TODAY: Keller’s contract is officially selected. Tanner Banks was moved from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL list, creating a 40-man roster spot, and a 26-man roster spot was open when Alex McFarlane was optioned to Triple-A yesterday. The Phillies also called up the lefty Kyle Bacchus from Triple-A and optional right-hander Max Lazar to the Lehigh Valley.
JULY 24: Right-handed Brian Keller is on the Phillies’ roster and will be added to the lineup ahead of tomorrow’s game, The Athletic’s Matt Gelb reports. He will either start the game or work as the massive guy behind the starter. The Phillies will have to take the appropriate steps to place Keller on the active 40-man roster.
Keller, 32, took a unique and winding path to a major company. He was drafted by the Yankees in the 39th round back in 2016. He was with the club through 2021, rising to Triple-A. The Red Sox selected him in the minor league stage of the Rule 5 draft and he spent 2022 with Triple-A Worcester.
After this season, he became a free agent and signed with the Hanshin Tigers of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball. Keller required Tommy John surgery shortly after arriving in Japan and then required another surgery in 2024, according to Sam Jellinek, broadcaster for the Phillies’ Triple-A affiliate. Due to these surgeries, he barely competed at all between 2023 and 2025.
He signed a minor league contract with the Phillies in May. He pitched a couple of times in the Combined League before being sent down to Triple-A and has been in good shape ever since. He logged 36 1/3 innings over eight starts with a 2.23 earned run average. His four-seamer averages 92.6 mph and combines a cutter, sinker, slider and curveball.
He got some help from his .231 batting average on balls in play and 90.3% ground ball percentage, but his 26% strikeout rate, 7.3% walk rate and 41.5% ground ball rate are average or better. His FIP rating of 4.24 considers him very lucky, but he could still be serviceable without the help of the baseball gods.
The Phillies certainly don’t expect him to be an ace, but they need someone who can eat up some innings. They started the year with Andrew Painter in their rotation, but he received an option to the minors more than a month ago after posting a 7.06 ERA over 14 appearances. Since then, a worthy replacement has not been found for him. Alan Rangel appeared several times, sometimes in the starting lineup, and sometimes after the first kick. He has posted a 5.75 ERA in five appearances since Painter was retired.
The club will likely consider rotating through the trade market before the August 3 deadline. But for now they have Zack Wheeler, Christopher Sanchez, Jesus Luzardo, Aaron Nola and the hole behind these four.
Keller’s chance to make it to the big leagues is an incredible story, but it may be a short call. The Phils will have Luzardo tonight. After Keller becomes the starter on Saturday, they will likely go to Sanchez, Wheeler, Nola and then return to Luzardo before Wednesday. The team has a day off on Thursday. They then play 14 matches in a row, but during this time they can supplement their roster with trade acquisitions. Regardless, Keller is inspiring to get this chance after such a long and difficult journey.
Photo courtesy of Allan Jung, Imagn Images