BRADENTON, Fla. - I was taking some photos of batting practice the other day at LECOM Park when Jordy Mercer walked up to me and asked my opinion on Mitch Keller. This isn't an uncommon practice. MLB players hear about minor league guys, but rarely see them, if ever. So guys like Mercer, who I've covered and talked with for almost a decade, will often ask me how good certain guys can be.
Mercer then said he was surprised that Keller wasn't in camp, since the Pirates usually bring top prospects like him into big league camp to get the experience.