Pirates Name Opening Day Starter & His Reaction To The News Is Priceless

The Pittsburgh Pirates have decided on their Opening Day starter, and they made sure to record the moment for posterity. And it is absolutely awesome. Watch as manager Derek Shelton slyly drops the news on Mitch Keller that he'll be getting the honor for the first time in his career.

Mitch Keller finding out he’s the Opening Day starter for the Pirates is so cool 🥹 pic.twitter.com/RKKZrkroyf
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) March 15, 2023

Keller is entering his 5th major league season, and has had some mixed results thus far in his career. Drafted in the 2nd round in 2014, he came up as a top prospect, but struggled badly in 11 starts in his rookie year in 2019 with a 7.13 ERA. He showed very well in five starts in 2020 with a 2.91 ERA.

He went back to a disastrous year in 2021, posting a 6.17 ERA with a 1.78 WHIP in 23 starts, but then was back to showing potential last season, with a 3.94 ERA in 29 starts.

As for how things might go on Opening Day, when the Pirates face the Cincinnati Reds:

Mitch Keller career ERA vs CIN: 6.80 in 11 starts
Hunter Greene career ERA vs PIT: 0.68 in 2 starts https://t.co/iLMigQtbzo
— Nick Kirby (@Nicholaspkirby) March 15, 2023