Xavier’s Keller to sign with Pirates

CEDAR RAPIDS - He wasn't the highest draft pick to come from a local high school. We'll have to wait a few years to see if he's the most successful.

But there's one certainty regarding Mitch Keller. He's poised to become the wealthiest.

The Cedar Rapids Xavier pitcher will fly Thursday morning to Pittsburgh and sign a contract Friday with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He'll move on to Bradenton, Fla., from there this weekend to begin a professional baseball career.

'Basically just been doing about 10 loads of laundry,” Keller laughed, when asked how his final day in Cedar Rapids (for now) was spent. 'Trying to get all my clothes ready to go.”

Keller was the Pirates' second-round pick in last week's Major League Baseball draft, the 64th overall. The 6-foot-3 right-hander wouldn't divulge how big a signing bonus he'll be receiving, saying only it's above the $886,800 MLB has officially slotted for the pick.

Pittsburgh has signed first-round pick Cole Tucker (a prep shortstop) for an under-slot $1.8-million deal, freeing up more money to sign its other picks in the top 10 rounds.

'Not really supposed to say how much,” Keller said. 'I'm sure it will come out eventually ... On draft day, we pretty much had a deal done.”

Chicago Cubs outfielder Ryan Sweeney received $785,000 in 2003 after being taken by the Chicago White Sox 52nd overall out of Xavier. His younger brother, Kellen, was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays 69th overall in 2009 out of Cedar Rapids Jefferson.

Keller will be assigned to the Pirates' Rookie-level Gulf Coast League team in Bradenton but hopes he'll get a chance to pitch for Rookie-level Bristol by season's end. He was a University of North Carolina signee.

'Really excited about everything,” he said. 'It's definitely hard saying goodbye to everyone, though.”

Keller's older brother, Jon, is having a terrific first full professional season with low-Class A Delmarva in the Baltimore Orioles farm system, with a 2-0 record and three saves in 16 games. That includes allowing just 19 hits and striking out 47 in 36 innings.

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