Former Xavier prep Keller back to pitching

CEDAR RAPIDS - Mitch Keller does not consider it a wasted year of development.

That the Pittsburgh Pirates prospect and former Cedar Rapids Xavier pitcher had but three official innings under his belt going into Saturday wasn't a catastrophe in his mind.

'No, I wouldn't say it's been a waste,” he said. 'It's definitely not what I expected, as far as development. But I'll go down to instructs (instructional league) at the end of the season and get my innings in. I feel like I still learned a lot of things sitting in the dugout during games, talking to my pitching coach.”

Keller was scheduled to get the start for the Bristol (Va.) Pirates of the Rookie-level Appalachian League on Saturday night. He has returned from a forearm injury that kept him off the mound longer than he and the Pirates wanted.

The 19-year-old right-hander first noticed something wasn't right in his final appearance of extended spring training in Florida. He was sent to Bristol for the start of its season in mid-June but was shut down for two weeks.

He began a rehab program and gradually began throwing again. Satisfied with his progress, the Pirates allowed Keller to pitch three innings in a game last week against Danville, where he allowed four hits and run, striking out four.

'It felt great,” he said. 'It felt normal.”

Keller was selected by the Pirates in the second round of last year's MLB Draft and signed a contract with a bonus of $1 million. He had a terrific half-season with the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Pirates (1.98 earned run average in 27 1/3 inning), with his velocity bumping into the mid-90s and his prospect status vaulting into the organization's top 10 to 15.

He was more than ready to build on that fine professional start, but his forearm wouldn't cooperate. 'It's just been frustrating,” he said. 'Just disappointing. I had such high expectations for myself this season. Watching instead of pitching kind of sucks.”

Around the horn

--Keller's older brother, Jon, had a good week for the high-A Frederick Keys (Orioles). In two relief appearances against Myrtle Beach Jon Keller threw 4 1/3 shutout innings to lower his season earned run average to 3.82 in 30 appearances. A reliever, he has picked up four saves.

--Former Iowa Hawkeyes shortstop Jake Yacinich has been promoted by the Los Angeles Angels from Burlington of the Midwest League to high-A Inland Empire. Yacinich was hitting .304 in nine games for the 66ers.

--Former Solon prep Derrick Loveless homered and drove in two runs Friday night for high-A Dunedin (Blue Jays). He has seven longballs this season.

--Former Cedar Rapids Kernels relief pitcher Chris Mazza signed a contract with the Miami Marlins last week and has been assigned to high-A Jupiter. Mazza pitched parts of four injury plagued seasons in the Minnesota Twins organization before being released recently. His career minor-league stats are a 9-6 record, three saves and a 3.07 ERA in 57 appearances.

--The Marlins earlier signed former Kernels reliever Jose Velez after he was released by the Twins in June. For low-A Greensboro, Velez is 1-0 with a 4.24 ERA in 17 innings.

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