'That all happened a long time ago': Keller downplays history with Sox

GLENDALE, Ariz. – Brad Keller’s history with the White Sox was well-documented during his days with the Royals, but the right-hander -- who signed a Minor League deal with Chicago last week -- says that’s all in the past.

Keller, who is working his way back following Thoracic Outlet Syndrome surgery in October, was vocal about his feelings following a Tim Anderson bat flip in 2019, then sparked a benches-clearing incident after hitting the shortstop with a pitch.

Anderson is no longer with the White Sox, but Keller now calls Chicago’s clubhouse home.

“That all happened a long time ago,” Keller said. “A lot of familiar faces in here. I’ve obviously played against a lot of guys in here for a while and I’ve also played with a lot of guys, as well. I’m just excited for the opportunity here and excited to get going.”

The 28-year-old was 38-53 with a 4.27 ERA in six seasons with the Royals, but he appeared in only 11 games (nine starts) last year as a shoulder injury sidelined him from May 15 through September 12. Keller made two relief appearances in September before being shut down for good, ultimately undergoing surgery.

Keller underwent “a lot of rehab” during the offseason, working in some mechanical changes in the process. He threw his eighth bullpen session since his surgery on Wednesday, and he’s hopeful that after a live batting practice or two, he’ll be able to make his 2024 Cactus League debut.

“I’m feeling really good; just trying to build up and I’ve got to be cautious about things, obviously,” Keller said. “I’m feeling good and hopefully I’ll get in there relatively soon.”

Limiting the damage
Erick Fedde made his third start of the spring against the Brewers on Wednesday at American Family Fields of Phoenix, allowing three runs on seven hits in four innings, the big blow coming on Brewer Hicklen’s three-run home run in the second inning.

“I sprayed a lot of hits, [which is] kind of part of my game; I know I'm going to give up the singles and then try to get double plays, control the run game,” Fedde said. “I can't give up the big hits.”

Chicago’s defense helped Fedde, most notably battery-mate Korey Lee, who threw out two potential base-stealers. The Sox were up 7-0 when Hicklen went deep, but Fedde settled in with a pair of scoreless frames, and Chicago went on to win 15-4.

In nine innings this spring, he’s allowed five runs on 13 hits and two walks.

“The biggest part of my job is if you’re going to give up runs, keep going and put up zeros, go deep in the game,” said Fedde, who threw 57 pitches. “I tried to just be efficient and keep going and I felt like those last two innings were much better.”

Making an impression
Nick Nastrini's strong spring continued Tuesday, as the 24-year-old threw three scoreless innings against the Reds. In three appearances this spring, the right-hander has allowed one run on two hits and two walks over seven innings, good for a 1.29 ERA.

Both of those walks came in Nastrini’s first inning of work Tuesday, as he issued free passes to the first two hitters he faced, but he worked his way out of the jam with a pair of strikeouts and a popup, impressing manager Pedro Grifol.

“I saw a young kid come out with plus-plus stuff and get a little overly excited early, wasn’t around the zone the first two hitters,” Grifol said. “Then all of a sudden he settled down and let his ability play the way it should, then went out and dominated the next couple of innings.”

Nastrini didn’t have much feel for his changeup early, and while that would have been difficult for him to fix mid-game in the past, he found it in his second inning of work.

“That's going to happen,” he said. “You're going to go out there and you're not going to have feel, so it's, ‘How can I compete with what I have right now?’ I feel like I did a pretty good job of that.”

Grifol said Nastrini -- Chicago’s No. 6 prospect according to MLB Pipeline -- is “knocking on the door” of the Majors, citing his ability to slow things down on the field.

“I leave all those decisions up to the higher-ups like [GM Chris] Getz and Pedro, so I'm not really thinking about that,” Nastrini said. “I'm just trying to go day to day, and if at the end of the day I do, then that's great. If I don't, that's great as well and I'll get a shot at some point this year.”