Royals’ rotation becomes whole again with pitcher Brad Keller set to make his return
For the first time since the start of the pandemic-shortened MLB season, the Kansas City Royals will have last year’s opening day starter Brad Keller back in their starting pitching rotation.
A 6-foot-5, 250-pound right-hander, Keller will make his first start of the season Thursday night against the Chicago Cubs at Kauffman Stadium. Keller has been on the injured list since July 14 as he continued his throwing progression following a positive test result for COVID-19 interrupted his spring training 2.0 camp.
He experienced mild symptoms and was isolated for a portion of the team’s camp in Kansas City.
Since being medically cleared to return to baseball activities, Keller has been working out with the rest of the remaining members of the 60-player pool at T-Bones Stadium, the Royals’ alternate training site this summer in Kansas City, Kan.
Following Keller’s performance in a simulated game Saturday, Royals manager Mike Matheny said Keller’s return to the rotation was expected soon.
On Tuesday, Matheny announced Keller would make his first start this week.
In a video conference call with reporters following his session on Saturday, Keller said he felt ready to return as soon as the coaching staff gave him the OK.
“I feel pretty good,” Keller said Saturday. “I threw quite a bit of pitches today. I’m hoping within the next week or so they tell me I’m back on the team. I feel ready. Whenever they tell me, I’m ready.”
Last season, Keller went 7-14 with a 4.19 ERA in 28 starts. He struck out 122 in 165 1/3 innings and posted a 1.35 WHIP.
The Royals lost three of their four projected starters in their rotation. Jakob Junis and Keller were both sidelined by COVID-19, while left-hander Mike Montgomery went on the IL with a lat strain after his first start of the season.
The lack of starting pitching options prompted the club to use relief pitchers as “openers” on multiple occasions, and it also led to the promotion of pitching prospects Brady Singer and Kris Bubic, who’ve each made their big-league debuts this season.
“It’s frustrating. Obviously, It’s tough,” Keller said of having to watch the season get started from afar. “I kind of went through it when I was quarantining and watching the guys go out here during spring training 2.0.
“I was just telling Ian (Kennedy) that I felt like I was quarantining again, where I was turning on the game and felt so distant from the team, but being able to still talk to the guys after the game and still obviously cheering them on from back here in Kansas City.”
The return of Keller coupled with Junis’ return to the rotation Sunday gives the Royals a full five-man starting rotation for the first time this season.
Danny Duffy pitched Monday night, Singer was scheduled to pitch Tuesday night, Bubic pitches Wednesday, Keller starts Thursday and Junis pitches Friday.
This story was originally published August 4, 2020 at 2:11 PM with the headline "Royals’ rotation becomes whole again with pitcher Brad Keller set to make his return."
