PBN Around the Horn

PBN Around the Horn: Is This the Year Mitch Keller Puts It Together?

Published

3 years ago

January 14, 2022

Welcome to the PBN Around the Horn. Here you’ll find news and notes from across Major League Baseball, your Pittsburgh Pirates, and around the Sports Now network.

UPDATE (12:56 p.m.) It is being reported that Melky Cabrera has retired. Cabrera spent one year with the Pirates in his 15 year career. Cabrera will finish with a .285 batting average.

Melky Cabrera announces his retirement.

– 15 MLB seasons (2005-2019)
– 1 All Star
– World Series ring (2009)
– All-Star Game MVP (2012)
– BA .285
– 144 HR
– 854 rbis
– 895 runs
– 1,962 hits
– 383 2B
– 45 3B
– 101 SB
– OBP .334
– SLG .417
– OPS .751 pic.twitter.com/47QKkXdSD0

— Héctor Gómez (@hgomez27) January 14, 2022

Promising, or not, hopeful, or hopeless? When it comes to Pirate’s pitcher Mitch Keller, this is the question. We all know he has the stuff to be a top of the rotation arm, but can he put it all together? The reason this is being brought up is the recent videos that I’ve posted of Keller in a facility he frequents.

Keller has ramped his fastball up to 98.3! Let’s get it.

🎥: DugoutSports IG pic.twitter.com/rSZO4oCPsz

— The Murphanko Experience (@Murphanko) January 13, 2022

Although he’s in a facility and a controlled environment, a little bit of hope starts to spark a flame on a potentially explosive surface. The classic Office scene where Michael Scott says, “I’m prepared to be hurt again.” The way he is handled during the season (if there is a season) will be crucial. If the Pirates let Keller pitch the way he should and avoid over-tinkering, they may have a consistent Keller on their hands.

Pittsburgh Baseball Now Notes

Pull those Cookies Out Before It’s Too Late

Pirates Prospects Notes

In week two of the new P2 format, Tim Williams, John Dreker, Wilbur Miller, Anthony Murphy, and Cody Potanko (Me) gave great pieces on all things Pirates’ prospects.

First, Tim gives us three pieces, the first is on John Baker and a growth mindset, and the second one is Carter Bins and his behind-the-plate work and how he may be underrated. The last one is an opinion piece on gifted and talented players.

Next, John gives us the best pirates prospects by age the position players edition.

The enigmatic Wilbur gives us his weekly roster preview for the High-A Greensboro Grasshoppers.

Anthony Murphy continues his excellent breakdowns of players with video and analysis. This week’s involved Oliver Mateo and that deceptive slider.

Finally, Cody Potanko (Me) gives you an update on four Pirates’ prospects and what they have been working on during the off-season.