Pirates tab RHP Mitch Keller to start Grapefruit League opener against Blue Jays

BRADENTON, Fla. — Mitch Keller made it his goal to be the starting pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates on Opening Day in Cincinnati, and the right-hander will be on the mound for their spring training opener.

Keller will start Saturday against the Toronto Blue Jays when they open Grapefruit League play at 1:05 p.m. at LECOM Park, Pirates pitching coach Oscar Marin said Thursday.

“Keller’s gonna start that first game on Saturday,” Marin said. “Somebody’s got to start. We need to build them up. I just know Mitch has worked, and I trust Mitch’s work. He’s been ready to go for awhile. I think one of his offseason sides, the last one before he came in, he was up to 97-98 mph. So I’m not too worried about Mitch being ready.”

Keller was 5-12 with a 3.91 ERA last season, leading the staff in starts (29) and innings pitched (159). He had a strong second half, posting a 3.09 ERA and 1.31 WHIP in 70 innings over 13 starts, going 1-2 with a 2.06 ERA in his final six starts over September and October.

Pirates pitching coach Oscar Marin on RHP Mitch Keller, who will start the Grapefruit League opener Saturday against the Blue Jays at LECOM Park, developing an identity on the pitching staff. pic.twitter.com/S8LRXAhXpk

— Kevin Gorman (@KevinGormanPGH) February 23, 2023

Marin was impressed with how Keller developed an identity last year, training at Tread Athletics in the offseason to increase the velocity on his four-seam fastball and then switching to a sinker midseason when his heater was getting hit hard. Keller has since added a gyro slider to his sweeper to improve his breaking pitches.

“You see Mitch where he’s at now. That process he did let Mitch know, this is who I am now,” Marin said. “You guys saw the confidence in Mitch just rise up. And I think he’s a confident major-league starting pitcher now.”