout No. 384 in the stadium) that afternoon...Collected his 800th Major League strikeout (Ernie Clement) on 8/19 vs. Toronto... Became the fastest pitcher in team history to reach the 800-strikeout mark by innings pitched (844.0), per Elias, passing Veale (848.0, 1962-66)...His 32 starts were tied for the sixth-most in the National League...His 124 starts since the start of 2022 rank fourth in the National League, behind Logan Webb (132), Miles Mikolas (130) and Zac Gallen (126)... The 124 starts also rank ninth in all of Major League Baseball.
2024
Made the Opening Day roster for the fifth straight season and made his second straight Opening Day start; gave up five runs (four earned) in 5.2ip in a no-decision on 3/28 at Miami...Went 4-0 with a 1.30 ERA (27.2ip/4er) in four starts during the month of May...Won his fifth straight start on 6/1 at Toronto (6.0ip/1er)...Became the first Pirates pitcher to be credited with a win in five consecutive starts since J.A. Happ also did so from Aug. 19-Sept. 9, 2015...Also became the first Pirates pitcher to have seven or more wins thru June 1 in consecutive years since Howie Camnitz in 1908 (7 wins) and 1909 (8 wins); the only other Bucco pitcher to do so was Frank Killen in 1896 (10 wins) and 1897 (8 wins)...Became the fifth MLB pitcher since 2013 to reach seven or more wins by June 1 in back-to-back seasons; the other four were Justin Verlander (2018-19), Clayton Kershaw (2016-17), Felix Hernandez (2014-15) and Adam Wainwright (2013-14)...Posted six straight outings of 6.0+ IP and two or fewer runs allowed, the longest such streak by a Pirates pitcher since Gerrit Cole had an eight-game streak from May 11-June 18, 2015...Produced a 1.13 ERA (39.2ip/5er), a .226 opponents average (33-for-146) and 35 strikeouts while winning six straight starts from 5/6 thru 6/7 - the first Pirates pitcher since Gerrit Cole from May 22-June 18, 2015 to win six consecutive starts...Surpassed 300 career strikeouts at PNC Park on 7/8; one of four pitchers with 300 or more Ks at the ballpark...Became the fourth pitcher in club history with 10+ wins, 100+ strikeouts and 100.0+ innings pitched before the All-Star break, joining Gerrit Cole (2015), Bob Veale (1966) and Bob Friend (1960)...Made his final start before the All- Star break on 7/14 at Chicago (AL) and gave up two runs in 3.0ip, snapping his streak of 49 consecutive starts of at least 5.0ip...Pitched 5.0+ innings in 49 consecutive starts from 4/5/23 thru 7/8/24; tied with A.J. Burnett for the second-longest streak in club history behind Wilbur Cooper (66 starts from May 4, 1919 thru Sept. 28, 1920)...Struck out a season-high nine batters and tossed 7.0+ scoreless innings while winning his 11th and final game on 8/20 at Texas...Lost each of his last five decisions and went 1-7 with a 7.29 ERA (45.2ip/39r/37er) over his final nine starts, beginning on 8/9.
2023
Was selected to his first All-Star team; pitched the second inning and surrendered a solo homer to Yandy Diaz while also striking out a batter…Set club record for most strikeouts by a right-handed pitcher (210); previous mark was held by A.J. Burnett (209 in 2013)…Ranked fourth among N.L. leaders in innings pitched, tied for fifth in strikeouts and tied for eighth in wins…Was named the winner of the Steve Blass Award (club’s best pitcher) by the local chapter of the BBWAA…Was the Opening Day starter and received a no-decision on 3/30 at Cincinnati (4.2ip/4er)… Threw 103 pitches while tossing his first Major League shutout and complete game on 5/8 vs. Colorado; the first Pittsburgh pitcher with a 9.0-inning shutout since Jameson Taillon on 4/8/18…Struck out a career-high 13 batters while tossing 7.0 scoreless innings for his fifth win on 5/14 at Baltimore; the 13 Ks were the most by a Pittsburgh RHP since Jose DeLeon had 14 on April 16, 1985...Also became the first Pirates pitcher with 13 strikeouts, no walks and no runs allowed in an outing in the Live Ball Era (since 1920)…Was named N.L. Player of the Week for the week of 5/8-14 after going 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA (16.0ip), one walk and 21 strikeouts in two starts…Also became the first Pirates pitcher in the Modern Era (since 1900) to have a two-start span in which he did not allow a run with 20+ strikeouts and no more than one walk allowed… Struck out eight batters without a walk on 5/20 vs. Arizona; his fifth consecutive game with 8+ strikeouts and one or fewer walks - the longest such streak by a Pirates pitcher in the Modern Era (since 1901)…With 93 strikeouts, became the first pitcher in franchise history to amass 90+ strikeouts prior to June 1 (previous high was 89 by A.J. Burnett in 2013)… Recorded eight or more strikeouts in seven consecutive outings from 4/27 thru 5/31, the longest such streak by a Pirates pitcher in the Modern Era (since 1900)…His 129 strikeouts at the All-Star break were the third-most in Pirates history behind Bob Veale, who had 137 in 1965 and 134 in 1966…Pitched 8.0 scoreless innings and won his 11th decision on 8/25 vs. Chicago (NL)…Recorded his 500th career strikeout on 9/8 at Atlanta…Pitched 8.0 scoreless innings while winning a 2-0 decision on 9/14 vs. Washington…Struck out his 200th batter of the season and won his 13th game on 9/20 at Chicago (NL)..Set the club record for most strikeouts by a right-handed pitcher (210) while making his 100th career start on 9/26 at Philadelphia.
2022
Was named the Steve Blass Award winner by the local chapter of the BBWAA (the team’s best pitcher)... Set career highs in innings pitched and strikeouts while posting a 3.91 ERA in 31 games (29 starts)...Made the Opening Day roster for the second straight season...Picked up his first win as a starter on 5/31 at Dodger Stadium (5.0ip/2er)... Posted a 2.54 ERA (28.1ip/8er) and 24 strikeouts in six games (four starts) from 5/18 through 6/19...Allowed two or fewer earned runs in four consecutive starts from 5/31 through 6/19...Did not allow a home run in five starts during the month of June (26.1ip)...Tossed 7.0 innings for the first time in his career while allowing one run in a 5-1 win at Miami on 7/11... Posted a 2.61 ERA (31.1ip/9er) in five starts during the month of July...Left the game on 8/16 after 2.0 innings with right shoulder fatigue...Struck out a career-high 10 batters and threw a career-high 105 pitches in a no-decision on 8/30 at Milwaukee...Pitched 17.0 consecutive scoreless innings from 8/30 to 9/16; the longest streak by a Pirates starter since Trevor Williams threw 20.2 consecutive scoreless frames from 8/22 to 9/10, 2018...Made his final start on 10/3 vs. St. Louis while giving up two runs in 5.0-plus innings of work (surrendered the 703rd career home run to Albert Pujols).
2021
Ranked third on the Pirates staff in starts and strikeouts... Posted a 3.57 ERA (40.1ip/16er) in eight starts on the road and a 7.91 ERA (60.1ip/53er) in 15 starts at PNC Park... Did not allow a home run in his final six starts (28.2ip)... His .345 batting average against left-handed hitters was the highest in MLB (min: 200 batters faced)... Made the Opening Day roster for the second straight season... Started the third game of the season on his 25th birthday on 4/4 at Chicago and suffered the loss (3.0ip/3er)...Won his first career game at PNC Park on 4/10 vs. Chicago (NL)... Did not walk a batter (third career time) while giving up two runs in 5.0ip in a no-decision on 4/22 at Detroit... Pitched 5.2 scoreless innings and won his second decision on 5/4 at San Diego... Also singled off Ryan Weathers for his first Major League hit on 5/4 (began his career 0-for-15)... Lost three straight starts from 5/10-22...Pitched 5.0 scoreless innings and collected his second hit of the season while winning his third decision on 5/29 vs. Colorado (game 2)...Left his start on 6/4 vs. Miami after 2.0ip due to heat illness... Suffered his seventh loss on 6/10 vs. Los Angeles-NL (2.2ip/4er)...Was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis on 6/12... Struck out two of the three batters he faced while making his Indy debut in relief on 6/16 vs. Memphis... Made first start with Indy on 6/25 at Louisville (3.0ip/3r/2er)... Threw 64 pitches (44 strikes) and gave up one run in 4.0ip on 6/30 vs. Iowa...Pitched 5.0 scoreless innings on 7/6 vs. Columbus...Won his lone game at Indy on 7/13 vs. Omaha (5.1ip/2r/1er)... Was recalled on 7/30...Lost three straight starts from 8/2-14...Tossed 5.0 scoreless innings while winning his fourth decision on 8/20 at St. Louis... Gave up seven runs in 5.1ip (no-decision) on 8/26 vs. St. Louis...Struck out eight batters and did not allow a run or a walk in 6.0ip on 9/2 at Chicago (NL); left the game with a 3-0 lead... The only other Pittsburgh pitcher to have eight or more strikeouts without giving up a walk or a run at Wrigley Field was Bob Friend, who whiffed eight Cubs in a one-hit shutout (2-0) on Sept. 7, 1955... Picked up his final win on 9/21 at Cincinnati... Struck out as a pinch hitter on 9/26 at Philadelphia... Started the final game of the season on 10/3 vs. Cincinnati (3.0ip/1er)... Went 2-4 with a 5.40 ERA (53.1ip/32er) in 11 starts after being recalled on 7/30; went 3-7 with a 7.04 ERA (47.1ip/37er) in his first 12 starts thru 6/10... Went 3-for-28 (.107) with two walks and two sac bunts as a batter with the Bucs.
2020
Entered season ranked by MLB.com as Pittsburgh’s No. 1 prospect and No. 39 overall in MLB...Made the Opening Day roster and started the third game of the season on 7/26 at St. Louis; gave up one run in 5.0ip while picking up the club’s first win of the season...Left his second start on 8/1 at Wrigley Field with left side discomfort...Was placed on the 10-day injured list on 8/2 (left oblique)...Threw 3.0 innings/43 pitches of live BP on 9/9...Was reinstated from the injured list on 9/14 and started game two of the doubleheader that night vs. Cincinnati; gave up two hits, four walks and three runs in 3.0 innings of work...Made his only home start on 9/19 vs. St. Louis and pitched 6.0 hitless innings while striking out a season-high six batters (was on an 85- pitch pitch count)...Made his final start on 9/25 at Cleveland and pitched 5.0 hitless innings, becoming the first National League pitcher to have back-to-back no-hit outings of 5+ innings since Johnny Vander Meer’s back-to-back no-hitters on June 11-15, 1938...His career-high eight walks on 9/25 were a season-high by a Major League pitcher and the most by a Pirates pitcher since Jason Schmidt also walked eight against the Reds on September 18, 1996...Became only the fourth pitcher in the modern era (since 1900) to throw at least five no-hit innings in consecutive appearances; the others were Cy Young in 1904 (first in relief, second a no-hitter), Johnny Vander Meer in 1938 (both no-hitters), and Ray Moore of the Orioles in 1956 (both in relief)...Held opposing batters to a .132 (9-for-68) average in his five starts.
2019
Entered season ranked by Baseball America as the Pirates No. 1 prospect for the second straight season...Also listed as having the “Best Fastball” and “Best Curveball” in the system...Was named the Most Valuable Pitcher of the International League...Was also named to the International League mid- and post-season All-Star teams...Began season with Triple-A Indianapolis...Was named International League Pitcher-of-the-Week for the week of 4/15-21 after going 1-0 with a 0.79 ERA (11.1ip/1er) and 13 strikeouts in two starts... Struck out 10 batters while winning his second decision on 4/27 at Charlotte...Was 5-0 with a 3.45 ERA (47.0ip/18er) in nine Triple-A starts when he was recalled by Pittsburgh on 5/27...Made his Major League debut in game two of a doubleheader on 5/27 at Cincinnati; gave up seven runs (all in the first inning) in 4.0 innings and suffered the loss... Returned to Triple-A and suffered first loss with Indy on 6/2 vs. Gwinnett (6.0ip/2er)...Had a career-high 13 strikeouts while pitching 5.0 scoreless innings on 6/7 at Toledo (nodecision)...Was recalled a second time on 6/12; started that night at Atlanta and received a no-decision (3.0ip/6r)... Made his first career start at PNC Park on 6/18 vs. Detroit and received a no-decision (5.0ip/4r/2er)...Was optioned CAREER HIGHLIGHTS to Indianapolis on 6/19...Captured his second International League Player-of-the-Week honors for the week of 7/11-14 after pitching 6.0 scoreless innings and striking out eight batters on 7/11 at Columbus...Made his final Triple-A start on 8/2 vs. Columbus and struck out 12 batters in 6.0ip (his seventh career double-digit strikeout game)...Was leading the league in strikeouts (123) and ranked second in ERA (3.56) when he was recalled a third time on 8/12...Won his first Major League game on 8/12 at Los Angeles (AL): gave up two runs (one earned) in 5.0ip...Was the starter and loser in the third annual Little League Classic on 8/18 vs. Chicago-NL (4.1ip/6er)...Struck out a career-high nine batters in 6.0+ innings on 8/23 vs. Cincinnati...Took a line drive off his right wrist on 9/3 vs. Miami; suffered a wrist contusion but did not miss a start...Gave up one run and struck out seven batters in his final start (5.0ip) on 9/24 vs. Chicago (NL)...Averaged 12.19 strikeouts/per 9.0ip with the Pirates...Went 0-for-10 with one sacrifice bunt at the plate.
2018
Entered season ranked by Baseball America as Pittsburgh’s No. 1 prospect; was also tabbed by the same publication as having the “Best Fastball”, “Best Curveball” and “Best Control” in the Pirates minor league system...Also listed as the organization’s top prospect by MLB.com...Split season between Altoona and Indianapolis...Also made one start with High-A Bradenton on 7/10 while Indianapolis was on its AllStar break...Went 12-4 with a 3.48 ERA (142.1ip/55er) and 135 strikeouts in a career-high 25 starts between the three teams...Also set minor league career highs in wins, innings pitched and walks (55)...Began season with Altoona and won nine of his 14 Double-A starts before being promoted to Triple-A on 6/28...Ranked fourth in the Eastern League in ERA, first in wins, third in innings pitched (86.0) and fourth in batting average against (.208) at the time of his promotion... Went 4-0 with a 0.69 ERA (26.0ip/2er) and a 0.81 WHIP in his final four starts with Altoona between 6/6-25...Gave up a career-high eight runs in 2.2ip while making his Triple-A debut on 6/30 at Columbus (no-decision)...Suffered first loss with Indy in his next start on 7/5 vs. Louisville (6.0ip/5er)... Was transferred to Bradenton during the Triple-A All-Star break and made lone outing with the Marauders on 7/10 (4.0ip/2r/1er)...Started the MLB Futures Game on 7/15 at Nationals Park in Washington and retired all three batters he faced...Earned his first Triple-A win on 8/9 vs. Lehigh Valley.
2017
Entered season ranked by Baseball America as Pittsburgh’s second-best prospect and as having the “Best Curveball” in Pittsburgh’s minor league system...Also listed as the No. 22 prospect in baseball and No. 6 RHP prospect by MLB.com...Went 8-5 with a 3.03 ERA (116.0ip/39er) and 116 strikeouts in 23 total starts at three different levels of the organization...Ranked third among Pirates minor leaguers in ERA and fourth in strikeouts...Began season with Bradenton and was selected to the Florida State League mid-season All-Star team...Was named the Florida State League Pitche-rof-the-Week for the week of 5/1-7...Missed a month of action with a back injury between 5/17 and 6/18...Made two starts with Morgantown-WV on 6/19 (2.0ip/0r) and 6/24 (2.0ip/0r) before returning to Bradenton on 6/29...Was promoted Altoona on 8/5...Made Double-A debut on 8/6 at Trenton and allowed two runs in the fifth inning in no-decision... Recorded 11 strikeouts over 6.0 scoreless innings and won his final regular season start on 9/1 vs. Harrisburg...Threw 90 pitches and faced the minimum in a 9.0-inning shutout over Bowie in Game One of the Western Division Series on 9/7 (gave up one hit and two walks while striking out four)...Pitched championship-clinching Game Three of the Championship Series on 9/14 vs Trenton; allowed two runs (both in the second inning) and four hits in 7.1 innings while striking out eight batters in the 4-2 victory...Was named Eastern League Postseason Most Valuable Player after going 2-0 with a 1.10 ERA in two starts...Was ranked by MLB.com as Pirates’ No. 2 prospect following season...Participated in the Arizona Fall League and went 4-0 with a 1.52 ERA (23.2ip/4er) in six starts with Glendale...Was named to the league’s Fall-Star’s Game and was the starting pitcher for the West team (2.0ip/1h/1r/1er/2bb/0so)...Was named the best starting right-handed pitcher in the Arizona Fall League after leading the league in wins and ranking fifth in ERA...Was one of three starting pitchers named to the Arizona Fall League’s Top Prospects team.
2016
Was named Pittsburgh’s Minor League Pitcher-of-theYear after going 9-5 with a 2.35 ERA (130.1ip/34er) and a career-high 138 strikeouts in 24 starts...Made all but one of his starts with Single-A West Virginia, where he was named to the South Atlantic League mid- and post-season All-Star team...Was also named the South Atlantic League’s Most Outstanding Pitcher and the “Best Right-Handed Pitcher” at the end of the year...Ranked second in the South Atlantic League in ERA and batting average against (.211), first in WHIP (0.92) and fewest baserunners per 9.0 innings among starters (9.05) and third in strikeouts per 9.0 innings among starters (9.48)...Was named the South Atlantic League Pitcher-of-theWeek for the week of 4/7-17...Was named the South Atlantic League Player-of-the-Month for April after going 2-1 with a 0.86 ERA in four starts; also allowed just 12 hits, walked one and struck out 28 batters while posting a .167 batting average against...Was the starter and winner for the North Division in the South Atlantic League All-Star Game on 6/21...Finished third in West Virginia single-season history in strikeouts, trailing only Tyler Glasnow (164 in 2013) and Will Inman (134 in 2006)...Ranked second among Pirates minor leaguers in strikeouts and fourth in ERA...Was charged with just three earned runs over his first 41.0 innings of work (0.79 ERA) to start the season…Had a season-high 10 strikeouts twice in 5.0ip each time; 4/11 at Greenville and 4/22 at Lexington... Allowed three earned runs in five starts during the month of August (26.2ip - 1.01 ERA)…Finished his campaign with West Virginia on a 23-inning scoreless streak...Was promoted to Bradenton on 8/30 and pitched 6.0 scoreless innings in his lone start with the Marauders on 8/30 vs. Jupiter...Finished the year with a 29-inning scoreless streak.
2015
Was ranked by Baseball America as Pittsburgh’s ninthbest prospect entering the season...Spent entire season with short-season Bristol…Did not debut until 8/2 because of right forearm tightness…Was charged with more than one earned run just twice in his six starts; gave up two runs on 8/8 and a career-high seven runs in 2.0ip on 8/21 at Princeton..
2014
Made professional debut with the Gulf Coast League Pirates after being selected in the second round of the First-Year Player Draft on 6/5...Did not allow a run in his first two outings (5.0ip)...Made his only professional relief appearance on 7/11 and tossed 3.0 scoreless frames...Did not surrender an earned run in six of his nine outings...Was not charged with an earned run over four starts (14.2ip) between 7/31 and 8/18.
