CLEARWATER, Fla. – Brad Keller’s transition to a bullpen role has dramatically shifted the course of his baseball career, earning him a fresh start with the Philadelphia Phillies. Once a minor-league starting pitcher struggling to regain form in 2024, Keller embraced the bullpen opportunity last season, paving the way for a revitalized path in Major League Baseball.
After spending time in Chicago’s minor league system and recovering from thoracic outlet syndrome surgery, Keller’s shift to relief pitching during the Cubs’ early season opener in Tokyo proved pivotal. This change directly led to a strong bullpen performance and a lucrative contract with the Phillies for the coming two years.
Keller’s 2024 Season and Bullpen Breakthrough
Keller initially entered the 2024 season anticipating a starting role in Triple-A Iowa but was soon confronted with a different challenge. The Cubs needed a reliever who could handle multiple innings, prompting them to ask Keller if he was ready to move to the bullpen. Accepting the role, Keller excelled, appearing in 68 games with a 2.07 ERA and a notable 0.962 WHIP.
His strikeout rate improved tremendously, rising from an average of 6.7 over his first seven years to 9.7 strikeouts per nine innings in 2024. This jump showcased his ability to leverage the bullpen role, allowing him to maximize his fastball velocity, which averaged 97 mph last season.
“I was basically destined to go to (Triple A) Iowa, be a bulk starter down there and kind of see what happens,”
Keller recalled.
“It felt like a new lease on my career,”
he added when reflecting on his switch to relief pitching.
Pitching Style and Arsenal Adaptation
The move also enabled Keller to refine his pitching repertoire. He maintained his sinker, a pitch he uses to induce ground balls and effectively paired it with a newly developed sweeping slider, which became a key weapon by mid-season.
“I try to get outs and however it happens, it happens,”
Keller said.
“That’s why I don’t want to abandon the sinker. I feel like, especially to righties, it helps me a lot, especially incorporating the sweeper. I can play those two off each other.”
Keller’s Debut and Role with the Phillies
Keller made his Grapefruit League debut for Philadelphia on Wednesday, quickly retiring all three batters he faced with just 11 pitches. His fastball clocked up to 97.2 mph, impressing Phillies manager Rob Thomson.
“He was high velocity and the slider was really good,”
Thomson said.
At age 30, Keller is set to take on the right-handed setup role in the Phillies’ bullpen, working closely with closer Jhoan Duran. Left-handed reliever Jose Alvarado will serve as the left-handed setup man, while other arms like Orion Kerkering and Tanner Banks provide bridging support in late innings. The team also added Jonathan Bowlan, a righty acquired from Kansas City, to bolster their relief options.
The Phillies’ bullpen competition remains intense, with at least a dozen candidates vying for the final two spots. Recent contributors include Zach Pop, Kyle Backhus, Zach McCambley, Tim Mayza, Trevor Richards, and Genesis Cabrera, all of whom saw action in the team’s 5-3 win over the Detroit Tigers.
Keller expressed relief about his current stability.
“It’s nice to have some comfort, knowing where I’m going to be,”
he acknowledged.
Career Background and Recent Challenges
Originally drafted by Arizona in 2013, Keller broke into the majors with Kansas City in 2018. After a promising start, injuries and inconsistencies hampered his progress, culminating in a limited 45 1/3 innings pitched during the injury-shortened 2023 season. Thoracic outlet syndrome surgery in October 2023 marked a major step in addressing his health issues.
He wore the uniforms of Chicago’s White Sox and Boston’s Red Sox in 2024 but struggled to secure a major league pitching spot, prompting the Cubs signing and bullpen transition that revitalized his trajectory.
“Just getting back to the big leagues, taking advantage of an opportunity and then just being healthy, putting the TOS in the rearview mirror,”
Keller explained about his turnaround.
Additional Team Updates and Schedule
The Phillies face some early setbacks with outfielder Brandon Marsh sidelined for several days after jamming his hand during a sliding drill, though tests showed no serious damage. Infielder Aidan Miller is also recovering from a lower back issue, with no clear timeline for return.
On the offensive side, Alec Bohm contributed two RBI hits and aided a key double-play, while Otto Kemp hit a home run and Bryce Harper added an RBI double in Philadelphia’s recent victory. A highlight-defensive moment came from center fielder Justin Crawford, who made an impressive running catch at the wall.
Looking ahead, the Phillies will host the Washington Nationals on Thursday, with starting pitcher Taijuan Walker scheduled to take the mound. The team’s pitching rotation will continue to receive close attention as the regular season approaches.
