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Phillies' Brian Keller Makes Big League Debut After Decade-Long Journey Phillies pitcher Brian Keller made his big league debut after a decade-long journey, overcoming two elbow surgeries and multiple setbacks.
After two elbow surgeries, Brian Kellers baseball dreams dimmed.
But on Saturday, he made his big league debut.
He blew out his elbow pitching in Japan, and when further issues arose he paid 12 grand maybe, something like that, for a surgery.
It was part of his decade-long journey to his big league debut.
Brian Keller delivers the first pitch of his major league career in the third inning vs.
the New York Yankees on Saturday at Citizens Bank Park.
There wasnt time.
Not between taking photos on the field with family and talking with reporters in the middle of the clubhouse.Besides, after 10 years, two countries, and multiple surgeries one of which he paid for out of pocket he didnt know if hed ever get to wear it.
And so Keller was still decked out in red pinstripes, No.
48 on his back, when he poked his head into the office where pitching coach Caleb Cotham and assistant Mark Lowy were packing up for the night.Look, the Phillies didnt make any guarantees when they called up Keller, age 32, 10 years after he was a 39th-round pick in an MLB draft that has since been curtailed to 20 rounds.
But theyve searched for a No.
5 starter since demotingto triple A last month and havent won a game from the fifth-starter spot in 11 tries since May 18.
, their fourth defeat in a row.But Keller did his part, following lefty opener Tim Mayza and delivering three solid innings that were tainted only by a two-out homer from Austin Wells.wanted a lefty to face a left-handed pocket of the Yankees lineup in the sixth inning.
Kyle Backhus walked the leadoff man, who scored on Cody Bellingers two-out single against Seth Johnson.First MLB strike out for 32 year old Brian Keller who is making his MLB debut with the Phillies today.
But dont let those details rain on the parade of a righty from Wisconsin, 18 miles northwest of Milwaukee, whose long shot to reach the majors got even longer a few years ago.
It was 2023, and Keller was pitching in Japan when he blew out his elbow.He had Tommy John surgery and missed two seasons trying to come back.
When further issues arose, he paid 12 grand maybe, something like that, to undergo a nerve transposition.I wasnt with an organization, and it wasnt a medically necessary surgery, technically, Keller said.
It was necessary from the viewpoint of getting back to playing professional baseball, so, hey, youve got to do what youve got to do, right? Luckily, I made a little bit of money in Japan to basically buy me a little bit of time to be able to go through that rehab process.
..
Took a little hit, but were here.So were all right.
Its clear what the Phillies need at the trade deadline.
Do they have the prospect capital to get it? Keller always pictured what it would be like to reach the majors, but if hes being honest, the image in his mind had dimmed.Oh yeah, definitely, said Keller, who signed with the Phillies in May and had a 2.23 ERA in triple A.
During rehab, it was like, I dont know if youd call it a setback, but somewhat setback after setback to the point where, yeah, I just didnt know if it was ever going to happen, pitching again professionally, much less playing in the big leagues.
Indeed, there was Keller, running in from the bullpen to begin the third inning in front of a personal cheering section I think 20 people, total, he said and striking out Jazz Chisholm Jr.
on a slider.Phillies Extra Q&A: John Middleton on All-Star Game highlights, firing Rob Thomson, and the trade deadline Keller sidestepped a one-out single by Paul Goldschmidt in the fourth inning and struck out Chisholm again on another slider and Jose Caballero on a fastball to end the fifth.
He threw 39 pitches, 29 strikes.He handled himself fine, Mattingly said.
Threw strikes.
He went after them.
He was on the attack.He wasnt walking people.
So, that part of it I like.
Its something well talk about as we get there, Mattingly said.But he did fine.
I report and write about the Phillies and Major League Baseball.
I also host"Phillies Extra," The Inquirer's online baseball interview show.