Keller overcomes injury to have pro baseball career

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. - A torn ulnar collateral ligament doesn't always mean Tommy John surgery for baseball players. Jon Keller is living, pitching proof.

The UCL in the Cedar Rapids Xavier graduate's right elbow is partially ruptured, yet he's throwing professionally for the Delmarva Shorebirds of the low-Class A South Atlantic League and throwing very effectively.

Going into the weekend, the Baltimore Orioles prospect hadn't given up a run in his last six relief appearances, spanning 13 innings. He is 1-0 with a save and 2.14 earned run average in 10 games for Delmarva (located in Salisbury, Md.), with only 13 hits allowed and 29 strikeouts in 21 innings.

'I don't know. Just fastball command is key,” Keller said. 'I think that's key at any level, when you throw your fastball where you want to, then mix in your slider and changeup. I've just had one bad outing, against Greensboro, where I was up in the zone a little bit and threw a few too many fastballs. But since then, I've been pitching really well.”

And, again, doing so with an injury that caused him to drop significantly in last year's MLB draft.

Keller, 21, said he began having elbow discomfort when he was at the University of Nebraska and was officially diagnosed with a torn UCL last year after transferring to the University of Tampa. He was the winning pitcher in last year's NCAA Division II national championship game, but questions about his health caused him to slide to the 22nd round.

Keller had one more year of college eligibility but chose to sign with Baltimore, receiving a $100,000 bonus. He was drafted out of high school in the 11th round by the Seattle Mariners but did not sign.

'I was really confused because I had no pain where (the injury) was. It was all at the top of my elbow,” Keller said. 'So we got that figured out, and I rehabbed it for three months and have been healthy ever since.

'They say with a partially torn UCL, where it's not torn enough to where you have to have surgery, there's scar tissue that builds up around it, so it will heal. I'm good now.”

Keller said he tries not to think about his elbow when he pitches because it could subconsciously alter his mechanics, which could lead to further injury. The Orioles are being careful with him, allowing him only to throw a couple innings at a time, then making him rest for three days.

His last two outings have been three innings apiece, and he eventually wants more.

'The hope with my throwing program is just to stay healthy this year and next year become a starter again,” he said.

Even if he has to remain in the bullpen, that could still get him to the majors. Keller said a couple of delivery changes have increased his fastball velocity to 94 to 98 miles per hour, which is more than plenty.

He'll be intently watching this year's draft in June as well, as younger brother, Mitch, is a likely pick, perhaps going in the top five rounds. Mitch Keller is a senior at Xavier.

'My family, they know what to expect,” he said. 'All the pre-draft stuff, all the projections, those don't really mean anything. Anything can happen. With me going through it twice and kind of being upset with what happened, I mean, their hopes are high, but they're not really going into it expecting anything.

'The kid, I couldn't be more proud of him. Last offseason, he worked out with me every day. It's been great, a fun ride.”

And his own career is becoming a fun ride, even though it took a few twists and turns along the way.

'It's been a road that I didn't expect to go down, that's for sure,” he said. 'Going to Nebraska after getting drafted out of high school, it just wasn't what I thought it was going to be. So I transferred to Tampa and had the time of my life there. It was a great fit, a great staff, great coaches, great everything. We won the national championship.

'Then the draft finally came around again and falling down so far … I was told injuries were the reason. But where I'm at now, obviously, it's been a bumpy road, but I couldn't be happier to be in the Orioles organization and pitching like I am.”

AROUND THE HORN

'Former Cedar Rapids Prairie prep Scott Schebler had a two-homer game this past week against Huntsville. The Double-A Chattanooga (Dodgers) outfielder is hitting .256 in his first 38 games, with eight home runs and 24 RBIs.

'Former Cascade prep Colin Rea continues to pitch well in high-Class A Lake Elsinore's (Padres) starting rotation. He gave up one run and struck out seven over five innings in a win this past week over Inland Empire. He is 4-1 with a 3.79 earned run average in eight starts for the Storm.

'Kellen Sweeney has been activated from high-Class A Dunedin's (Blue Jays) disabled list. The former Cedar Rapids Jefferson prep is hitless in his first eight at-bats.

'Solon's Derek Loveless came into the weekend hitting .287 for low-A Lansing (Blue Jays) of the Midwest League. He was 2-for-2 with a pair of walks the other night against Bowling Green.

'Because of all the injuries his Cedar Rapids Kernels (Twins) have had, former Cedar Rapids Washington prep Chad Christensen has been playing mostly outfield lately. Christensen, who came into the weekend hitting .280, has been primarily a first baseman-designated hitter this season.

'Former Kernels wunderkind Byron Buxton has been shelved again after re-aggravating a left wrist incurred while diving for a fly ball in spring training. The consensus 2013 minor league player of the year could be out until July after reinjuring his left wrist. He was 3-for-20 (.150) in five games at high-Class A Fort Myers.

l Comments: (319) 398-8259; jeff.johnson@sourcemedia.net