Two Pittsburgh Pirates Prospects To Play In MLB Futures Game

A pair of Pirate prospects will play in next week’s Major League Baseball Futures Game

Part of Major League Baseball’s All-Star festivities each year is the MLB Futures Game. The Futures Game showcases some of the best prospects in baseball. The rosters for the Futures Game were announced on Friday, and two of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ top prospects will be playing in the game.

Pitcher Mitch Keller and third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes will represent the Bucs in the nation’s capital on July 15th. In the latest rankings from MLB Pipeline, Keller rated as the team’s top prospect while Hayes checked in at number three.

The 22-year-old Keller is one of the top pitching prospects in all of baseball. In 14 starts for Double-A Altoona this season he allowed seven home runs, struck out 22.2% of batters faced, walked 9.4%, and he owned a 2.72 ERA and a 3.74 FIP in 86 innings pitched.

His last two starts have come at Triple-A and he has hit a rough patch to start his Triple-A career. Keller got roughed up for eight runs on 10 hits, two walks, and three strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings in his first start for Indianapolis. While he allowed five runs on six hits and four walks in his second Triple-A start, he also struck out 10 batters in 6 innings of work.

As for Hayes, he is having the best season of his professional career for the Curve. Entering play on Friday he owned a .290/.350/.452/.802 slash line, a .356 wOBA, and a wRC+ of 121. Hayes has also continued to play plus defense at third base.

Earlier in the week, we discussed the development of Hayes’ power. You can read more about that here. Hayes’ developing power combined with his high on-base rate and plus defense has landed him a spot in the Futures Game next week.

Next: Pirates Sign Micahel Burrows

So, on July 15h, if you are looking for something to do tune into the MLB Future Games to check out future Pirates Mitch Keller and Ke’Bryan Hayes in action.