Keller plans to leave Xavier early
Mitch Keller plans to leave the Xavier High School baseball team before the season is over, he told the Des Moines Register in an article published Thursday.
Keller said he'll either leave for summer school at the University of North Carolina in mid-June or sign a pro baseball contract if he is selected high enough in the Major League draft June 5-7 and offered an attractive signing bonus.
"Depending on how the draft goes, I'll either go there or I'm going to summer school if that doesn't work out," he told the Register.
Keller, a pitcher and infielder, plans to play for the Saints in the Metro Tournament that starts Monday. His fastball has been clocked at 95 mph and he's been told he could be drafted in the first three rounds.
"(The money) has got to be right for me to sign, because UNC's a great program," he said.
"It's definitely hard to leave the guys and stuff like that," he said. "Some of my best friends are on the baseball team. For my career development, I think it's the best development for me."
Keller had a 5-5 record and 1.72 ERA last season with 91 strikeouts in 69.1 innings when the Saints reached the state tournament.
