All-Star appearance an unforgettable experience for Pirates' Mitch Keller

Already enjoying himself during the pre-All Star Game festivities at Seattle’s T-Mobile Park, Mitch Keller received some news that took his excitement to an even higher level.

During batting practice ahead of the Home Run Derby on Monday, Keller was approached by National League skipper Rob Thomson.

“Thomson came up to me and was asking me how I was feeling,” Keller said. “He was like, ‘You’re gonna throw the second inning,’ so that was pretty cool. I knew the night before, so I got to prepare, kind of like a start.”

True to Thomson’s word, Keller took the mound Tuesday night as the second pitcher utilized by the NL All-Stars.

Following Arizona’s Zac Gallen, who pitched a scoreless first inning, Keller took the hill for the bottom of the second.

After getting Rangers shortstop Corey Seager to line out, Keller (9-4, 3.31 ERA) gave up a solo home run to Tampa Bay first baseman Yandy Diaz for the opening run of the game.

However, Keller recovered nicely, striking out the Rangers’ Adolis Garcia on a sweeper before getting Baltimore’s Austin Hays to ground out, ending the inning.

El primer ponche como All-Star para Mitch Keller. pic.twitter.com/TFGNzQUHLd

— Los Piratas (@piratasbeisbol) July 12, 2023

Keller has not spent the last several days dwelling the home run, especially with the NL having rallied to a 3-2 victory.

“I just hung a slider. Whatever. I don’t really care,” Keller said with a laugh. “I honestly forgot about it. I just had a lot of fun. Could have given up four home runs and I would have still had fun.”

Making the experience even more enjoyable for Keller were the familiar faces he saw in Seattle, as Pirates manager Derek Shelton served as part of Thomson’s coaching staff and closer David Bednar, who warmed up but didn’t pitch Tuesday, made his second straight All-Star appearance.

For Keller, getting to spend time with Bednar was one of the highlights of his first All-Star Game.

“He’s one of my best friends here (in Pittsburgh),” Keller said. “I’ve just become lifelong friends with him, and just to be able to share that experience with him, it was really cool and something I’ll never forget. Having his family and my family be able to hang out and experience it together, that was awesome.”

Watching Keller do his thing also proved memorable for Shelton, who has had a front-row seat to the starter’s development over the last several seasons.

When Shelton took the helm in Pittsburgh ahead of the covid-abbreveated 2020 season, Keller was coming off a rough rookie campaign in which he had a 7.13 ERA over 11 starts.

After seeming to find his stride in 2020, Keller struggled in 2021, going 5-11 with a 6.17 ERA.

Even as recently as last spring, Keller’s future as a major league starter looked far from guaranteed. In May 2022, he was briefly demoted to the bullpen after more performance-related issues.

However, since May 31 of last year, over his last 41 starts, Keller owns a 3.27 ERA.

“The thing that was probably the most meaningful was probably two innings after (Keller) got out, he came and sat down next to me,” Shelton said. “We just started to talk about it. The genuine joy of the experience that he had really made me smile. He loved every minute of it.

“I know he gave up a home run, but being on the mound there, with the best players … being there, he genuinely soaked it in and was kind of expressing that as we were talking. I thought that was really kind of what the game’s about.”