Mr BioFile Interviews by Scoop Malinowski
by Scoop Malinowski
Mitch Keller is an All-Star pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Drafted by the Pirates in the second round of the 2014 MLB Draft, he made his MLB debut on May 27, 2019.
Ht: 6-3 Wt: 213
DOB: April 4, 1996 In: Cedar Rapids, Iowa
First Baseball Memory: Oh my gosh… probably just growing up on the T-ball field. And watching minor league baseball back home.
Baseball Inspirations: I don’t really have any inspirations, man. I just kinda grew up watching it and just kinda fell in love with the game that way. No one really stuck out to me as a kid. Just more worried about running and playing and having fun.
Last Book Read: It’s called The Last Of Us (By Brett A. Hansen – set in a post-apocalyptic world where infected humans and survivors fight for survival).
First Famous Person You Met Or Encountered: The quick one that comes to mind was Mike Trout when he was playing at low A. But that’s not my first one. He’s like the biggest one I’ve ever met. But like watching a bunch of Angels guys coming up through the minors, like Casey Kotchman, Ervin Santana, bunch of guys like that.
Greatest Career Moment: Probably making the All-Star Game (pitched the second inning in 2023).
Most Painful Moment: Geez… a lot of ways here [smiles]. We’ll go injury-wise… just tearing my oblique.
Why Do You Love Baseball: I just love the competitiveness involved in it. Just how hard it is, just makes success feel that much more rewarding. It’s really satisfying feeling succeeding in the game because it’s so hard.
Funny Baseball Memory: Oh man, I laugh every day here. Low A, we had a tarp on the right field line. The catcher hit the ball. It was a foul ball, but they called it fair. And it went through the tarp tube, spun around in the tarp, so the guy went here, and it shot out the back end. So inside the park home run for the kid’s first professional home run. It was crazy, it was hilarious because we all knew it was foul, then they called it fair. Then it went through the roll. It was hilarious. In Charleston, WV.
Strangest Game: It was two years ago. Not the strangest thing that ever happened but we were down nine runs against the Reds and came back and won. That was really cool to be a part of.
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Cotton candy.
Favorite Sport Outside Baseball: Golf.
Favorite Athletes To Watch: Caitlin Clark. I love watching her play. Doug McDermott plays in the NBA. He’s kind of family-ish, so I follow him a little bit. And Tiger Woods. He’s exciting. Love to watch him.
People Qualities Most Admired: Just someone who’s nice. Be nice. Someone who’s kind, down to earth.
Scoop’s new book, Facing Andre Agassi, is available at Amazon.
