WooSox starter Brad Keller strong over 6 scoreless innings; working on increasing velocity in Triple-A
Brad Keller has had an interesting week. The right-hander was optioned to Triple-A Worcester earlier in the week but refused the assignment. Despite being a free agent for about 24 hours, he quickly re-signed with the Red Sox.
Keller made his first start since re-joining the WooSox on Saturday afternoon and tossed six scoreless frames. He allowed just four hits, no runs, and one walk with four strikeouts in his outing.
Keller is utilizing his time in Triple-A to work on a development plan from the Red Sox, which he hopes will get him back into the big leagues before the season ends.
“I have three main goals while down here,” Keller said to Andrew Parker of Beyond the Monster on Friday at Polar Park. “The first one would be getting my velocity back up. Earlier in my career, I would be around 93–95 and ride up to 97 MPH. This year I have been on the lower end around 90-92 when I was with the White Sox.”
“When I came over to Boston, it would be spurts of higher stuff, but mostly lower 90’s,” added Keller. “The last couple of outings here, we have done a good job of gaining velocity. The next thing they want me to do is to incorporate my sweeper again. I threw my sweeper a lot last year, but it was a tough year for me due to injuries.”
“I need to get a better feel for that pitch and understand the usage of that and how to command it and throw it for strikes and for getting swings and misses. The last thing is a first-pitch strike. That has always been my kryptonite, trying to stay ahead of hitters and stay ahead. I am putting a huge emphasis on that. Those are the three main goals, but along with them all is just usage. It is what are my primary goals to righties and lefties and attacking the hitters that way.”
Keller is one of the few options at the Triple-A level that could eat innings for the Red Sox if added back to the 40-man roster. With James Paxton going down and presumably lost for the remainder of the year, the Red Sox will turn to Cooper Criswell in the rotation and recently signed veteran left-hander Rich Hill. Keller and recently optioned righty Chase Shugart all present options for Boston down the stretch.
