ATLANTA -- Mitch Keller has technically spent only one day in the major leagues.
However, Keller already feels more comfortable in the big-league surroundings. The top prospect will be officially recalled from Class AAA Indianapolis on Wednesday to start that night against the Braves at SunTrust Park.
Keller made his debut May 27 in Cincinnati, an 8-1 loss. He joined the Pirates before Tuesday night’s game with the Braves and went through a workout with the rest of the pitching staff.
“It always helps to have been through something before,” Keller said. “I know the routine better this time, have a better idea of what to expect.”
Keller had a rocky debut as he allowed six runs in the first inning before settling down. He followed with three scoreless innings before being removed from the game.
I asked Keller what he learned from his initial major-league experience.
In 11 starts with Indianapolis this season, Keller is 5-1 with a 3.26 ERA. He pitched five scoreless innings and struck out 13 in his most recent outing, a no-decision at Toledo on Friday.
It will be very interesting to see how Keller fares his second time around. He has the pedigree as one of the top-25 prospects in baseball, according to various analysts.
However, Keller has had major struggles in his limited exposure to major-league hitters. In addition to getting shelled out of the gate by the Reds, Keller also got hit hard in the three major-league exhibition games he pitched in during spring training.
I don’t profess to know Keller all that well, but he comes across as an intelligent and quiet young man. He also has not shown a trace of arrogance. Normally that attribute is to be applauded, but most star major-leaguers have at least some semblance of an ego.
Thus, it seems to me that Keller is not going to be a guy who takes the major leagues by storm. It’s going to take some time for him to gain confidence and refine his game.
Yet, considering the Pirates have lost five in a row and 16 of 22, they could sure use a boost Wednesday night.
• Remember when seemingly most of the fan base wanted Kevin Newman to be sent down to Indianapolis?
Well, it seems like a long time ago now.
Newman went 3 for 4 on Tuesday night when the Pirates lost 7-5 to the Braves in a game shortened to eight innings by rain. That lifted his batting average to .310. You can read more about the game here. Furthermore, Newman’s defense has been solid and, at times, spectacular. His defensive runs saved is zero — indicative of a league-average fielder — but the eye test says he is at least a little bit better than that.
Cole Tucker seemingly has a bright future and many pundits have proclaimed him the Pirates’ shortstop of the future. However, it would be unwise to look at Newman as nothing more than a stopgap until Tucker gains more experience at Indianapolis. Newman is proving he belongs.
• Josh Bell is the leading vote-getter among National League first basemen through the first round of All-Star Game voting.
Bell has garnered 621,915 votes, a bit over 180,000 more than the Cubs’ Anthony Rizzo, who is in second place. That is impressive considering the Cubs play in a city nine times the population of Pittsburgh and seem to be on national television every other day, while the Pirates get almost no notice outside the Pittsburgh market.
It is heartening to see that fans appreciate the season Bell is having. He raised his RBI total to 60, the most in the major leagues, on Tuesday with a two-run single in the first inning. He also has a .324 batting average and 18 home runs in 65 games.
Bell certainly has the credentials to be in Cleveland on July 9.
• Courtesy of our ace copy editor Bob Maddamma, the Pirates have now lost 10 games this season in which they scored five or more runs, compared to 15 such games all last season. That is a quite a striking indictment of the Pirates’ pitching staff.
• I hate to complain about my job and rarely do because I fully understand that plenty of people would love to do it. And I still love to do it.
However, please indulge for just five seconds. I hate rain delays. Especially in the ninth inning. I type this at 2:07 a.m.
End of rant.
Good night. Er, good morning.
