Seth Keener

School: Wake Forest Source: 4YR

Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.8
BA Grade:40/High
Tools:Fastball: 55. Slider: 55. Changeup: 50. Control: 50.

Keener struggled with control in his first two seasons with Wake Forest, but still managed to log plenty of time on the mound as a sophomore in 2022, when he posted a 5.87 ERA over 53.2 innings—split between starting and relieving. He took a big step forward in 2023 while pitching mostly out of the bullpen and posted a 1.79 ERA through 60.1 innings, with a 33.7% strikeout rate and 6.3% walk rate. One of his best outings of the season came in a start against George Mason in NCAA regional play, where Keener threw seven shutout innings with 13 strikeouts and no walks. Listed at 6-foot-2, 195 pounds, Keener has a three-pitch mix with a fastball that sits 93-94 and has been up to 97, but he has primarily thrown a mid-80s slider. The breaking ball had a 41% usage rate this spring and has sharp two-plane break that gets lots of chases out of the zone—though he also can land it for strikes at a high clip. On top of the fastball/slider combination, Keener also throws a firm, upper-80s changeup that was a consistent bat-misser as well. Given Keener’s solid athleticism, control, three-pitch mix and projectable frame it would be unsurprising for a team to try him as a starter in pro ball. He fits as a top-five round talent given his strong 2023 campaign.