Pittsburgh Pirates Prospects: Keller, Hayes Perform at Futures Game

Yesterday, the Pittsburgh Pirates saw two of their top prospects compete in the MLB Future’s Game.  This included Mitch Keller and Ke’Bryan Hayes.

For many fans, yesterday represented the first time that they got to see two of the Pittsburgh Pirates prospects perform on TV.  A lot of the times with prospects there is all this hype and high expectations, but really the fans of a team never even see them play. Well, yesterday the Pittsburgh Pirates and their fans got to see two of their top prospects play on national TV during the Futures Game.  This game is held annually the Sunday before the all-star break.  The game always has Team United States playing Team World.  The teams are made up of prospects born in the US playing the prospects born in foreign countries.  It is often the top talents across all the minor league levels who get to compete in the game.  The Pittsburgh Pirates had top pitching prospect Mitch Keller and top third base prospect Ke’Bryan Hayes both on Team United States.

Mitch Keller

Keller got to be in the spotlight right away, as started the game.  With Team World being the away team, Keller got to take the mound and throw the very first pitch of the game. He looked very good too.  His fastball sat between 95-97 miles per hour and touched 99 one two occasions, while his breaking pitch was in the low 80s.  Meanwhile, his changeup sat in the high 80s.

The first batter he faced was Luis Alexander Basabe, a prospect for the Chicago White Sox. Basabe is rated as the Sox number 13 prospect.  After fouling a few pitches off, he struck out looking on a 89 miles per hour changeup. The next prospect was Fernando Tatis Jr., the Padres number one prospect and the number three overall prospect in baseball.  He promptly flew out on the first pitch, a 96 mile per hour fastball, to right field. For the last batter of the first inning, Keller faced Dodgers number four prospect Yusniel Diaz.  Keller threw him five straight fastballs, but he fell behind 3-1.  However, on the fifth fastball at 95 miles per hour Keller induced another fly out to right field.

Next: Kuhl's Timetable for Return

Ke’Bryan Hayes

Meanwhile, Ke’Bryan Hayes got to observe Keller’s performance from third base as he got the start there. Also, along with starting at third, he was slotted in to bat 9th in the lineup for Team United States. Although the Pittsburgh Pirates prospect was batting ninth he put together a nice offensive game. In his first at-bat, Hayes showed that he was a tough out, seeing 10 pitches and eventually working a walk. His second at-bat came in the fourth inning and he made the most of the opportunity.  The Pittsburgh Pirates third base prospect stroked a line drive to left centerfield for a two-run home run. In his final two at-bats, Hayes made outs.  He popped out to the third baseman on a 3-2 pitch, then lined out hard to right field. Still, he finished 1-3 with a walk and no strikeouts.