| Dallas Keuchel | |
|---|---|
 Keuchel with theChiba Lotte Marines in 2024 | |
| Free agent | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1988-01-01)January 1, 1988 (age 37) Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S. | |
Bats: Left Throws: Left | |
| Professional debut | |
| MLB: June 17, 2012, for the Houston Astros | |
| NPB: August 17, 2024, for the Chiba Lotte Marines | |
| MLB statistics (through 2024 season) | |
| Win–loss record | 103–92 |
| Earned run average | 4.03 |
| Strikeouts | 1,252 |
| NPB statistics (through 2024 season) | |
| Win–loss record | 2–4 |
| Earned run average | 3.60 |
| Strikeouts | 29 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Dallas Keuchel (/ˈkaɪkəl/,KY-kəl; born January 1, 1988) is an American professionalbaseballpitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theHouston Astros,Atlanta Braves,Chicago White Sox,Arizona Diamondbacks,Texas Rangers,Minnesota Twins, andMilwaukee Brewers and inNippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for theChiba Lotte Marines.
Keuchel attended theUniversity of Arkansas, where he played baseball for theArkansas Razorbacks. Keuchel made his MLB debut in 2012. In 2014, he was awarded both theGold Glove Award and theFielding Bible Award. Keuchel was named the starting pitcher for theAmerican League in the2015 MLB All-Star Game. Following the 2015 season, he won the American LeagueCy Young Award along with his second Gold Glove and Fielding Bible Awards. Keuchel was a member of the World Series champion 2017 Houston Astros. He played for the Atlanta Braves in 2019 and signed a three-year contract with the Chicago White Sox before the 2020 season. The White Sox designated Keuchel for assignment and subsequently released him in May 2022. Later in the year he was signed first by the Arizona Diamondbacks and then by the Texas Rangers, both of which later designated him for assignment. He is a two-time All-Star and a five-time Gold Glove winner.
Keuchel attendedBishop Kelley High School inTulsa, Oklahoma, where he led the baseball team to the state championship.[1]
Keuchel then attended theUniversity of Arkansas, where he playedcollege baseball for theArkansas Razorbacks baseball team. He registered a 5.88earned run average (ERA) as a freshman, a 4.58 ERA as a sophomore, and a 3.92 ERA as a junior.[2] In 2007 and 2008, he playedcollegiate summer baseball for theWareham Gatemen of theCape Cod Baseball League and was a league all-star in 2008.[3][4][5][6]
During the2009 season, Keuchel led the Razorbacks as the Friday-night ace. The final regular season series was againstDrew Pomeranz and #9Ole Miss atBaum Stadium. The Razorbacks committed four errors in Keuchel's last regular season start, and he was tagged with the loss, ending the regular season with a 7–3 record. However, Keuchel led the Arkansas pitching staff to the 2009 College World Series in Omaha. Arkansas finished the CWS 3rd nationally that season.[7]
After his junior year at Arkansas, theHouston Astros selected Keuchel in the seventh round of the2009 Major League Baseball (MLB) draft.[8] He signed with the Astros and began his professional career with theTri-City ValleyCats of theLow–ANew York–Penn League, where he had a 2.70 ERA. He began the 2010 season with theLancaster JetHawks of theHigh–ACalifornia League. After posting a 3.36 ERA, the Astros promoted him to theCorpus Christi Hooks of theDouble–ATexas League in July, where he had a 4.70 ERA for the remainder of the season. He began the 2011 season with Corpus Christi, and after pitching to a 3.17 ERA, received a promotion to theOklahoma City RedHawks of theTriple–APacific Coast League, where he struggled with a 7.50 ERA.[2]
Keuchel began the 2012 season with Oklahoma City.
Keuchel made his MLB debut on June 17,2012 against theTexas Rangers.[9] He threw acomplete game in his second start.[10] Keuchel finished the 2012 season with a 5.27 ERA in 16 games started, while allowing morewalks (39) thanstrikeouts (38). He pitched to a 5.15 ERA in the 2013 season.[11]
In 2014, Keuchel had a 9–5 win–loss record and a 3.20 ERA at theAll-Star break, and was a finalist for the finalAmerican League (AL) roster spot in the2014 MLB All-Star Game.[12] He finished the season with a 12–9 record and a 2.93 ERA.[13] For his defense, Keuchel won both theGold Glove Award[14] andFielding Bible Award.[15]
In April2015, Keuchel pitched to a 3–0 record and a 0.73 ERA in five games started. He was named the AL'sPitcher of the Month for April 2015.[13] He was honored as the AL Pitcher of the Month for May 2015, in which he pitched to a 4–1 record and a 2.62 ERA in six starts.[16] Keuchel was selected for the AL roster in the2015 MLB All-Star Game,[17] and was chosen as the AL's starting pitcher.[18]
On August 1, Keuchel yielded two runs on two hits over six innings and struck out 8 to move to 13–5. It was Keuchel's 33rd consecutive games going at least 6 innings, which set a franchise record.[19] He won his third AL Pitcher of the Month Award for August, after pitching to a 4–1 record and a 1.94 ERA in six starts.[20]
On September 27, Keuchel established the club record for strikeouts for a left-hander when he fannedMike Napoli in the first inning, one of 10 strikeouts versusTexas to passMike Cuellar, who had 203 for Houston in1967.[21]
With a 15–0 record and 1.46 ERA atMinute Maid Park, Keuchel established the major league record for most victories at home while remaining undefeated there in one season. Prior to Keuchel, rotations matesDave Ferriss andTex Hughson shared the record while with the1946 Boston Red Sox, each going 13–0 atFenway Park. Keuchel's ERA was also the lowest home ERA by an AL pitcher sinceNolan Ryan surrendered just a 1.07 figure for the1972 California Angels.[22]
Keuchel's overall record for the year was 20–8, and he had a 2.48 ERA and 216 strikeouts.[23] Among major league pitchers, he gave up the lowest percentage of hard-hit balls (21.3%).[24] He threw 3,492 pitches, more than any other major league pitcher.[25]
Keuchel started and won theAL Wild Card Game versus theNew York Yankees on three days' rest.[26] On October 11, he followed up by beating theKansas City Royals, 4–2, in Game 3 of theAL Divisional Series (ALDS), to move the Astros within one game of advancing.[27] In Game 5, Keuchel was brought in for a relief appearance on just two days of rest in the 8th inning, but surrendered a three-run home run as the Royals extended their lead to 7–2, which they held on to win the game and the series. Following the season, Keuchel won theCy Young Award, the Gold Glove Award, the Fielding Bible Award, and theWarren Spahn Award, given to the best left-handed pitcher in MLB.[28][29][30] Keuchel became the third Astro to win a Cy Young Award.
In 2016, Keuchel won another Gold Glove Award, but he went 9–12 with a 4.55 ERA and a 1.286 WHIP in 26 games pitched and 168 innings.[31] In September, Keuchel missed starts due to inflammation in his left shoulder.[32] He later admitted that he had pitched through shoulder discomfort throughout the 2016 season.[33]
Keuchel began the2017 season by winning his fourth career AL Pitcher of the Month Award in April, after posting a 5–0 W–L and 1.21 ERA over six starts. He allowed six runs over44+2⁄3 IP. He became the first Astros pitcher to win four;J. R. Richard was the other Astros pitcher who had won three.[34] He proceeded to start the season with a 7–0 record and a 1.84 ERA; however, on May 20, 2017, he was placed on the 10-day disabled list due to a pinched nerve in his neck.[35] On June 8, 2017, Keuchel was again placed on the disabled list due to continuing neck woes.[36][37] He was selected to play in theAll-Star Game, held atMarlins Park inMiami. It was his second career selection.[38][39]
Keuchel finished 2017 making 23 starts with a 14–5 record and a 2.90 ERA. The Astros won theAmerican League West division with a 101–61 record to reach the postseason for the second time in three seasons. In the2017 American League Division Series, the Astros faced theBoston Red Sox, and Keuchel started Game 2. He pitched5+2⁄3 innings while allowing one run on three hits with seven strikeouts as Houston won 8–2 before winning the series two games later.[40]
Keuchel started Game 1 of the2017 American League Championship Series against theNew York Yankees, which resulted in seven scoreless innings while allowing just four hits with ten strikeouts in a 2–1 victory.[41] He started Game 5 five days later, but he lasted just4+2⁄3 innings while allowing four runs on seven hits in a 5–0 loss.[42] However, the Astros won the pennant a couple of days later to advance to their first World Series in twelve years.
In the2017 World Series, Keuchel was tapped to start Game 1; he allowed three runs on six hits in6+2⁄3 innings of work that saw him take the loss in a 3–1 result.[43] He pitched once more in Game 5, which saw him last just3+2⁄3 innings and allow four runs on five hits, but the Astros battled in a classic back-and-forth game that saw them win 13–12 in ten innings. The Astros won the series days later to give Keuchel a World Series ring; he went 2–2 in the 2017 postseason.[44][45]
Three years later, it was revealed in theHouston Astros sign stealing scandal that the Astros had broken MLB rules during the 2017 season. Keuchel subsequently apologized for his role in the scandal.[46]
In 2018, Keuchel compiled a 12–11 record with a 3.74 ERA in a career-high 34 starts.[47] He had the highestground ball percentage among major league pitchers (53.7%), and the lowestfly ball percentage (24.4%).[48][49] He also won his fourth Gold Glove.[50] He became a free agent after the 2018 season.[51]
On June 7, 2019, Keuchel signed a one-year contract with theAtlanta Braves worth $13 million.[52] He made his first start on June 21. Over 19 starts for the year, Keuchel went 8–8 with a 3.75 ERA, striking out 91 over112+2⁄3 innings.
On December 30, 2019, theChicago White Sox signed Keuchel to a three-year, $55.5 million contract.[53] He made his White Sox debut on July 25, 2020, picking up a win over theMinnesota Twins.[54] In the 2020 season, he was 6–2 with a 1.99 ERA.[55] He led the AL in fewest home runs per 9 IP (0.284), and in fewest strikeouts per nine innings (6.0).[56][57]
Keuchel struggled in 2021, compiling a 9–9 record and an ERA of 5.28 in 30 starts. He gave up 189 hits and 105 runs in 162 innings and struck out 95 batters, striking out fewer batters per 9 innings (5.28) than any other pitcher in the major leagues.[58] However, he did receive his fifth Gold Glove Award.[59] During the second half of the season, his ERA was 6.82 and he struggled with a back injury.[60]
In 2022, Keuchel had a 7.88 ERA for the White Sox in eight games started. On May 28, the White Soxdesignated Keuchel for assignment.[61] He was released on May 30.[62]
Keuchel signed a minor league contract with theArizona Diamondbacks on June 6, 2022.[63] Keuchel started two games for theArizona Complex League Diamondbacks before the Diamondbacks promoted him to the major leagues on June 26.[64] On July 20, 2022, the Diamondbacks designated him for assignment, clearing waivers and making him a free agent. In his short span with Arizona, Keuchel compiled a 9.68 ERA for the team in four games started.[65]
On July 25, 2022, Keuchel signed a minor league contract with theTexas Rangers.[66] He was added to the Rangers' taxi squad on August 26.[67] Keuchel made his Rangers debut on August 27, giving up 7 earned runs over 5.1 innings pitched in a blowout 11–2 loss to theDetroit Tigers. He wasdesignated for assignment on September 5 after posting a 12.60 ERA across 10 innings.[68] He was released by the Rangers organization the same day.[69]
On June 22, 2023, Keuchel signed a minor league contract with theMinnesota Twins organization.[70] The Twins assigned him to theSt. Paul Saints of the Triple–AInternational League.[71] On July 21, Keuchel bypassed an opt–out clause in his deal to remain with the Twins.[72] In 6 starts for St. Paul, he registered a 1.13 ERA with 28 strikeouts across 32.0 innings of work. On August 1, Keuchel exercised a second opt–out in his deal,[73] and was selected to the major league roster two days later following an injury toJoe Ryan.[74] On August 6, Keuchel made his debut with Minnesota, going five innings allowing eight hits, two walks, and one earned run. On August 20, he threw 6 1/3 perfect innings in a start against thePittsburgh Pirates.[75] He became a free agent following the season.
On April 2, 2024, Keuchel signed a minor league contract with theSeattle Mariners.[76] Keuchel was released by the Mariners on May 20,[77] but subsequently re–signed with the organization on a new minor league contract three days later.[78]
On June 25, 2024, the Mariners traded Keuchel to theMilwaukee Brewers in exchange for cash considerations.[79] The next day, the Brewers purchased his contract and added him to their major league roster.[80] In four starts with Milwaukee, he registered a 5.40 ERA, allowing ten runs in16+2⁄3 innings.[81] Keuchel was designated for assignment on July 14.[82] On July 17, he cleared waivers and elected free agency in lieu of an outright assignment.[83]
On July 30, 2024, Keuchel signed a contract with theChiba Lotte Marines.[84][85] He became a free agent following the season.
Keuchel throws five pitches: afour-seam fastball averaging 89 miles per hour (143 km/h), asinker averaging 89 miles per hour (143 km/h), acut fastball averaging 86 miles per hour (138 km/h), aslider averaging 79 miles per hour (127 km/h), and achangeup averaging 80 miles per hour (130 km/h).[86] He had learned aslurve while in high school, which he did not use in college, as he relied on his sinker and changeup. Needing abreaking ball when he became a professional, he learned to throw acurveball. He did not succeed with the curveball in the major leagues, and he developed a slider, which helped his results.[87] Keuchel's sinker and slider both induce moreground balls than average across the league.[86]
Keuchel is the son of Dennis and Teresa Keuchel. He has an older sister, Krista.[88] On March 9, 2021, Keuchel got engaged to MLB/NHL Network host, Kelly Nash. Keuchel and Nash were married on January 22, 2022.
After signing with the White Sox, Keuchel purchased a $2 million home in theLake View neighborhood ofChicago.[89] Keuchel isCatholic.[90]
| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | American League Pitcher of the Month April—May 2015 August 2015 April 2017 | Succeeded by |
