CLIFF WELCH
CLIFF WELCH
BA GRADE
65
Risk: Medium
SCOUTING GRADES
FB: 70.
CB: 60.
CHG: 50.
CTL: 60.
Projected future grades on 20-80 scouting scale
Born: April 4, 1996. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 195. Drafted: HS—Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 2014 (2nd round). Signed by: Matt Bimeal.
Keller, whose older brother Jon is a righthander in the Rockies system, became a major draft prospect between his junior and senior years of high school when he added 10 mph and started hitting the mid-90s at showcase events. He struck out 91 batters in 69 innings as a senior and was committed to North Carolina, but the Pirates selected him in the second round in 2014 and got him on board with a $1 million bonus. Keller started out strong in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League in 2014 but missed much of 2015 with forearm problems. However, his dominant 2016 campaign at low Class A West Virginia turned him into a priority prospect when he combined swing-and-miss stuff with outstanding command, striking out 131 batters and walking just 18. His rise accelerated in 2017 despite a lower-back injury that cost him several weeks and a shin injury that also cost him time. Keller began the season with high Class A Bradenton and was promoted to Double-A Altoona in August. He pitched a one-hit, 90-pitch shutout in the Eastern League playoffs against Bowie.
Keller has put on muscle to a rangy frame, which allows him to produce easy velocity without overly stressing his arm. His fastball sits 94-96 mph with late life, tilt and armside run. He can hit 99 when he rears back. His fastball command is improving, and he can throw it to all four quadrants against batters on either side of the plate. His heater sets up a big looping curveball with an 11-5 shape with hard downward bite. He still considers his fastball his best pitch, but the Pirates are trying to convince him to trust his curveball. Their next goal is to help him with a developing changeup, which is still an average pitch for him. It has armside run and sink, but he probably needs to take something off because it comes in too close to 90 mph.
Keller projects to be a mid- to top-of-the-rotation starter and could eventually mesh with a big league staff mostly comprised of young, tall righthanders with skill sets similar to his. He will most likely begin 2018 at Altoona, but could find his way to Triple-A Indianapolis by the end of the season. A big league debut in 2019 seems probable.
TOP PROSPECTS OF THE DECADE
Year |
Player, Pos. |
2017 Org |
2008 |
Andrew McCutchen, OF |
Pirates |
2009 |
Pedro Alvarez, 3B |
Orioles |
2010 |
Pedro Alvarez, 3B |
Orioles |
2011 |
Jameson Taillon, RHP |
Pirates |
2012 |
Gerrit Cole, RHP |
Pirates |
2013 |
Gerrit Cole, RHP |
Pirates |
2014 |
Gregory Polanco, OF |
Pirates |
2015 |
Tyler Glasnow, RHP |
Pirates |
2016 |
Tyler Glasnow, RHP |
Pirates |
2017 |
Austin Meadows, OF |
Pirates |
BEST TOOLS
Best Hitter for Average |
Kevin Newman |
Best Power Hitter |
Jordan Luplow |
Best Strike-Zone Discipline |
Austin Meadows |
Fastest Baserunner |
Cole Tucker |
Best Athlete |
Austin Meadows |
Best Fastball |
Mitch Keller |
Best Curveball |
Mitch Keller |
Best Slider |
Edgar Santana |
Best Changeup |
Brandon Waddell |
Best Control |
Mitch Keller |
Best Defensive Catcher |
Christian Kelley |
Best Defensive Infielder |
Ke’Bryan Hayes |
Best Infield Arm |
Oneil Cruz |
Best Defensive Outfielder |
Casey Hughston |
Best Outfield Arm |
Jordan Luplow |
Year |
Club (League) |
Class |
W |
L |
ERA |
G |
GS |
2015 |
Bristol (APP) |
R |
0 |
3 |
5.49 |
6 |
6 |
2016 |
West Virginia (SAL) |
LoA |
8 |
5 |
2.46 |
23 |
23 |
|
Bradenton (FSL) |
HiA |
1 |
0 |
0.00 |
1 |
1 |
2017 |
West Virginia (NYP) |
SS |
0 |
0 |
0.00 |
2 |
2 |
|
Bradenton (FSL) |
HiA |
6 |
3 |
3.14 |
15 |
15 |
|
Altoona (EL) |
AA |
2 |
2 |
3.12 |
6 |
6 |
Minor League Totals |
17 |
13 |
2.79 |
62 |
61 |
||
Year |
Club (League) |
CG |
SV |
IP |
H |
HR |
2015 |
Bristol (APP) |
0 |
0 |
20 |
25 |
1 |
2016 |
West Virginia (SAL) |
0 |
0 |
124 |
96 |
4 |
|
Bradenton (FSL) |
0 |
0 |
6 |
5 |
0 |
2017 |
West Virginia (NYP) |
0 |
0 |
4 |
2 |
0 |
|
Bradenton (FSL) |
0 |
0 |
77 |
57 |
5 |
|
Altoona (EL) |
0 |
0 |
35 |
25 |
2 |
Minor League Totals |
0 |
0 |
293 |
229 |
12 |
|
Year |
Club (League) |
BB |
SO |
K/9 |
WHIP |
AVG |
2015 |
Bristol (APP) |
16 |
25 |
11.4 |
2.08 |
.309 |
2016 |
West Virginia (SAL) |
18 |
131 |
9.5 |
0.92 |
.211 |
|
Bradenton (FSL) |
1 |
7 |
10.5 |
1.00 |
.227 |
2017 |
West Virginia (NYP) |
1 |
7 |
15.8 |
0.75 |
.143 |
|
Bradenton (FSL) |
20 |
64 |
7.4 |
1.00 |
.207 |
|
Altoona (EL) |
11 |
45 |
11.7 |
1.04 |
.197 |
Minor League Totals |
80 |
308 |
9.5 |
1.05 |
.215 |
|