BRADENTON, Fla. -- Surrounded by a group of supporters, including family, teammates, coaches and members of the Pirates’ front office, Mitch Keller sat on the left-field party deck at LECOM Park in Bradenton and reflected on the first five years of his Major League career, a period that featured on-field struggles, self-doubt and perseverance.
“I’m just super grateful. Those times when everyone just leaned into me and gave me the confidence when I had probably zero, they let me know who I was as a person and who I was as a player was gonna be able to come through,” Keller said. “That spring-boarded me into the past few seasons when it’s been really good.”
Keller’s hard work and determination also spring-boarded him into a five-year, $77 million contract extension, which was formally announced by the Pirates Friday.
The deal begins this season, runs through the 2028 season and does not have any options. It is the largest deal for a pitcher in franchise history and the largest in terms of average annual value ($15.4 million) in franchise history.
"I'm super excited with the group we have and the future that's to come," Keller said. "It's a really exciting time to be a Pirate, and I couldn't be more thrilled."
It is the third straight year the Pirates have invested in a player viewed as a franchise cornerstone. They signed Bryan Reynolds to an eight-year, $106.75 million contract last year and inked Ke’Bryan Hayes to an eight-year contract extension worth $70 million in 2022.
"It's certainly what we know we need to do,” said Bob Nutting, who joined Keller alongside Ben Cherington for Friday’s press conference. “We need to identify the right players, we need to develop the right players and we need to commit to the ones internally coming up through the system. We also know that we're always going to have to supplement from outside as well, but the core needs to be people who are part of the Pirates organization, understanding how hard they worked, and Mitch really represents that extraordinarily well. He's been through so much, as the Pirates have been through so much, that having him (being) a part of the core rotation as we look forward is going to be important.”
Cherington said conversations took place with Keller early last year. Those discussions were held during the season before being re-opened after the team settled with arbitration-eligible players, including Keller, in mid-January.
Keller’s desire to stay with the club long term played a big role during negotiations, Cherington acknowledged.
“It matters that someone wants to be in Pittsburgh. It matters that we trust him. It’s the old Pat Gillick line. Someone asked Pat Gillick, 'How do you build so many good teams?' He said, ‘You find players you trust.’ It’s simple, but it’s true,” Cherington said. “He’s someone that we trust, on the field and off the field. We trust he’s going to do his part and do everything he can to keep getting better, perform and be a pro off the field. He’s going to represent the Pirates and he’s gonna be in that room in there. It all matters. But certainly wanting to be in Pittsburgh matters, too.”
Keller, a former top prospect in the Pirates’ system, endured struggles through his first three years in the big leagues, posting a 6.02 ERA and a 1.73 WHIP through 39 starts. He turned things around in 2022 with a 3.91 ERA and 3.88 FIP in 31 appearances, including 29 starts. He posted 138 strikeouts and 60 walks in 159 innings.
But last year is when Keller truly looked the part of a top-of-the-rotation starter. He ranked in the top 10 among MLB pitchers with 210 strikeouts in 194 1/3 innings, surpassing A.J. Burnett’s single-season club record for most strikeouts by a right-handed pitcher. In 32 starts, Keller sported a 4.21 ERA, a 1.25 WHIP and a 3.80 FIP.
Keller was recognized for his strong start to the season when he was selected to his first All-Star Game in July. His first-half performance was worthy of that honor, as he went 9-4 with a 3.31 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP in 19 starts. He had 129 strikeouts and 34 walks in 117 innings.
Perhaps the most impressive part of Keller's campaign was the string of five consecutive starts he had from the end of April to the middle of May. During that stretch, he threw five-plus innings, allowed two or less earned runs and collected eight-plus strikeouts in each outing. That included a start against the Orioles on May 14 when he finished with a career-high 13 strikeouts in seven shutout innings.
Keller stumbled in his final 13 starts of 2023, but those rough stretches have helped make him a better pitcher.
“I don’t think I’d be quite as good or as mentally tough as I am if I didn’t go through those struggles,” Keller said. “There are probably going to be more struggles this year, next year, who knows. But knowing it’s not the end of the world and being able to move on to the next pitch, next batter or next game, you know it’s going to be OK. The low points of the career have definitely made me a better person and better baseball player.”
Not only is Keller an asset on the field, but he’s a respected member of the clubhouse as well. Being that he’s starting on opening day for the second straight year and that he’s now locked into a long-term contract, Keller looks forward to helping the younger players in hopefully building something the organization can be proud of.
“I just think back to when I was in their shoes and how the older teammates of mine treated me and helped guide me through pitching during a Major League season; what it takes to get ready and what it takes to be at an elite level,” Keller said. “I’m really excited for that opportunity to be around them. Just looking back, even last year, I was like, ‘Dang, some of these guys are gonna take my job because they’re really good.’ I’m just excited to work with them, be their teammate and have really successful seasons for years to come.”
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