A starting pitcher with mild success (5.87 ERA, 53.2 IP, 55 H, 21 BB, 56 SO) in 2022, Keener has reinvented himself this season as a mostly used reliever with a couple of spot starts. He earned the win in the Louisville series opener with five innings of one hit, one earned run relief. His money pitch is an impact (70-grade) breaking ball and it's one that he will be paid for in this summer’s draft. From a high three-quarter release point he spotted his 93-96 mph fastball to both sides of the plate and drew repeated whiffs from his dirty 83-85 breaker. His third pitch was a cutting changeup in the upper-80s. Keener is currently holding opposing batters to a .139 batting average and .211 on-base percentage. He has also struck out 34.8% of the batters he has faced. Like his teammate Sullivan, Keener is likely to be selected in the third round and be sent out by the selecting club as a starter in pro ball.
3/30/23
The junior made a surprise start on opening weekend filling in for the injured Teddy McGraw. Keener filled the zone that day and has continued doing it all spring with just six walks in 23 innings and 34 strikeouts. He spots his 91-94 mph fastball to either side of the plate, but gets his whiffs from his dirty 81-85 mph slider. He is currently holding opposing batters to a .167 average and has struck out 36.2% of the batters he has faced.
8/01/22
Cape Cod: Stands out most for his ability to spin a wipeout slider at 83-84 with hard, late tilt. He can also miss bats with a changeup in the same velocity band, and we've seen his fastball mostly at 90-93
1/27/19
Strong defined lower half in a 6-foot, 175 pound frame. Fastball bumped 90, sitting 88-89. Late action. Ball jumps. Long, loose arm swing and quick hand get to a high-3/4 slot. Simple delivery that coils around the front side at balance, while settling on the back side. Lands a full stride across his line, with loose hips firing his front side back into his direction. Lacks some extension as the body is spinning over the front side at release. Downer breaking ball at 74-78. Erratic at times, it is hard and thrown with conviction. Change-up has sink from a slightly slower arm speed, touching 79. The looseness and whip in the hips and arm create a sense of a very high ceiling.
10/13/18
Athletic frame with a high waist at 5-foot-11, 170 pounds. Looseness in his hips and a strong front side. Average to slightly above leg kick working to a slight crouch with the fronts side closed. Rotates through the lower half with some speed and power, landing square and across his line. Long, loose arm stroke to a high-3/4 slot. Quick hand through release. Powerful finish, slightly rotational in the upper half, but with great energy and balance through the lower half. Fastball sat 86-88 with run and sink. Heavy life bored into the catcher’s frame. Lots of strikes with the fastball. Breaking ball is a bit inconsistent but should continue to mature. 11/5 tilt when on time with it, sitting 67-69. At times around as the upper half can get rotational. Has feel for change-up at 73-74. Sink and fade with fastball hand speed, attacking the zone. Frame can continue to fill out and stuff should continue to tick up.
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A starting pitcher with mild success (5.87 ERA, 53.2 IP, 55 H, 21 BB, 56 SO) in 2022, Keener has reinvented himself this season as a mostly used reliever with a couple of spot starts. He earned the win in the Louisville series opener with five innings of one hit, one earned run relief. His money pitch is an impact (70-grade) breaking ball and it's one that he will be paid for in this summer’s draft. From a high three-quarter release point he spotted his 93-96 mph fastball to both sides of the plate and drew repeated whiffs from his dirty 83-85 breaker. His third pitch was a cutting changeup in the upper-80s. Keener is currently holding opposing batters to a .139 batting average and .211 on-base percentage. He has also struck out 34.8% of the batters he has faced. Like his teammate Sullivan, Keener is likely to be selected in the third round and be sent out by the selecting club as a starter in pro ball.
The junior made a surprise start on opening weekend filling in for the injured Teddy McGraw. Keener filled the zone that day and has continued doing it all spring with just six walks in 23 innings and 34 strikeouts. He spots his 91-94 mph fastball to either side of the plate, but gets his whiffs from his dirty 81-85 mph slider. He is currently holding opposing batters to a .167 average and has struck out 36.2% of the batters he has faced.
Cape Cod: Stands out most for his ability to spin a wipeout slider at 83-84 with hard, late tilt. He can also miss bats with a changeup in the same velocity band, and we've seen his fastball mostly at 90-93
Strong defined lower half in a 6-foot, 175 pound frame. Fastball bumped 90, sitting 88-89. Late action. Ball jumps. Long, loose arm swing and quick hand get to a high-3/4 slot. Simple delivery that coils around the front side at balance, while settling on the back side. Lands a full stride across his line, with loose hips firing his front side back into his direction. Lacks some extension as the body is spinning over the front side at release. Downer breaking ball at 74-78. Erratic at times, it is hard and thrown with conviction. Change-up has sink from a slightly slower arm speed, touching 79. The looseness and whip in the hips and arm create a sense of a very high ceiling.
Athletic frame with a high waist at 5-foot-11, 170 pounds. Looseness in his hips and a strong front side. Average to slightly above leg kick working to a slight crouch with the fronts side closed. Rotates through the lower half with some speed and power, landing square and across his line. Long, loose arm stroke to a high-3/4 slot. Quick hand through release. Powerful finish, slightly rotational in the upper half, but with great energy and balance through the lower half. Fastball sat 86-88 with run and sink. Heavy life bored into the catcher’s frame. Lots of strikes with the fastball. Breaking ball is a bit inconsistent but should continue to mature. 11/5 tilt when on time with it, sitting 67-69. At times around as the upper half can get rotational. Has feel for change-up at 73-74. Sink and fade with fastball hand speed, attacking the zone. Frame can continue to fill out and stuff should continue to tick up.