The Pittsburgh Pirates placed closer Keone Kela on the 10-day injured list, according to MLB transactions.
The 27-year-old right-hander has not participated in training camp for undisclosed reasons.
Kela was ordained the closer by new Pirates manager Derek Shelton at the outset of spring training at Pirate City in Bradenton, Fla. He shined in that role for the Texas Rangers in 2018, recording 24 saves before being traded to the Pirates that summer. Kela served as the setup man for Felipe Vazquez, a two-time All-Star, with the Pirates.
“With Keone, whenever there’s an opportunity that’s going to come, it’s going to happen in an adequate fashion to where we’ll get him ready to go when it’s time,” Pirates pitching coach Oscar Marin said last week.
If Kela isn’t ready for the season opener next Friday in St. Louis, right-hander Kyle Crick is the likely replacement as closer. Crick recorded two saves in 2018 but was 3-7 with a 4.96 ERA and 1.55 WHIP last season. Richard Rodriguez and Michael Feliz also are candidates to serve in high-leverage situations.
Shelton hasn’t disclosed who the Pirates closer will be if Kela isn’t available.
“I think it’s something that once we get closer to that point, we’ll make a decision on that,” Shelton said, “but until then we won’t really make any decision.”
