CINCINNATI -- Mitch Keller is headed back to Indiana.
Tuesday, following Keller's first professional start in an 8-1 loss to the Reds, the Pirates optioned him back to the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians. In a concurrent move, the Pirates recalled Richard Rodriguez.
Keller gave up six earned runs in the first inning of the loss, putting the Pirates in a hole and his big-league career in immediate jeopardy. To Keller's credit, he remained in the game and struck out seven batters total while allowing zero runs after the first inning. In all, he pitched four innings, but it wasn't enough to convince Pirates brass to give him a second chance.
"We saw some good things and we need to evaluate away from the fire and away from the flame, and go from there," Hurdle was telling me after the game Monday.
Apparently, their evaluations determined he wasn't ready, and he will now head back to Indianapolis to hone his skills and refine his craft.
"I just wanted to do the best I could," Keller was telling me after the game. "It's the big stage and [I was] just being anxious and nervous. After the first batter really, or the first inning, it kind of all went away."
Jameson Taillon believes there's something there, too.
"Man, he's fun to watch pitch," Taillon was telling me. "He's got good stuff. That first inning, he got those jitters. I said it the other day to somebody, but you can't judge anybody off their first start and specifically their first inning."
On the other side of this transaction, Rodriguez pitched 1.1 innings, tallying two strikeouts and allowing zero hits across both games of the doubleheader Monday.
HUNTER'S VIEW
I'm torn on this one, lunatics. On one hand, I didn't like calling up Keller as early as they did to begin with, and his performance certainly doesn't warrant a second chance.
Or does it?
I don't know what to make of it. Yes, it was horrendous. It was as bad as a pitcher can perform in the Major Leagues. But then it wasn't bad — at all. Keller found his groove and retired 10 of his last 11 batters. Talking to Hurdle, Taillon and Alex McRae, the theme was clear: Keller got caught up in the moment and blinded by the spotlight.
The Pirates need starting pitchers, and what if those final three innings were more indicative of his skill set than the first? You'd certainly want that guy on your team's active roster.
As it stands, that first inning was too disastrous for them to get past, which I can also understand. Keller will have time to grow, to learn and to prepare for his next shot. Rodriguez pitched well Monday, so having him as a relief option is not a bad fall-back.