Mitch Keller almost made it.
Almost.
Throughout his press gathering Sunday at PNC Park to share his thoughts on being named the Pirates' lone representative to Major League Baseball's 93rd All-Star Game July 11 in Seattle, with each passing response, it struck me that he seemed pretty much out of breath. That he'd been moved much more than he was allowing himself to show.
And then ...
Yeah. That happened. Didn't make it.
"I’m just getting emotional, man," he'd reply to me through suddenly moist eyes. "It’s really cool. Yeah."
It really is cool. And my goodness, it's richly deserved.
Look, I could waste my time and everyone else's with some microscopic analysis of maybe the most moribund game played on our city's soil all summer, the Pirates' 6-3 loss to the Brewers on this afternoon, but this was -- no, this is -- so much more compelling.
No one in our small section of the world needs a retelling of Keller's tale, so I'll simply summarize by saying that this is the culmination of one of the more determined climbs of any professional athlete I've covered: He soared through the system, he'd been seen as a top-10 prospect in all of baseball, he'd arrive with appropriate fanfare and ... he then put up statistics that had him measured by many as the majors' worst starter. He then was sent back to the minors. He then was bumped to the bullpen. He then probably came across to all of us who don't matter as a bust.
And this at a position that demands, with every release of every pitch, as much poise as it does precision. As much confidence as it does command.
But he stuck by it, the people around him stuck by him and, not to be forgotten, two different front offices of the Pirates did likewise.
And now, of course, he's become the unquestioned staff ace with a 9-3 record -- a chance to be the franchise's first 10-game winner at the All-Star break since Gerrit Cole's 13-3 in 2015 with another win Monday night in Los Angeles -- a 3.34 ERA that ranks eighth in the National League among starters with 100-plus innings, and much of that fueled by 118 strikeouts, fifth-most in the league.
Dude's been through a ton. He took the losses, the cut-short outings, the jabs and jeers ... took all of them hard. And to heart at times.
Now, he'll be suiting up with the best of the best.
How's it feel?
"A lot of hard work, a lot of people supporting me along the way," he'd reply to that. "Family, coaches, teammates, probably a lot of people I’m missing. Just everybody the past couple years. It’s really cool. Really cool moment."
I followed up: A sense of validation?
"Just a lot of hard work. To be recognized is really cool. I guess validation, I don’t know. As soon as you say you've made it, the game will humble you right back. Just trying to stay the same guy. Really cool recognition. Just super-proud of myself and everybody else who has helped me along the way."
How'd he learn about this from Derek Shelton, who learned earlier in the week that he'll be there as a National League coach?
"He didn’t even really say anything. He just looked my way. I don’t think he could get it out to say it. It was just a cool moment. Really cool."
What about teammates?
"It was really cool. They were all super proud, especially the guys who have been with me like Ke’Bryan Hayes, Bryan Reynolds, JT Brubaker. I’m probably missing a few, too, who have been with me for a long time. It’s really cool to see their support. Them having the most confidence in me the last 2-3 years is really cool. Just everyone sticking with me and showing me their support, giving me their love. It’s been awesome."
Had he been thinking about this at all?
"It’s definitely hard not to. But the moment you start thinking about something like that -- for me, at least -- if I start thinking about other things that are out of my control, it’s not a good outcome. Just trying to put it as far back in your mind as you can and go out there and play. Let the hard work and execution take care of itself."
He's done that. And it's been a legit inspiration to others in his environs.
"It was never not going to be Mitch. We all thought that," Brubaker, who's rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, told me after the game. "Look at him on the mound. Look at what he's done. He's taken the reins. He's in full control out there. It's been awesome to watch. And this is even better."
Of the tougher times, Brubaker added, "He had 'em, but that's what got him to where he is now. That was fuel for Mitch. He had some bumps on the road. Some bruises. But he learned how to take those bumps and get back out there. He knows how that felt, and he never wants to feel it again."
Lengthy pause.
"You know, to have Mitch out there representing us, representing the Pittsburgh Pirates, that's awesome."
Shelton always gives gifts to his players upon telling them they're All-Stars, and this wasn't an exception:
When all the hard work pays off 💛 pic.twitter.com/1AU4YlB6ZU
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) July 2, 2023
“I just talked about what our post All-Star break optional workout is going to look like, then gave him a look and had a bottle of champagne and the invitation that they give," he'd say after the game. "Honestly, the guy’s going to his first All-Star Game, and it was emotional for me, too,. Because in four years, he and I have been through a lot together and we’ve had a lot of deep conversations and very heartfelt conversations about not only him as a player but him as a person. He’s one of those guys I almost look at as like one of my kids, so it was very emotional for both he and I.”
About being "through a lot," he elaborated: "When he and I had a personal conversation after that, that’s what we talked through. This kid has been through a lot, including a demotion, including going to the bullpen to work on things. Even more so, we talked about the willingness to learn and adjust. This kid midseason last year made an adjustment – and that’s not easy to do mid-year – and trusted our group and what they saw and how he was going to go about it. Even more so, he took it into the offseason and worked on it in the offseason and spent the time and dedication. So I think it means a lot, and it’s a credit first and foremost to Mitch but it’s also a credit to our pitching team, to Oscar Marin and our analytics guys in terms of what they saw and how they were able to educate him. But most importantly his willingness to learn.”
Wonderful. All of it.
I felt that Andrew McCutchen and/or David Bednar would've been worthy representatives, as well, but, as Brubaker suggested, there never was a doubt about Keller.
Certainly not anymore.
THE ESSENTIALS
• Boxscore
• Live file
• Standings
• Statistics
• Schedule
• Scoreboard
THE HIGHLIGHTS
THE INJURIES
• 10-day injured list: 3B Ke'Bryan Hayes (back), 2B Ji Hwan Bae (ankle)
• 15-day injured list: LHP Jose Hernandez (calf), LHP Rob Zastryzny (forearm), RHP Vince Velasquez (elbow)
• 60-day injured list: SS Oneil Cruz (ankle), 1B Ji-Man Choi (Achilles), RHP Wil Crowe (shoulder), RHP JT Brubaker (elbow), LHP Jarlin Garcia (elbow), RHP Max Kranick (elbow)
THE LINEUPS
Shelton's card:
1. Jack Suwinski, CF
2. Bryan Reynolds, LF
3. Andrew McCutchen, DH
4. Carlos Santana, 1B
5. Josh Palacios, RF
6. Nick Gonzales, 2B
7. Tucupita Marcano, SS
8. Jared Triolo, 3B
9. Austin Hedges, C
And for Craig Counsell's Crew:
1. Andruw Monasterio, DH
2. William Contreras, C
3. Willy Adames, SS
4. Owen Miller, 1B
5. Blake Perkins, LF
6. Brian Anderson, 3B
7. Brice Turang, 2B
8. Joey Wiemer, CF
9. Raimel Tapia, RF
THE SCHEDULE
That'll be it around here for a good while. Next home game's not until July 14 against the Giants. In the interim, the team's flying out west for a four-game set in Los Angeles, beginning Monday, 10:10 p.m. Eastern. After that, it's three in Phoenix, then the All-Star fun in Seattle.
THE MULTIMEDIA
THE CONTENT