Brad Keller has had an up and down season out of the Phillies bullpen and perhaps there has been a reason for it all along. It was announced on Thursday that Keller has a torn UCL. While the Phillies didn’t put an exact timetable on how long he will be out, but if the diagnosis stands the odds of him returning this season are small. If Keller needs Tommy John surgery, next season is even in jeopardy.
“It sucks, for sure. It was really weird because I felt good through my rehab process with my forearm. I felt good with my outing in Cincinnati. I just woke up the next day and it was really sore and it didn’t progress from there,” Keller told reporters prior to Thursday’s game against the Mets.
The Phillies added Keller, 30, as a free agent after he had a career-year with the Cubs in 2025. Keller signed a two-year, $22-million deal with the Phillies. It’s possible that he will miss the remainder of the contract because of the injury. In 32 relief appearances this season, Keller has thrown 31.2 innings and has struck out 32 hitters. He has posted a 2-1 record with a 4.02 ERA and three saves, which is actually a career high number of saves for the right-hander.
Keller had returned last week after missing three weeks with right forearm tendinitis and pitched in one game against Cincinnati. He had thrown two innings in two appearances with Lehigh Valley before being activated from the IL.
To take Keller’s spot on the roster, the Phillies recalled right-hander Seth Johnson from Lehigh Valley. In 12 outings with the Phillies this season, Keller has a 6.75 ERA and going back to 2024, Johnson has pitched in 23 MLB games with the Phillies – one start – and has a 7.94 ERA. In the minors this season, Johnson has six saves and a 2.17 ERA with the IronPigs.
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